Issue date: February 24, 1999
By RENEE MOILANEN
Carl and Mary Picciotto just wanted a little more room in their small, single-story Willows home.
So they spent over a year coming up with a design that would fit their oddly-shaped, five-sided lot. The final plan, they thought, met all zoning regulations and conformed nicely with their McKendry Place cul-de-sac.
But not all their neighbors felt the same way.
Tony Wynne objected to the Picciotto's plan, raising concerns about neighborhood compatibility and oversized homes -- an increasing problem all over Menlo Park, not just in the Willows, he said.
The Picciotto's plan would have added 1,300 square feet to their 990-square-foot home. More importantly, Mr. Wynne said, the proposed second-story addition -- which he called "lop-sided" and "out of character with the neighborhood" -- would be too close to his own yard, blocking out light and intruding on his privacy.
Petitions were circulated, letters were written, and appeals were filed. Finally -- three months after the Picciottos first went before the Planning Commission -- the remodeling project came before the City Council, which sent the couple back to the drawing board, telling them to alter the design and give Mr. Wynne some more room.
Mayor Paul Collacchi called the McKendry Place dispute "conflict resolution" more than anything else. But Willows resident Melody Pagee, who also opposed the Picciotto's project, disagrees.
"(This dispute) is about design, which is a neighborhood issue," she said. "If a house doesn't fit in, the neighborhood's stuck with it. We need tighter architectural controls."
The council agrees -- and stricter architectural control is exactly what it hopes to create in the next year.
At this point, no formal plans have been set to address residential design guidelines, but they are considered a priority on the council's agenda.
Though it's unclear exactly what such guidelines would involve, one thing is certain -- council members say they will not regulate aesthetics. "This is not about taste. It's about bulk more than style," Mr. Collacchi said.
'Monster' houses
At the heart of the council's concerns are "monster" houses, which occur when people "try to outdo each other and max out their properties," Councilman Steve Schmidt said.
Mr. Wynne said he's seen this trend first-hand. He's lived in his single-story home for 10 years and recently, he's seen more and more second-story additions and "monster" houses.
Even on McKendry Place -- a cul-de-sac with five homes -- there's two double-story homes, including a "monster" house under construction right next to the Picciotto's, Mr. Wynne said.
"Ultimately, we're going to have tiny lots with houses jammed together," he said. "It's happening in slow degrees, and it's agonizing to watch."
Ms. Pagee, who has become active in opposing oversized houses, said these "monster" homes are becoming a trend all over Menlo Park. She estimates that right now there's about six to eight such projects causing controversy -- "and that's just within the last couple of months," she said, pointing out how rapidly the trend is increasing.
Many residents, Ms. Pagee said, are growing concerned. "More and more people are becoming aware of these projects and protesting projects in their own neighborhoods."
Helene Belz, who has lived in Felton Gables for 30 years, said that at one time, her neighborhood was quiet, offering outdoor appeal with plenty of trees and bird life. In the last few years, though, five "monster" homes have gone up on her block, and another is planned for nearby Arden Road.
The proposed two-story on Arden comes before the Planning Commission March 1, and many Felton Gables residents -- including Ms. Belz -- have already written letters opposing the project.
"These homes are eyesores," she said. "We have children playing in the streets because there's no back yards. We're losing the natural environment and street space."
Councilman Schmidt thinks the problem of "monster" homes may be urgent enough to warrant interim design regulations. The easiest way to control these homes, he said, would be to lower the floor area limit, control square footage, or limit building additions to keep them in scale with the neighborhood. Mr. Collacchi has also suggested tweaking the daylight plane regulations, which are designed to preserve light and sun access.
"We don't want to trample on people's property rights, but the texture of the neighborhood should be preserved," Mr. Schmidt said.
These types of guidelines -- square footage caps, floor area limit restrictions and and stricter daylight plane rules -- would be addressed through the zoning code, said Mr. Collacchi -- the only place the council can "render aesthetics."
What the council wants to avoid, Mr. Collacchi said, is an architectural review board to police aesthetics or style. Bulk -- not taste -- is the issue, he said.
"There's a healthy balance in Menlo Park for allowing homeowners great freedom in building their homes," he said. "Attempts to regulate only occur when they interfere with other people's property rights -- that's what we're trying to get at more than taste or style."
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