Council and Planning Commission Voting Records
We are encouraged by some recent decisions by the Council and the Planning Commission, but there is much more work to do. Until laws to prevent it are on the books, we will continue to see the building of houses that are far too large for their lots and their neighborhoods.
So long as a home building project complies with the zoning ordinance, it is approved at the administrative level, by Planning Department employees. Applications for permits to build additions – which can also result in over-sized homes – are also given administrative approval if Planning Department staff decide that a Planning Commission review is unnecessary. Both scenarios need to be dealt with in new zoning law, to ensure denial of all projects that would result in over-sized houses.
While we commend the Council and Planning Commission for some of their recent actions on this issue, we believe that it is essential for citizens to continue to press for what we want, until laws to protect our neighborhoods from inappropriate development projects are on the books.
Council:
January
22, 2007 City Council meeting
The
Council voted to add FAR to the Planning Department’s study
of bulk and
scale.
Voting for: DeMerrit, Winholtz, Peters
Voting against: Grantham, Peirce
January
29, 2007-2009 Council Priorities meeting
The
Council voted unanimously to instruct the Planning Department to begin
its work
on bulk and scale within four months. This occurred after
numerous
citizens spoke in favor prompt implementation of house bulk and scale
controls
Planning Commission:
March
19, 2007 Planning Commission meeting
Although
the matter did not come to a vote, this event seems to us to be worthy
of mention
here, as it was clear that if a vote were taken, a project on Barlow
Lane would
have been denied due to its size.
Discussion included a number of specific comments by commissioners
that the project was just too big for
the lot and the area. The
Commission
advised the applicant that it appeared that the project was going to be
denied,
and suggested a continuance to allow time for some redesign. The applicant accepted
that suggestion.
June 4,
2007 Planning Commission meeting
The
Commission voted to deny an applicant’s request to build a
28-foot structure on
Alder
Street
July
18, 2007 Planning Commission meeting
The
Commission voted to deny an applicant’s request for a lot
split
on Cabrillo Way. The split was opposed by a large contingent
of
neighbors, who stated that it would damage the character of the
neighborhood.
December 17, 2007 Planning Commission meeting
The Commission instructed the City planners to add floor area ration (FAR)
to their proposed neighborhood compatibility ordinance to better
control the size of homes
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