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150 Variance Appl. No. 1083 Farmers Unde~riters Associatic~ Reso. 5~-88 gr~nting Variance Ccmmuncation was read from the Planning Commission recommending denial of Variance Application do. 1083, filed by Farmers Underwriters Association to con- struct a building to be used for a regional office of the Farmers Insurance Qroup, the off,ce to be used only for ~tministrative purposes, and no sales operations to be conducted therefrom except on the supervisory level, on property situated on the east side of Flower Street between Memory La~e and Santa Ana Freeway, consisting of 8.2 acres. Communication was read from the Chamoer of Commerce setting forth their reasons for the approval of the Variance. On motion of Councilman Hubbard, secor~ed by Hall and carried, the communication was re- ceived and filed. -Attorney Robert L. Corfman, representing in excess of 100 residents in the vicinity of River Lane, North Flower and north of Oeventeenth Street, stated he had taken the liberty cf sending the Council excerpts from the meeting cg the Planning Cc~mi~sionj and quoted some of the remarks m~de by Com~aissioner Jeesee Ludicating this is apot zoning and not orderly planning, and to put a commercial island in a residential district is not good zoning, mr. Corfman said the InsuranCe Company has stated homes would be built of at least 1700 square feet in area amd~sting at least $17,000.00, to act as a buffer strip. Mr. Corfman stated that from a legal standpoint he would take considerable issue with the City Attorney on his position that this buffer zone could be enforced; there is no precedent in t~ds State where a City Cenncil can impose a zone on adjacent property. If the application is approved, subject to those ccaditions, there is nothing to prevent the applicant frm, selling these lots to people who would use them for service stations, dry cleaning establishments, etc. Mr. Con,man submitted a map showing locations of property owners signing protest petitions totaling 819 protestants. On motion of Councilman Gould, seconded by Hubbard and carried, the map was received and filed. Mr. Corfman stated he had a report from the Title Company for t~ various lots that are identical with lots involved in this particular trianglej and shows the numoer of changes which have been made in these lots since they were subdivided; one lot has been so~l five tim~s in a period of seven years, and severa~ · the lots have been sold only once. It was moved by Councilman Hubbard, seconded by Hall and carried, that the oral report be accepted. Mr. Ccrfman stated the group he represents has shown how they feel about the matter and requested the Council to preserve the intag~i~ of their homes in the area and dew the application, kobert T. Denton, 2746 llorth Flower Street, sa~ he lives directly across tD~ street from the pro- posed construction and asked what assurance the residents would have t ~at the dwellings proposed would actually be built; it is his understanding the Insurance Company cannot be compelled to construct the hcmes and the subdivider to whom the propert~ is sold could build anything he chose. ~e preferred the ~uole area be constructed in R-1 homes comparable to the homes in the 2700 block on North Flower. Mr. Denton requested that if the Council over-rules the Planning Commission that some legal terminology be incorporated which will assure the re- sidents of the area that the type of homes will be built as described by Mr. Smith of the Insurance Company. Douglas Corrigan, 2828 North Flower Street, stated he owns 660 foot frontage on North Flower Street and would~efer that the area remain residential;there are other areas in the City which the Insurance Company could purchase requiring no zone change and suggested that