The Campbell Reporter

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Call family gets OK to construct two-story home on Hazel Avenue

By Koren Temple

Owners of a subdivided lot in the San Tomas Neighborhood were given the OK to build a two-story residence to the rear of an existing home at 1045 Hazel Ave.

Donald Call and his son, Daniel, own the property, located on the north side of Hazel Avenue between Pecan Way and Craig Avenue.

The Campbell Planning Commission on Jan. 9 voted unanimously to allow Daniel Call to remove six walnut trees and one palm tree, which would interfere with the design of the 2,400-square-foot house he wants to construct. The removed trees will be replaced with five 24-inch box trees. Planning commissioners are requiring the Calls to follow specific guidelines for tree care outlined by a local arborist.

Since first proposing the project, the Calls have eliminated a rear second-story balcony, and reduced the size of a proposed porch area and building overhangs.

"We have tried to be flexible. There are no windows facing on the second-story toward a property. When neighbors saw the balcony as an intrusion, we removed it," Donald Call said.

The property, located within the San Tomas neighborhood, is governed by the San Tomas Neighborhood Plan guidelines.

The Calls wanted to take into consideration neighbors' concerns after several opposed the homeowners splitting their 14,131-square-foot lot last May. The Campbell City Council voted 4-0 on July 20, 2006, to uphold an earlier planning commission decision allowing Donald Call to subdivide his lot, after a neighbor, Paul Boyer, appealed the commission's decision to the city council.

"We look forward to working with neighbors on this project. We will have certain hours for construction. Our phone number will be posted on a flier on the outside of the construction site," Daniel Call said.

Boyer, who lives at 757 Archer Court, said at the Jan. 9 planning commission hearing that even though he was opposed to subdividing the lot last year, he did approve of the revised designs for the proposed home, which was the next phase in the project that required planning commission approval.

Campbell Planning Commissioner Bob Alderete also liked the design of the house, but was concerned that the property sits lower to the ground than other houses in the area.

"We want to make sure water can drain from the area to prevent flooding," he said.

Daniel Call clarified that his property and a neighboring property were lower to the ground, but that there is a drainage system to prevent a flood.