The Sunnyvale Sun
News
Elderly care facility isn't the right fit, neighbors say
By Cody Kraatz
Tamarack Lane near Miramar Way is a peaceful residential street on Sunnyvale's eastern border. Some residents sat and chatted in their front yard while another strolled by on a recent afternoon.
But controversy has pitted neighbors against neighbors here. Elvira and Rodolfo Cardona own two adjacent houses and are renovating one into a residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) to house a maximum of six older people with basic living assistance.
But neighbors complain the RCFE's three doors facing the street and cement wheelchair ramps in the front yard do not fit into the neighborhood.
"We are concerned that the house started to look like a hotel rather than a residence," said Susan Hynnes, a neighbor.
"I don't know why these people are complaining. They are just trying to look for something or give us a hard time," said Cardona, whose project is permitted and already months under way. He expects work to be done in two to three months.
"We are peace-loving people and our intentions are good. Our intentions are really to help the needy people that need help."
Cardona said fire officials told him the exterior doors are required for residents who cannot walk. The Cardonas, who have three RCFEs in Mountain View, expect to have such residents, said Paul Hogan, their attorney.
John Pilger, Sunnyvale spokesman, said the city's fire prevention division determined this is the best design for fire safety.
Brian Keefe, a neighbor, accused city staff of ignorance of city zoning codes at a July 31 Sunnyvale City Council meeting, but city staff stuck by their decision and said state law mandates that RCFEs be considered as single- family residences and be treated as such.
"You have to treat this application exactly the same as you would if it was a family of six," said Kathryn Berry, senior assistant city attorney.
Trudi Ryan, Sunnyvale planning officer, said the city's challenge is to balance this with preserving a residential character. The city does not have any design review authority on any addition that is less than 20 percent of the residence or includes a second story, officials said. This project adds only 42 square feet to a 1,900-square-foot house, creating five bedrooms where there were four.
Several council members suggested the lack of design review authority should be a policy study issue. Councilman Chris Moylan pointed out that the city could not restrict a proposal for 20 front doors in a minor addition.
For now, Hogan said the couple might eliminate two of the front doors through interior changes. Ryan said the city would accelerate any new building application. Otherwise, the remodel will continue because city officials said their hands are tied.
"That's the part that I understand is very frustrating to the neighborhood," said Ryan.
