Residents Concerned

The residents of lower Oakwood Avenue listed below are deeply concerned over the actions of the LCF Planning Commission in granting approval for construction of a new two-story residence at 4363 Oakwood.

In so doing, the Commission went against the recommendations of its own staff report, the wishes of a majority of the immediate neighbors, and most importantly, an ordinance passed by the City Council in 2001 which was specifically designed to protect the character of our neighborhoods from houses with excessive second story depth.

In addition to requiring that new projects preserve the “scale and character of the surrounding neighborhoods” and protect public views and aesthetic and other property values, the ordinance set a limit of 60 feet for second story depth. The proposed depth of the second story for the house in question was 110 feet.

Most of the lots on Oakwood are quite narrow. The true opportunity for privacy lies in the back yards. A second story of this depth compromises the privacy of neighbors and sets a precedent for all future remodels. The Commission ignored these concerns and approved the plans with minor changes that reduce the second story by a mere 10 feet. What is the purpose of the 60 foot limitation if we’re not going to enforce it? Wasn’t it created to avoid just this kind of situation?

We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors, but we urge them and our Commission to honor the existing ordinance and the wishes of the community and find a compromise we can all be happy with.

Tom Gilligan/Christie Skinner, Gary and Kit Lamont, Paul and Deirdre Lee, Al and Dianne Restivo, Michelle and Robert Hipolito, Shelley and Chris Buck, Douglas and Nancy Porter, Steve and Susan Peterman, Bill and Susan Baribault, Dennis Harper, Alice Hill/Peter Starr, Steve and Joyce Deme, Elisabeth Powell, Malcolm and Lissa Wehrle, Fred and Becky Weaver, Lawrence and Nancy Stone, John and Barbara Horrall, Roy Ashford. (Submitted by Steve Peterman.)

La Cañada Flintridge