5-10-17-ZA COMMENTS - Laserfiche WebLink

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The project will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare as the proposed front yard fence/wall will be designed to complement the historic residence in terms of material and style. This is not true! The wall will most certainly be incongruous with the Italian Renaissance Architectural style. The 5 foot wall will completely block views of the historically significant balustrades surrounding the terrace as clearly illustrated in Exhibit 8 Proposed Wall Rendering provided in Zoning Administrators package (attached). Further, the view of the historic landmark residence will not be obstructed due to it being constructed at a higher grade than the sidewalk. With acceptation of the driveway side of their property, the yard is flat (there is very little or no slope). The proposed wall will detract and certainly not complement the appearance of the residence. Side yard fences are allowed to be up to eight feet in height; (The preceding comment is Not relevant as the prevailing front yard setback on Heliotrope Drive is more than 50 feet) however, the applicant proposes five feet in height to maintain the pedestrian scale. The four-foot landscape buffer in front of the proposed front yard fence will soften the edges of the fence and maintain the residential nature of the site. The portion of fence on the northern side of the property will be tapered so as not to be injurious or detrimental to the neighboring site. The code provides for a 10 foot set-back on the north Property line – reduction of this to 4 feet is impeding on adjacent owner’s property rights and creating a unsafe condition that is detrimental to public welfare (pedestrians traveling northbound on sidewalk for evening strolls will be much more susceptible to being struck from vehicle backing up from adjacent driveway located on north side of the Property. The reduction of the set back from 10 to 4 feet, even with the so called taper (which does not conform to prevailing setback), will be very detrimental to adjacent property to north, especially with decreased view and visibility from driveway when backing up onto Heliotrope Drive. D. That the granting of a minor exception will not adversely affect the General Plan of the City. The requested minor exception will not adversely affect the General Plan, as it is consistent with the goals and policies of the document. The proposed exception will most certainly adversely effect the General Plan by setting precedence. Goal 2.0 of the Urban Design Element states that new development should be proportionally and aesthetically related to its district setting. This is not a new development; the House which was originally constructed in 1931 is categorized as an Historical Landmark and was renovated. The proposed fence is proportional to the residence and for a residential area. Goal 2.7 of the Urban Design Element states that projects must exhibit a functional, comfortable scale in relation to the neighborhood. The proposed wall is certainly not in scale to in relation to the neighborhood. The prevailing front yard setback on Heliotrope Drive is more than 50 feet and the three other homes that share the Heliotrope Drive and 19th Street intersection all have open areas with fences that conform to Code (See Exhibit 2 Zoning Map). This proposal is in scale with existing structures in the neighborhood, and specifically with the large scale of the existing historic residence. Goal 3.5 of the Urban Design Element Policy Plan encourages residential alterations that are consistent with the architectural character of the neighborhood. The proposed wall will be detrimental to Goal 3.5 of the Urban Design Element Policy Plan. Front yards on Heliotrope Drive create an open environment that is unique to Santa Ana creating value to the neighborhood and desirability for living in the Floral Park area, specifically on Heliotrope Drive. The residence is Italian Renaissance which utilizes large scale to convey its grand style. The proposed five-foot tall fence is congruous to the scale of the residence. The residence is a historical designated Landmark with an elevated terrace with balustrades. The proposed wall will be in stark contrast in keeping with the Italian Renaissance style and will obscure views of the beautiful residence and completely block views of the historically significant balustrades that are noted with its historic designation. 27