City tries to stop mansionization in one of its oldest neighborhoods
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

On Tuesday the City Council will continue last week's public hearing to decide whether or not a 0.8-acre lot at 718 N. Rancho Road can be subdivided into two lots.

Applicant Pasha Moshiri went to the council last week to appeal an earlier planning commission decision that rejected the building of two new homes on what is currently one lot in a neighborhood that existed before the city was incorporated in 1964.

Dozens of neighbors of the proposed homes showed up at the council meeting opposing the building of an 8,537-square-foot twostory home on a 23,234squarefoot lot and a 4,090square-foot one-story home on an 11,866-square-foot lot.

The council rejected the designs of the homes 4-0, with Councilmember Dennis Gillette absent.

"The homes are too big," Mayor Andy Fox said.

"Both will stick out like sore thumbs in our historic, rural, equestrian neighborhood," Gina Smirthwaite said during public comment.

The council asked city staff to come back with more information after City Attorney Amy Albano told them there was no legal basis for them to deny the application for subdividing since the applicant had met all requirements.

The area is zoned for lots with a minimum of 10,000 square feet. City staff is to provide information about existing lot sizes. The council discussed the possibility of changing zoning laws to increase the minimum lot size of the neighborhood to 20,000 square feet. Such a change could be retroactively applied, the city attorney said.

A moratorium on development in the area was also discussed as a possible solution.

Councilmember Claudia Billde la Peña noted the character of the established, rural neighborhood could be changed if this application was approved and set a precedent for subdividing the area's large lots.

Currently the area is known for smaller homes set back from the street on bigger lots. Over the years, residents seeking to keep the country ambiance and horsefriendly atmosphere have rejected having sidewalks and streetlights added to their neighborhood.

"It just doesn't fit," said Councilmember Tom Glancy, who has seven years of planning commission experience.