The Willow Glen Resident Council Watch Radio Ave. housing project clears its first hurdle Planners approve rezoning permit for six houses By Cecily Barnes At long last, the Radio Avenue housing development that has been trying to get off the ground for four years cleared its first hurdle. On Oct. 14, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning permit, the first permit necessary to move the project forward. The City Council will likely approve the permit on Nov. 17, thus removing the first and greatest obstacle to the project's completion. From there, developer Bob Schwenke said, "it's a piece of cake." And the cake will be well enjoyed, as it follows a four-year battle between Schwenke and Radio Avenue neighbors to find a project both could live with. "Four years I've been fighting for this," Schwenke said. "This is the third different proposal." In 1994, Schwenke proposed replacing two run-down buildings on a half-acre Radio Avenue cul-de-sac with six new homes. The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and Radio Avenue neighbors fiercely opposed the project and prevailed when the City Council denied Schwenke's request for a general plan change to allow for higher-density housing. Last year, Schwenke returned with more land, acquired from a neighbor, and a new proposal for eight homes. Neighbors sent him back to the drawing board, arguing that the density was still too high. The project he returned with in July proposed six homes on .82 acres of land. For the first time, neighbors approved. Now it looks as though the project will finally move forward. "It's only taken forever to get going," Schwenke quips. Each of the six single-family homes will have with a rear yard adjacent to the home, allowing for a large setback between the existing neighbors and the new structures. "Real close attention will be paid to the second-story windows for privacy issues," city planner Carol Hamilton said, referring to a neighbor's concern. "That was looked at really closely." Alice Easter, who lives on one of the seven lots that would adjoin the development, was initially worried that a two-story home behind her property would invade her privacy and block the sunlight. If all goes as planned, Schwenke hopes to begin construction in March. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.