It takes more than a checkbook to get a permit in Woodside

Most Woodside officials will give a sympathetic ear to people who complain about town services. One exception: people who complain about how hard it is to get permits after they’ve gotten caught building something illegally.

Such was the case with John Vellequette, a Sunnyvale dentist who town officials say built a retaining wall and graded a driveway without permits not only on his Otis Avenue property, but also on adjacent town-owned land at the Joan Olson Open Space Preserve.

“I think this is an egregious violation,” said Councilman Paul Goeld. “This needs to be corrected. Stop building until you get a permit.”

Mr. Vellequette asked the Town Council at its April 25 meeting to overturn planning director Hope Sullivan’s decision to file a notice of code violation against his property.

A code violation notice serves as a red flag to prospective buyers should the property be put up for sale. The notice is removed once the violation is remedied.

The notice was only for illegal building done on Mr. Vellequette’s property, not on the open space preserve land.

The illegal building was originally reported by an anonymous complaint in August 2004.

“The staff has been working on this for 20 months,” said Ms. Sullivan. “We’ve yet to receive an application for a permit.”

Mr. Vellequette blamed the town for the delays, saying staff gave him confusing information and sent correspondence to the property, rather than to his mailing address.

Mr. Goeld asked Mr. Vellequette if he had gotten permits for any of the work on his property.

“No, I did not,” Mr. Vellequette replied. “Did I go in four different times with a checkbook to try? Yes.”

“Do you understand that it’s not just a matter of writing a check?” Mayor Deborah Gordon interjected.

“I found that out,” he said.

The council voted 5-0 to uphold Ms. Sullivan’s decision and deny the appeal. Council members Dave Tanner and Ron Romines both recused themselves. Town Attorney Jean Savaree said they did so due to past interactions they’d had with Mr. Vellequette.