HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/4/2023 Item 6a, Eltzroth
Tom Eltzroth <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Agenda Item - 841 Patricia Drive
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
Honorable Mayor and Council Members:
Please consider this letter as input regarding Item 6a of the City Council Agenda for 04
April 2023; Project Location 841 Patricia Drive, the Michaels' property.
I own and reside permanently at 847 Patricia Drive, which is the property immediately to
the left of the Michaels' driveway and immediately in front of much of the proposed main
residence. The Michaels' property is a legal flag lot with no fewer than 15 abutting
developed properties, including mine. As such, it is clear to me the proposed main
residence, the ADU, and whatever access is allowed for getting to and from the ADU will
impact, to some degree, many neighbors with property abutting the Michaels' property,
and possibly to a lesser extent even those whose property is nearby but not abutting the
Michaels' property. Impacts, often viewed through the lens of negativity and fear of
change, along with the resulting NIMBY-ism, are an inevitable result of
property development, especially in an area with many neighbors.
However, the impacts from well planned development can be very positive, and as a
property owner who stands to be significantly impacted - perhaps more than many
adjoining property owners - I address each of you with my strong support for the
proposed development. I have carefully reviewed and studied in considerable detail
the project plans, and overall I am favorably impressed by the plans for the main
residence and the ADU. Specifically, I favor the style, color scheme, and exterior materials
and details of the buildings as called out in the plans. I am also positively impressed by
the planned use of extensive permeable paving and a landscape plan that suggests the
intention to use what appears to be appropriate plants, mulching, and hardscaping along
with water-saving irrigation technology. I note that several plants have been called out
that are favorable to birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Additionally, I feel the
location of the proposed ADU allows use of what some might consider 'unusable' land and
is consistent with contemporary thinking regarding locating ADUs. Moreover, through
skillful planning, this development maintains viable (and inevitable) wildlife corridors on
the Michaels' property. After all, the deer, turkeys, quail, and other wildlife are not going
away; instead, they will continue to enjoy the water, food, and cover provided by the
stream and its native and non-native vegetation while at the same time providing
1
enjoyment for us who have been allowed to built our homes in their habitat. In fact, it
could reasonably be argued that this development by the Michaels will encourage more
wildlife resulting from appropriate new plants along with proper and thoughtful
maintenance of existing plants - both native and non-native.
In summary, I strongly support the proposed development. Additionally I
encourage members of the council to see the many positive impacts of this
project and to encourage/instruct staff to work cooperatively with the
Michaels to bring it to fruition.
Thank you for carefully considering my input.
Thomas Eltzroth
2