Here are some of the issues the...

July 31, 2004 12 AM PT

Here are some of the issues the commission considered Monday:

HOUSE APPEAL

The commission upheld a proposal to build a new two-story house at

281 Walnut St. on an appeal by neighbor Lori McDonald. The project

calls for the construction of a new two-story house with a detached

granny unit to be built over a garage.

McDonald appealed the project for reasons including what she said

was its invasion of the privacy of her property across the street.

Commissioner Eric Bever was absent from the meeting.

WHAT IT MEANS

The applicant, Darlene LaCombe, representing property owners

Barron and Jance Hurlbut, can build their project.

WHAT WAS SAID

“The issue of privacy I don’t think anyone felt was a valid

issue,” Chairman Bruce Garlich said. “The separation of her home and

the one across the street is 100 feet. Usually we have 20-foot,

rear-yard setbacks behind homes, so 40 feet [total] is a typical

expectation of privacy, plus the fact that in her own yard, she has

some pretty mature trees.”

BUSINESS CHANGE

The commission denied a request from Daniel Carlton, representing

the property owner Carl Reinhart of El Camino Partners, to change a

tenant’s permit to become solely an auto repair facility and to

discontinue a car wash and gasoline sales at 1045 El Camino Drive.

Commissioner Katrina Foley recused herself from the vote because she

lives within 500 feet of the property. Garlich dissented.

WHAT IT MEANS

The majority of commissioners denied the change because they

didn’t feel it was appropriate to approve of another use that is not

residential, since the property has been rezoned for residential

uses, Commissioner Bill Perkins said.

WHAT WAS SAID

If it is appealed to the City Council and it also denies the

permit, “then maybe that might force the hand of the property owner

and some tenants to work out a deal so they can actually start the

residential component of this project,” Perkins said. “The only way

to do that is to start by not continuing the use that’s already

there.”