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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - March 20, 1995 Page - 8 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) In response to Council questions, staff said there were no permits or inspections, which would be the next step if the Variance were granted. They said the house to the rear is 25 feet from its rear property line. The City Attorney said this is the first Variance to be heard under the new Zoning Code. He read the findings required by Section 1-5-2212 in order to approve the Variance. The Hearing was then opened to the public. Rita Shih, the Appellant, said she is an immigrant and did not know she needed permits and did not mean to violate City laws. She explained the addition was built to permit her family to provide physical therapy for their disabled son. She said the other neighbors do not have a problem with the addition. She asked the City Council to consider her home and family problems in caring for her child and said, if the addition is torn down, it will be detrimental to his well -being. She said she was willing to follow all City laws. Council Member Kerr asked Ms. Shih a number of questions. She said friends and a handyman constructed the addition. She said she would be willing to cooperate with the City in obtaining the necessary building permits. Dave Crotsel , 14406 Tiburon Road, spoke on behalf of his wife, Sandy, the owner of the property to the rear. He said they rent the property and are concerned about the value of the property when they sell if they sell five feet to Mrs. Shih. He said the renters expressed concern about the amount of sunlight lost by the closeness of the addition and the possibility of damage in case of fire along the fence line. Mr. Crotsel said he obtained a Variance for his home on Tiburon in 1980. He did the work himself and took out permits and obtained a Variance. He said a real estate person told him if he sold five feet of the property behind Mrs. Shih's property to her, it would reduce the value of his property. Lou Filipovich, 15376 Laverne Drive, suggested Council Member Myers step down and sit in the audience. The City Attorney said this was not necessary. There being no further comments from the public, on motion of Council Member Polvorosa, seconded by Council Member Loeffler, and carried by a majority vote (7) , the Public Hearing was closed. Council Member Perry said it is very important to determine if other similar Variances, such as that described by Mr. Crotsel , exist. Mr. Emslie said the City records did not show any evidence of this Variance.