Willow Glen Resident
News
Supervisors' OK subdivision in county 'island' in Willow Glen
By Emilie Crofton
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has approved a tentative map for a two-lot subdivision located at 1486 St. Francis Drive, and neighbors are worried about what comes next.
The property is located in one of several unincorporated county pockets that still pepper such communities as Willow Glen. San Jose is beginning an annexation process to eliminate these unincorporated "islands."
"I'm very much opposed to it," neighbor Peter Guerin says. "If they build a two-story house, it will completely obstruct our view and our privacy, looking directly into our master bedroom."
The supervisors unanimously approved the subdivision on June 19.
The 12, 276-square-foot lot will be divided into two parcels. One parcel will be 6,820 square feet, the other 5,456 square feet.
A house is currently located on the larger lot at the corner of Saint Francis Drive and Blackford Lane. That house will stay and a new home will be built on the smaller parcel.
The neighbors, who were uncomfortable giving their names, are unhappy with the decision.
One neighbor told the Willow Glen Resident the following day that, "Creating these large two-story homes on smaller lots completely changes the dynamic of our neighborhood. We want to keep the neighborhood's charm. This potential 'monster house' just won't fit in."
The homes in the neighborhood are mostly one-story ranch-style dwellings.
Nearby neighbor Lou Costanzo, an architect, is also opposed to the subdivision. He is familiar with the lot because he was going to design the plans for the property's previous owner. Instead the owner sold it.
Costanzo sympathizes with residents.
"When new homes are built, you want them to mimic the other homes in the neighborhood," Costanzo says. "The reality is that people just don't want to see change."
Supervisor Ken Yeager was adamant about keeping the house, saying it would be "out of character" to destroy it. Owner Patrick J. Sunseri agreed with Yeager.
