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Published on 08/17/1998 All articles from this issue

Neighbors, council resolve Sunkist-cottage issue

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

After months of discussions and debates, which were sometimes heated, neighbors and the city council officially agreed that the second living unit close to Sunkist Lane, but officially on Avalon Drive, is in full compliance with city codes.

At the Aug. 18 city council meeting, owner Gary Greenberg announced an agreement he had made with Sunkist neighbor Peter Sorenson.

Greenberg told the council he would "put screening trees on Sunkist" along the fence that is already between the street and the cottage to further shield the cottage from view. He also said that he had sealed the double gate in the fence along Sunkist "with 2 by 4s." And that the "people gate" that opens onto Sunkist, would "not be used by a tenant, just by my own family."

Sorenson also spoke to the council, confirming the agreement with Greenberg.

"Hopefully conclusion will come tonight," he said. "The intent," of the agreement, he said, "is that the SLU occupants have ingress/egress from Avalon."

After lengthy discussion and comments from more than 20 residents, including Greenberg's attorney, who rebuked the council for allowing this process "to fester," the council voted 4-1 in favor of the compromise agreement, confirming that the cottage is now in compliance.

Councilman Francis La Poll voted no.

"I'm not happy with the compromise," he said, "but it's not easy to repudiate an agreement."

La Poll said the conditional-use permit for the second living unit states "no ingress/egress" from Sunkist. "There are allegations that it was violated. Liberalizing it won't help. I prefer a continuous fence on the back side of the property (along Sunkist)," he said.

Mayor Kris Casto said she didn't think there was a violation. "So I don't think we need a compromise. It is unrealistic to restrict a property owner" access to his own property, she said.

Greenberg wanted access to Sunkist from his yard so he could maintain the property along the Sunkist side of his lot.