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MINUTES Page 4 <br />City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting-July 7, 2008 <br />Assistant City Attorney Stephanie Stuart informed the Council that it could reopen the <br />matter to allow the Appellant the opportunity for rebuttal. The Council, at its <br />discretion, could also rescind the previous action and take another vote. <br />By consensus of the Council, the matter was reopened, to give Mr. Woolston an <br />opportunity for rebuttal. <br />Mr. Woolston, the Appellant, addressed the City Council, commenting that he knew <br />and accepted the neighborhood situation when he moved there, but he felt this current <br />situation was being forced on him. He noted that Williams Street is zoned DA-3 <br />Downtown Area District, while a nearby area, zoned Residential, is closer to the BART <br />station. He asked whether the zoning designated by the TOD Strategy was done <br />capriciously. Mr. Woolston commented that a formal shadow study was not <br />performed, so the impacts created by the project are only an opinion, and his opinion <br />that the addition would shadow both his neighbor's property and his own is just as <br />valid. <br />Councilmember Souza stated that she feels the project does not meet the criteria of the <br />TOD Strategy. She commented that if the Council begins to make exceptions, it would <br />invalidate the work of the citizens who worked on the TOD Strategy. <br />A motion was made by Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Councilmember Grant, <br />to rescind the action to deny the appeal and uphold the BZA decision. <br />Councilmember Grant expressed appreciation to Mr. Woolston for his comments about <br />moving into a neighborhood with the expectation of having one thing and getting <br />another. Councilmember Grant added that she does not view this as a TOD-type <br />project, but rather as property owners who have a right to modify their property as they <br />see fit. Councilmember Grant commended the property owners for their compromise <br />to reduce the addition from two-stories to a single story to have it blend in with the <br />surrounding structures. She added that the property is currently owner-occupied, but <br />the Council cannot speculate on whether it will continue to be owner-occupied. <br />Councilmember Grant stated her support for the project. <br />The City Council rescinded the action to deny the appeal by P. Woolston and <br />L. Franke and uphold the decision of the Board of Zoning Adjustments. <br />M/S/C Gregory and Grant. Ayes: 7; Noes: 0 <br />A motion was made by Councilmember Gregory, seconded by Councilmember <br />Starosciak to deny the appeal and uphold the BZA decision. <br />Councilmember Starosciak requested clarification regarding the reason for conditional <br />versus outright permitting of this project. Mr. Penaranda replied that it was due to the <br />substandard parking. Community Development Director Luke Sims provided further <br />clarification regarding the zoning changes made as a result of the adoption of the TOD <br />Strategy. <br />