Proposal to build French chateau-inspired home can move forward despite neighbors’ concerns
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council pondered Tuesday the line between letting people build houses within city guidelines and respecting surrounding neighbors’ privacy and views, ultimately denying a resident’s appeal of a previously approved two-story home on Angeles Crest Highway.
On Sept. 27, members of the Planning Commission approved plans for a new residence at 5310 Angeles Crest Highway. The proposal described a 4,737-square-foot home designed as a modern interpretation of a French chateau, with a steeply pitched roof and five French doors leading out to a yard and pool on the property’s west side.
Deputy Director of Community Development Susan Koleda said the project was well within the city’s height and square footage requirements and offered “generous setbacks” on all sides.
“The structure is consistent with zoning code requirements,” Koleda told the council.
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But appellant Farhad Motia, who lives with wife Martha directly west of the property, said the home’s orientation to the west, its 31-foot height and design — which includes five sets of French doors, five second-story windows and a balcony facing his property — was too intrusive.
“The deck is looking into my kitchen and breakfast area. There are 14 windows altogether looking at us,” Motia said, referring to a rendering. “Is it reasonable to be looking at a house like this next to you?”
Other neighbors spoke in a public hearing, expressing frustration about the lack of privacy and views the new home would afford them. Neighbor to the east, Lawrence Park, said the project’s second story would completely block his western view, while Michael Gibbs worried about the many trees that would be removed to make room for the new structure.
“This isn’t about views, but about saving our sense of space and privacy and being able to come home and find peace in an increasing dense and fast-paced world,” said Tanya Novak, who lives with Gibbs two houses to the west of the property. “Landscaping can help. However, a wall can only be so tall.”
Architect Rosana Campos defended the plans she made for the property owners, saying she discussed details of the project with neighbors and made every effort to minimize the visual impact to surrounding properties.
Property owner Rosana Eaker said since before purchasing the property she and Campos made every effort to comply with regulations and notify neighbors of plans. She urged council members Tuesday to let the already-approved project move forward.
“Building guidelines were developed in the first place to set a standard all can live by,” she said. “And since we have met those standards in every respect, as confirmed by your planning commission, I respectfully request you grant us the authority to proceed with our construction without further delay.”
Council members had mixed opinions about whether to uphold the commission’s approval or recommend certain modifications.
Councilman Dave Spence said he was open to the idea of lowering the overall height of the project, or removing some of the French doors on the west side of the house.
“I’m not here to redesign this house,” he said. “(But) I think there’s some flexibility here we can bring to this property to make it more acceptable to the neighbors.”
Mayor Jon Curtis and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Davitt said they were not keen on the second-floor balcony as it seemed to intrude upon the Motias’ privacy. Councilwoman Terry Walker wondered if the French doors could be made with leaded glass or some other material that would increase their opacity.
Councilman Len Pieroni said he didn’t feel it was the council’s responsibility to arbitrarily dictate changes that would serious modify the property and was comfortable upholding the Planning Commission’s decision as is.
“We’re talking about a lot of things that, in my view, they’ve already vetted quite a bit,” Pieroni said. “I don’t see how we could really be better at deciding these things than the Planning Commission and the designer who did the work.”
When asked for her input, Campos said changing the height and number of French doors would require substantial modifications and threaten the integrity of the design. She did, however, concede opaque windows and additional screening on the west side of the balcony could be installed.
Ultimately, the council decided to uphold the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, adding conditions about glass and balcony screening that will be voted on in a resolution at the council’s next meeting. A landscaping plan will have to be produced by the property owner before building permits can be secured.
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
