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Published on 03/10/1997 All articles from this issue

Plan brings out the worst in neighbors

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The recent fallout over a controversial variance request for a Los Altos property on Avalon Drive and Sunkist Lane has us wondering aloud: Is this any way to run a neighborhood?

According to Webster, the word neighborhood means "friendly relations."

Unfortunately that meaning was lost in the recent battle among residents and officials as the city processed a request for a variance that would have allowed a second living unit to be seen from the street, rather than screened, as required by code.

Granted, the proposal was unusual - one that would have allowed applicants to have the main home facing Avalon Drive and a second unit facing Sunkist Lane. But the venom several residents spewed on both sides of the plan has left hurt feelings that will take a long time to heal.

Neighbors had some legitimate concerns - the plan was not conforming to city codes. The residents also felt the small house would be out of scale with other houses on the street.

But at the same time the city staff and planning commissioners had done some creative problem solving.

We're not so much bothered by the decision than the way it was reached. A representative of the applicants, Realtor Abigail Ahrens, noted opposing residents "ganged up in a rabid way, pitting neighbors against each other ... and included unbelievable personal attacks."

Chet Frankenfield, chairman of the planning commission, was also bothered. "It's upsetting to me, the acrimony in the neighborhood over this," he said.

Residents and officials should be able to "come out of the box" with creative solutions to land use and development without fearing acrimony and hostility. Creativity should be encouraged, not shouted down or insulted. Neighbors should be able to disagree and not end up estranged.

No matter what the council vote ended up being - we feel the process lacked respect for different views.

Let's not allow acrimonious discussions to kill the neighborhoods we all want to affirm.

After the council's decision, applicants Gary and Eileen Greenberg readjusted their plan with the second unit facing Avalon, using the same driveway as the main house.

We think it's time for neighbors to reach out to neighbors, apologize for rude behavior and get on with the business of being good neighbors.