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Published on 05/26/1999 All articles from this issue

2-story homes on Jay St.: frustration on the rise

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Frustration just cranked up a notch over the one-story vs. two-story issue on Jay Street in Los Altos.

Applicants are frustrated. Neighbors are frustrated. And the Architectural and Site Control Committee is frustrated, too.

At its May 19 meeting, A&S approved a two-story addition-remodel for 634 Jay St. on a 2-1 vote.

At the same meeting, A&S sent plans for another two-story addition-remodel for 600 Jay St. back to the applicants for more design changes. A&S had approved the 600 Jay St. plans months ago. But neighbors who didn't want a two-story house on their street appealed to city council. The council sent the plans back to A&S, to give applicants Karen and Bill Barrett "direction."

"Unfortunately, A&S did not give the Barretts much direction," said Leslie Lodestro, a Jay Street resident who opposes any two-story homes on her street. "But (the Barretts) have not done a major redesign per the city council directive," she said.

The Barretts, of 600 Jay St., also came away from the meeting frustrated. A&S was "not much help," Bill Barrett said. Instead of direction from the committee, "I would call it reaction," he said.

"They basically said, 'you have to simplify, to move it back,' and that's not much help. It's not specific enough. We have made big changes, from tile to wood shakes for the roof. We've increased the setbacks for the upper floor. The whole structure has been dropped a foot or two," he said. "Our 9-foot ceilings are now 8 feet. We've done everything they've asked."

Penny Lave, chairwoman of the A&S committee, said, "We're as frustrated as they are. Council sends plans back to us to modify. We can only tell (applicants) what we think will help. I feel we responded to council's direction."

For Lodestro, and those opposing any two-story plan for their street, it's not a redesign question, but an issue of consistent-character neighborhood. The 24 1950s "rancher" homes on Jay Street are all one story. And most neighbors want their street to stay that way.

"If we allow any two stories, the street will no longer be considered a consistent-character neighborhood. We can't allow it. We don't want to be a big, muscle-bound neighborhood," Lodestro said.

"We're feeling frustrated. A&S needs to take a stand," on the two-story home issue, said Lodestro, who attended the A&S meeting. But it's the city council, not A&S who sets policy, Lave said.

Jim Mackenzie, senior planner with the city of Los Altos, said, "There's no direction yet from council to limit to one story.

"A variety of comments were provided to the applicant," at the A&S meeting, Mackenzie said. "But more significant design changes need to be made."

And for the two-story design approved for 634 Jay Street, the dissenting vote came from A&S member Bruce Skov, Mackenzie said. Skov said a two-story home is not consistent with the Jay Street neighborhood.