Council approves subdivision, denying appeal by neighbors
By Kara Chalmers
On Dec. 12, the Saratoga City Council denied an appeal of a planning commission decision. The appeal, filed by neighbors of a five-lot subdivision map that the commission approved for Carnelian Glen Court in September, concerned the placement of one of the driveways in the subdivision.
The map subdivides an almost 4-acre parcel into five separate parcels that range in size from 21,100 square feet to 46,530 square feet. It calls for a house, built in 1953 that is on the property now, to remain on the newly created lot No. 3 of the subdivision.
Partly due to constraints imposed because of the house, the driveway for lot 4 was situated to face the front door of the residence of Lester and Helen Lee, who live on Carnelian Glen Court. The Lees appealed the approval to the council since they thought the location of the driveway across from their home would reduce the value of their property. Helen Lee mentioned the inconvenience of having headlights from cars shine into her house.
The council heard testimony for the first time on Nov. 15, and directed the developers, Tim McNeil and Greg Howell, to come back on Dec. 12, with a new plan that combined the driveway of lot 4 with the driveway of either lot 3 or lot 5.
The developers combined the driveways of lots 4 and 5, which eliminated the central driveway that faced the front door of the appellants and which further reduced the number of driveways facing the appellants' house from three to two, said Saratoga's Community Development Director, James Walgren.
On Dec. 12, by voting 4-1 to deny the neighbors' appeal, the council approved the subdivision map. Councilman Evan Baker dissented.
When the council denied the appeal, it placed a further condition on the developers that a screening plan for the lot 4 driveway be incorporated into the project plans to reduce any glare from car headlights on the Lee's property.
When developers won planning commission approval of the map, it was with the condition that the existing house be placed on the city's Historic Resources Inventory, a list of properties eligible to be designated landmarks, which is a voluntary program.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
