pages: PlanningBoard/2005-01-10.pdf, 16
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PlanningBoard | 2005-01-10 | 16 | Mr. Walter McQuesten, 1416 Pacific Avenue, supported the applicant's project, and believed their plans would be an improvement for the entire block. He noted that he hoped to undertake a similar project in the future. He believed the raising of the house would provide safety from flooding. He supported the reversal of staff's denial. Mr. Richard Rutter noted that he was an architect, and supported staff's denial of this application. He noted that in the past, neighbors came to agreements regarding roof lines and design proportions. In response to an inquiry by Mr. Piziali, Mr. Rutter replied that 16 stairs were the limit before a landing must be included, and that the applicants were not close to that limit. Ms. Janelle Spatz, Alameda Architectural Preservation Society, spoke in support of staff's recommendation. AAPS believed that staff's points were valid, and that in the past contractor Ken Gutlaben had spoken before the Planning Board to say that digging down was as easy as building up. She believed that should suffice for this project, and believed the applicants' plans would be visually disruptive. The public hearing was closed for Board discussion. In response to an inquiry by Ms. McNamara whether the neighboring house had a full unit on the basement level, Mr. Brighton replied that he did not have that information. He addressed the simple aesthetics of the structures, and the future use of the interior was not part of the decision. Ms. McNamara noted that there was more than one separate address on the neighboring home. Ms. McNamara expressed concern that this house was used in the Planning Board's discussion of the Golden Mean; this existing architecture already exceeds the Golden Mean by a significant amount. She was concerned about imposing the Golden Mean on this applicant given the existing architecture, and did not believe that was the applicants' fault. Vice President Cook did not believe there was a reason to make the architecture proportionality worse, and believed the number of existing houses exceeding the Golden Mean was one of the reasons for adopting that guideline. She sympathized with the applicants, but wished to stem the tide of losing Alameda's architectural heritage. She did not see a unique circumstance to warrant raising the house in this case, and agreed that digging down was a workable solution. Ms. Mariani agreed with Vice President Cook's comments. Although she sympathized with the owners, 1512 Pacific Avenue was a sister house built by the same builder, and is on the registry. She believed the architectural integrity of this house should be maintained. Mr. Piziali noted that he felt for the applicants, and noted that the Board directed staff that they wished to follow the Golden Mean wherever possible. He agreed with Mr. Planning Board Minutes Page 16 January 10, 2005 | PlanningBoard/2005-01-10.pdf |