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Published on 02/08/1999 All articles from this issue

Dilemmas over design

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By Bruce Barton / Town Crier Staff Writer

Jay Street the latest in a series of challenges over big homes

Leslie Lodestro has been rallying her Jay Street neighbors. The reason is not raising funds for the local school PTA, but the issue of housing design.

New residents to the street, Bill and Karen Barrett, want to tear down the existing single-level ranch-style house in the large-lot Los Altos neighborhood and build a 4,300-square-foot, two-story structure of an entirely different design. Lodestro has led a petition drive in response. She said 20 of the 24 neighbors of the street, located off El Monte Road, are opposed to the plans.

"It looks like a castle," said Ted Roumbanis, one of the other residents opposed to the Barrett design. "Even at one story, it's out of place with the other houses on the street. ... In the right setting, it's all right, but not on this street."

The Barrett house, approved by the city's Architectural and Site Control Committee in January, is now being appealed to the Los Altos City Council. The house is just one of several similar developments in recent months that have residents challenging the remodeling and rebuilding plans of their neighbors. Housing design issues have also recently been raised on Camellia Way, Galli Drive and Panchita Way.

Observers say the problem is at least two-fold: an increasing number of residents want to build larger homes with looks that depart from the neighborhood norms; and current Los Altos design guidelines don't adequately address such sensitive areas as neighborhood design compatibility.

The Los Altos City Council created a Residential Design Guidelines Task Force last year to address such issues and look into such possibilities as one-story zoning overlays, which are prevalent in Palo Alto, to address two-story vs. one-story controversies. The task force met last week to discuss such items as residential design checklists and refinements of the current guidelines. The task force plans to finish up its work by the end of March and offer recommendations to the city council.

Design guidelines involve zoning issues (such as second-story restrictions and floor-area ratio); design issues (defining architectural integrity, landscape requirements and privacy factors) and process issues (property owner vs. neighborhood rights and notification).

"How do we take these diverse values (and reach consensus) so that the neighborhoods are not in tension?" asked Councilwoman Kris Casto, who serves on the task force. "With housing design, every person looks at it differently. We have to look objectively at a subjective subject."

The task force notes in a city staff report that the terms "compatibility" and "consistent character neighborhoods" need definition.

Still, the guidelines, Casto said, are "meant to be flexible - not (to promote) cookie-cutter housing."

The task force creation was inspired, in part, by a two-story design that was challenged by neighbors on predominantly one-story Camellia Way. Last year, city council approved the plans of Ken and Amy Chen after their architect simplified the design. However, surrounding residents wanted a one-story house. Cindy Sidaris, one of those Camellia Way residents, currently serves on the design guidelines task force.

Some residents would much prefer zoning overlays to mere guideline revisions. As one Camellia Way resident put it, "Guidelines are just that - guidelines, but zoning is law." An architect, he said, could simply ignore guidelines because they amount to suggestions.

While the city council and its accompanying task force wrestles with the issue, relations in these neighborhoods with design issues have become strained. Despite communications between neighbors and attempts to resolve issues civilly, applicants like the Barretts can't help but feel unfairly targeted.

"It's hard not to take it personally," said Karen Barrett last week. She and her husband bought their Jay Street property last April, then posted a picture of a two-story house in front of their property to let neighbors know their plans. Furthermore, the Barretts notified seven surrounding residents of their specific designs.

Initially, no one voiced objections, she said. "My neighbors said they really appreciated us letting them know," Barrett said.

In addition, Barrett said she and her husband have worked closely with their architect to meet all city design guidelines. "We would have understood (neighborhood opposition) if we were not in compliance with the guidelines," Barrett said.

Lodestro acknowledges the neighbors neither communicated nor organized themselves until the application was "too far along" in the process. But she contends residents were misled because the initial picture of the Barrett plans bore no resemblance to the more extensive designs later revealed.

With lot sizes one-third of an acre and greater on Jay Street, residents suggested the Barretts can expand out on a one-story instead expand up.

As was the situation with Camellia Way, residents are most concerned about precedent being set, which could pave the way for others to follow. The Barrett house would mark the second two-story property on Jay Street, the first one being a small second-story addition dating back to 1958.

The Jay Street appeal, along with a design guidelines task force progress report, are scheduled to be heard at the Feb. 23 council meeting.