3A Public Hearing 2006 0905 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts/rom the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda No. 06-11 June 8, 2006 Page 60/10 proposed, it would cost the City money because the City would be liable for losses in the value of Garden Terrace units. He said his unit would be the first test case since he is currently in the process of buying a new house and would soon be attempting to sell his Garden Terrace condominium. He asked that the Planning Commission require that the developer redesign the property so everyone involved gets a fair deal. Justin Taylor, 1599 Hays Street, said he and his neighbors would like to see 1537 Hays developed, but would like to see a more livable solution for everyone concerned, with a smaller number of units and a lower townhouse style, similar to the development at Thornton and San Leandro Boulevard. He said the park idea is fantastic. He said that Langon has brought forward nice designs in the past, but he characterized the proposed design as a little too jammed in and a little bit too "McMansion." Belinda Jackson, Unit 401, 1599 Hays, said she had lived in Garden Terrace for 14 years, renting from 1992 and purchasing her south-facing unit in 1999. She said she was present to speak on behalf of her neighbors whose north-facing views would be blocked. She said she would be happy to see an alternative design. Abdul Mahid Kabdo, Unit 401, 1599 Hays, suggested that the Plarming Commission should carefully consider the issue before them because litigation might be initiated, either by the Garden Terrace condominium owners or by the developer. He said he felt the City's statements with regard to CEQA were conclusionary. He referred the Planning Commission to a decision in a similar case, San Lorenzo Valley Community Advocates for Responsible Change versus the San Lorenzo Unified School District out of the 6th District Court of Appeal. Jason Monroe, Unit 106, 1599 Hays Street, said he had purchased his unit at the beginning of 2004. He said that a reduction in the setback of the proposed south-facing dwellings from 15 to 10 feet would decrease the amount of daylight available to his unit. He said that windows in his unit that face south look into the interior of the Garden Terrace complex and do not add as much light to his unit. Ken Papierniak said he was appearing at the request of Robert Jones, the owner of four adjoining parcels, who is currently out of the country. He said Mr. Jones has the same concerns as the other people that had spoken, although he has an opposite view. He said that Mr. Jones and partners have bought up the single-family homes surrounding the proposed project. He said Mr. Jones and his partners are concerned about property values and he feels that, if 1587 Hays were to be developed as a massive apartment building as shown, Mr. Jones' properties would experience a severe adverse impact. He said that Mr. Jones had submitted a letter strongly endorsing the proposed project. He said that Mr. Jones believes the project is needed in the area. He said that Mr. Jones, based on 25 years' experience as a real estate broker in San Leandro, believes the proposed project would actually enhance the value of Garden Terrace properties. Commissioner Wohltmann asked the public speaker if Mr. Jones' opinion is that, if he was the owner of one of the units facing the south wall of the project and he had a large wall twenty feet away from his primary window space in his unit, the value of his unit would be enhanced.