BUENA PARK : Council Rejects New Home Addition Plan

Lois and Glen Newcomer, who have been trying for the last few months to win city approval of plans to add on to their Cedar Drive home, suffered another setback this week.

Armed with a “compromise plan”--a scaled-down proposal made at the City Council’s request--the Newcomers thought their plans for a new bathroom and expanded bedrooms would please the city.

The council asked the couple to come up with a compromise last month after neighbors complained that the addition would block their views and devalue their homes.

However, without stating a reason, the council refused to consider action on the new proposal Monday. The Newcomers will now have to begin the application process again at the Planning Commission level.

“I just don’t understand,” a perplexed Lois Newcomer told the council.

“We interpreted it that (the council) would automatically approve,” added project contractor Sam Nowak.

The Newcomers originally appeared before the council in September to appeal a Planning Commission decision rejecting plans for the addition. Because of complaints by neighbors, the commission would not grant a special permit to expand two bedrooms and add a bathroom. The special permit was needed because the project takes up more land then allowed by city code.

However, instead of voting on the matter in September, the council asked the Newcomers to get together with the city staff to come up with a compromise. The revision was presented to the council for consideration this week.

Rick Warsinski, assistant director of development services for the city, said the new plan would make the front yard bigger and not affect neighbors as much. However, according to city staff members, neighbors were contacted and still did not agree with the plans. They did not speak at the meeting.