HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-15 Letter to Council -Heber wayDebbie Bretschneider
Subject: FW: Appeal for PDR11-0003/VAR11-0001 (21794 Heber Way)
From: Annie Lim [mailto:huoybingl@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 9:41 PM
To: Howard Miller <hmiller@saratoga.ca.us>
Cc: Manny Cappello <mcappello@saratoga.ca.us>; Emily Lo <elo@saratoga.ca.us>; Mary -Lynne Bernald
<mlbernald@saratoga.ca.us>; Rishi Kumar <rkumar@saratoga.ca.us>; Crystal Bothelio <cbothelio@saratoga.ca.us>;
James Lindsay <jlindsay@saratoga.ca.us>
Subject: Re: Appeal for PDR11-0003/VAR11-0001 (21794 Heber Way)
Dear Mayor,
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our position. We realize the letter we wrote is long, with pages of
comprehensive analysis and supporting data following a cover letter.
We object to a 5000 square foot house being built so close to us on this very geologically constrained lot. We
agree with all 3 Planning Commissions' guidance given to the applicant to reduce the number and extent of
variances. This would necessitate a smaller house, yet still compatible within our community.
We object to the grant of 3 setback variances requested by the applicant. We specifically object to the request
for the 35 foot left -side setback along the length of our property. We would like this setback to be kept at the 45
foot requirement. The majority of Planning Commissioners have agreed that this variance request is not
necessary for the applicant to build a successful house that would be compatible in the neighborhood. We see
the need for the applicant to have 1 variance but not 3. With just the front setback variance alone, the applicant
would have 2600 square feet of building pad to build a beautiful home that would fit into our neighborhood.
Teerlink Ranch is a community with homes of diverse square footage and architecture. Many of the homes are
in the 3000 square foot range. Two houses are built long and narrow to fit the contour of the land. A home on
Heber Way was advertised recently at 4117 square feet and sold in a day for $3 million.
Although the discussion about not being able to make the special circumstances finding for 3 variances has
dominated the discussion of 3 Planning Commission meetings, a few Planning Commissioners have suggested
they could not make the welfare and safety finding. One Commissioner suggested that she would not want to
build her own home on this lot, another one said he would not buy a house in our neighborhood because of
landslide concerns. Multiple properties in Teerlink Ranch had been affected by a few major landslides in the
past. Former Planning Commissioner Jill Hunter suggested in 2004 that she could not approve a 5000 square
foot house on this lot. We have seen the destructive capacity of Calabazas Creek that runs across and along the
top perimeter of this lot's steep hill on the vacant adjacent lot and agree with those Commissioners. We worry if
any amount of engineering for a 5000 square foot home can make this application safe, especially when the next
big El Nino comes to Saratoga.
We welcome a smaller house that would require less variance. It would be compatible with the neighborhood,
safer for us and pose less risk to degrading the hillside.
We hope you agree and deny this appeal.
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Thank you.
Regards,
Han & Annie
On Thursday, August 27, 2015 10:49 PM, Howard Miller <hmiller@saratoga.ca.us> wrote:
Thank you for this letter!
I am wondering, based on this, it sound like you would be OK if this house was build under the same
requirements / terms as the existing houses on Heber Way?
Thanks!
Howard...
On Aug 27, 2015, at 10:44 AM, Annie Lim <huoybing1@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Dear Council Members,
We are the homeowners of 21790 Heber Way. We live in the immediately adjacent property of
the applicant's proposed project at 21794 Heber Way. We are writing to you to express our
concerns regarding the proposed project and to persuade you to deny the appeal.
Attached please find our written communication to you. A printed copy of our letter has
been delivered to the city as well.
Thank you.
Regards,
Han C. Lin & Annie Lim
<Lins Letter for Heber Way Appeal.pdf>
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