AgdaPkt 2013-09-23 Closed and Regular

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8.A. - Page 503 September 16, 2013 Sailesh Mehra, Associate City Planner City of Redwood City Planning Services Division 1017 Middlefield Road P.O. Box 391 Redwood City, CA 94064-0391 Sent via email: smehra@redwoodcity.org Re: Project Location: Laurel Way Dear Mr. Mehra, We have reviewed the appeal by the Laurel Way Joint Venture ("LWJV") and feel that the information provided should be taken with a grain of salt. They claim that their proposed 3,800 square foot homes are similar in size to the surrounding homes in the area. Even though our property touches the corner of the development, it was one of the neighboring homes conveniently excluded from their listing. Our home is 1,600 square feet on a lot size of over 11,700 square feet. The proposed homes are 238% larger than our home even though our lot is larger than all but two of the development sites. Despite the speculation by the LWJV that those of us in older, smaller homes have secretly enlarged our homes without permits, our home remains a comfortable 1,600 square feet and has worked just fine for our family. In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau recently released its Survey of Construction showing that the median size of newly started single-family homes are at a record high of 2,300 square feet. LWJV's proposed home sizes are out of touch with reality, particularly since the survey doesn't take into account the extreme slopes that are involved in this development. We urge the City Council to reject LWJV's appeal. This project, even as approved by the Planning Commission, consists of too many homes on lots that are too small and too steep. The bi-level roadway included in the project should also be rejected as it is ridiculously out of character for the neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration, Creighton and Sandy Pockalny 3652 Highland Avenue Redwood City, CA 94062-3112 cc: Redwood City Council, council@redwoodcity.org