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August 14, 2002
Saratoga, California Since 1955 |
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City council approves single-story overlay plan
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Mandy Major
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In a decision that sparked audible cheers,
the Saratoga City Council unanimously voted
to enact the long-disputed single-story
overlay for the Saratoga Woods neighborhood.
The vote came after an hour of discussion
that involved a handful of residents speaking
for and against the ordinance. The overlay
will affect the approximately 400 homes
located in the neighborhood, which is
bordered by Cox and Saratoga avenues,
Saratoga Creek and Prospect High School.
Reasons mentioned by residents - who made up
the majority of speakers - in favor of the
ordinance included the desire to maintain a
consistent look to the neighborhood, ensuring
privacy, fostering an air of openness and
ruralness via single-story homes, and
reducing the conflict among
neighbors - something all of the pro-ordinance
residents cited as a longstanding issue that
has affected friendships and the community as
a whole.
Residents opposed to the ordinance believed
the overlay would unfairly take away
homeowner rights and reduce resale value.
Councilman John Mehaffey was concerned about
the need to resolve conflict as a driving
force for the ordinance, saying it was "a
convenience argument" when it should be
"focused on homeowner rights." He emphasized
that as an ordinance, the policy could be
repealed just as it was enacted. The council
agreed, voting unanimously.
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