The site previously was to be constructed as a 130-unit assisted-living community for seniors. Developer Barry Swenson Builder was working with partner S. L. Start to develop the site, but the project fell through due to lack of funding.

The new developer, Pinn Brothers Construction, met with Willow Glen residents on July 12 to discuss their plans and explain how they took over the project.

"We now own 2-acres of the 3-acre lot," said John Moniz, project manager for the Pinn Brothers.

The proposed townhouses will be designed as three-story attached units, ranging in size from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet. Each unit will have a two-car garage. The developer hopes to bring the project before San Jose's Planning Commission in the fall and start construction by early spring.

Along with the townhomes, residents can look forward to more than a half-acre of open space that will be designed as a public park in the development. The project will also include widening St. Elizabeth Drive and new sidewalks, Moniz said.

Developers also plan to convert the existing road in front of St. Elizabeth's Day Home to a private driveway with 19 shared parking spaces for homeowners and the daycare center.

"During the day, employees of the daycare center or parents who are dropping their kids off can use these spaces," Moniz said. "And in the evenings, our homeowners will be able to use these spaces."

The handful of residents who attended the meeting were generally pleased, but Leibelt Court resident Tim McCullough was concerned about privacy. His backyard will border the development.

"It impacts the view out of my backyard," McCullough said after the meeting.

McCullough hopes the developers will increase the height of the fence that will border his property line and put in large canopy trees so everyone can have a better view.

Moniz said that in line with San Jose city standards, the fence would most likely be a 6-foot redwood fence. However, the design places the windows on the top floor 6 feet higher so townhome residents will not be able to look down or straight out of them into the neighbors' backyards.

The developer is also looking into window treatments such as shutters or blinds to mitigate privacy concerns. The developer added that he will work with the neighbors when it comes to tree and window placements and material for the fence.

Other residents, such as Jan Hawkins, who lives in the Wilshire Park condominiums across St. Elizabeth Drive, raised concerns about traffic zipping through St. Elizabeth Drive and the safety of drivers turning out of Curci and St. Elizabeth drives.

Moniz assured residents that stop signs will be added at the intersection of McKinley and St. Elizabeth drives. To increase the visibility of drivers coming from Curci Drive, he said there would be a clear line of sight for these drivers.

Sister Sharon Flannigan, president of the Sisters of the Holy Family, which is the property owner of St. Elizabeth's Day Home, was pleased with the developer's willingness to accommodate residents' and the daycare center's concerns.

"They have done a wonderful job in providing space for parents to drop off their children," Flannigan said.

For more information about the development, contact Ed Schreiner of San Jose's Planning, Building and Code Enforcement at 408.277.4576 or John Moniz of Pinn Brothers at 408.252.9131.