Both residents near the proposed home had issues with the 22-foot height of the building, although city code allows for up to 26 feet.

Walnut Avenue homeowner Mike An said at the Jan. 8 meeting that he likes the feel of the existing single-story—which would be demolished for the new, two-story structure—and that it had been one of his reasons for moving into his own home.

"The neighborhood feel, I think, will change," An said. An said the new house would block his view of the mountains and would force the removal of most of the trees on the property in question.

Although the project is in a Craftsman design, An pointed out that a "true Craftsman" has a roof of varying heights, but the Victor Place building has a straight roofline.

An also pointed out that two new, "rather large" homes nearby of approximately 4,000 or 5,000 square feet are one story and have basements.

Victor Place resident Daniel Kaypaghian agreed. "It would be out of character, I think, to have something standing up in the corner that's higher than everything else," Kaypaghian said.

According to project architect Li-Sheng Fu, the proposed 2,990-square-foot home will be smaller than the footprint of the existing one-story house and will have enough of a setback—30 feet—away from An's house to retain the view. Because the neighborhood is made up of one- and two-story homes, the new house would not be out of context.

Fu added that the roof is, in actuality, L-shaped, with a one-story element in front, "so it's not a big, two-story wall," Fu said.

While Commission Chairwoman Erna Jackman said earlier that she was concerned with An's concerns about the style not being a Craftsman design, she liked the single-story aspect that Fu had mentioned. Jackman also said the 30-foot setback is good and the design is a "pretty good plan for the neighborhood."

Commissioner Jill Hunter said the proposed house would be surrounded by trees. "The house, I don't think, will affect you as much as you think," Hunter told An.

Commissioner Lisa Kurasch was the only commissioner of the five to disagree. "This is a small lot. I think it's a very visible lot," Kurasch said. Kurasch said the proposed house is bulky, with a "dominating" roof in a neighborhood with small, charming houses.

The planning commission also unanimously approved an application for a 5,000-square-foot home on Baranga Lane.

Homeowner Vini Sarup said his design is "neighbor-friendly" and beneficial, in that he plans to take advantage of the lot's slope by building the garage underneath the house. Sarup also mentioned that the proposed setback is greater than that of the existing home and that he plans to preserve some of the trees that the consulting arborist said should be removed.

Commissioners had some concerns with the amount of pavement in the design and the "imposing" house, but decided that the architectural style and proposed basement are project benefits.