Steve Piasecki, Cupertino's director of community development, used the phrase to describe second story additions to homes. The size of the additions was a key issue in the two-hour discussion on revising the city's R-1 ordinance. The ordinance governs new construction in single family neighborhoods.

The city originally modified R-1 in 1999 to regulate the increasing number of so-called "monster homes" built in Cupertino during the 1990s. Some residents disliked the large homes, also known as pink palaces, because they thought they were out of scale with the traditional character of neighborhoods, and that they impeded privacy because of their height.

In 1999 the city revised R-1 to limit the size of second story additions and create a design review process. R-1 regulated the size, design and placement of new home construction.

In January of this year, the city council asked Cupertino's planning commission for another review of the ordinance. The Nov. 16 meeting was the culmination of that process—one that involved a citywide survey, lengthy debates and two city council meetings to reach a final decision.

In a 3-2 vote, the city council decided to increase the area of second stories on homes to 45 percent of the area of the first floor. Previously, R-1 had allowed for additions that were 35 percent of the area of the first floor.

In voting for the size increase, some city council members argued the 35 percent regulation created unintended problems.

"People started building as large a first floor as possible to make bigger second stories," said councilwoman Dolly Sandoval in a later interview.

The increase to 45 percent of the first floor will make homes more flexible and guard against "monster homes," Sandoval, said.

In voting against the size increase, both councilman Richard Lowenthal and Mayor Sandra James said any increase beyond 40 percent would be too much.

"I am of the belief if its not broken, don't fix it," James said .

"I don't see a reason to change [the 35 percent]."

James said she has only received three complaints about the R-1 ordinance since it was revised in 1999.

James and Lowenthal also expressed concern about ignoring the results of the city survey. In the survey conducted last spring, 57 percent of residents said they did not want an increase of 40 percent.

Rancho Rinconada resident Jennifer Griffin also spoke at the meeting of her concerns. "Please keep [R-1] intact," she said. "It's been a valuable asset to my neighborhood, a place of small homes with big trees."

Even so, the size increase squeaked through. The council also approved other related R-1 issues including improving the process of noticing residents about neighborhood construction projects, keeping storing poles (which provide an easily visible outline of construction projects) and requiring that homes built on lots with a 15 percent slope meet certain city rules.