Busy Night Ahead for Lafayette City Council

The will review the fiercely contested application for a two story addition to a house on neighborhood Monday night - a proposal initially denied by the Planning Commission.

City Manager Steven Falk said the staff report for this item, which includes all of the letters and testimony from neighbors at previous meetings, runs 543 pages!

If you’re interested in attending, this item should start at about 8 p.m. The council will meet to determine whether Burton Valley homeowners Joe and Noelle Polichio can move forward with their proposed two-story, 3,414 square-foot home remodel at 623 Lucas Drive. 

It’s been over a year since the Polichios submitted their home remodeling application to the Lafayette Design Review Committee. Their plans were approved but neighbors quickly soured on the idea of a two-story home in a one-story neighborhood so they appealed the decision. The Polichios were then forced to defend their project before the Lafayette Planning Committee, who reviewed the plans and denied the Polichio’s application, going against the Design Review Committee’s initial determination and siding with the neighbors.

“It’s our hope that tonight’s meeting will close out and end a long process of appeals that will allow us to move forward with remodeling our home," said owner Joe Polichio.  "It’s good for the neighborhood and it’s what other property owners are doing to their homes throughout Lafayette."

Lafayette Planning and Building Manager Niroop Srivatsa says the reasons the Polichio’s home has created so much controversy are twofold:  it’s a second story home in a one-story neighborhood and there is concern that the home is not compatible with the surrounding area.  Burton neighbors Bill Wahlander and John Woolery have vehemently opposed the Polichio’s design application and have successfully rallied other neighbors to contest the project.

“I believe reasonable restrictions should be placed on homeowners so that we create neighborhoods that are nice looking.  We have met all the city ordinances so why shouldn't we be able to build what the Lafayette Design Review Committee has already approved?” Polichio asked.  

Now it’s up to the City Council to decide the fate of the Polichio home. 

Also on Monday’s agenda: Council goal setting for 2011 (6 p.m.); an update on the Planning Commission’s progress drafting the Downtown Specific Plan (7 p.m.); and the request to renew the in Lafayette for 2011 (7:30ish p.m.).  All at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center.