Council rejects home expansion

Lolita Harper

City Council members unanimously denied a two-story home addition

on Monday, saying the anticipated lawsuit from the home’s owner would

finally test city codes that require developments to be “harmonious”

and “compatible” with the surrounding neighborhood.

Councilman Gary Monahan invited John Clark, who wants to add

another floor to his Marina Highlands home on Aviemore Terrace, to

take legal action, saying it was time to more clearly define the

city’s seemingly vague building requirements.

“Maybe it is time that this part of our code take that test and

see if it stands up,” Monahan said.

The Clarks have been asking to build a second-floor master suite

and expand the ground floor for a breakfast nook, kitchen and study

-- designs that would create their dream home, they say.

In reality, the ultimate approval or denial revolved around what

is considered “compatible” or “harmonious” and by whom.

In February, the city zoning administrator reviewed the Clarks’

request and approved the addition, ensuring the “remodel [was]

compatible with its neighborhood.”

Councilman Chris Steel appealed the decision on behalf of

surrounding residents who said it was out of character with the

neighborhood. On April 1, the issue came before council members, who

transferred it to the Planning Commission. Planning commissioners

reluctantly approved the addition, saying there was no city code

prohibiting it. Steel again appealed, bringing the issue back to the

council on Monday.

Two dozen people who have consistently followed the issue through

the bureaucratic process spoke on the issue Monday, with opponents

outnumbering supporters 3 to 1.

Fellow Marina Highlands residents argued the addition would block

their views of the ocean and create a large, two-story house out of

character with the rest of the neighborhood.

Resident Paul Ables said the Clarks were ignoring the values of

the neighborhood by proposing a project that would subsequently block

the views of those behind them. Ables said the city should deny the

request because a two-story home on a terraced portion of land is not

compatible with the area, as required by city codes.

“A home that creates disharmony in a neighborhood can’t possibly

be harmonious to those around it,” Ables said.

An attorney representing the Clarks argued that the council should

approve the project on the basis of harmony and compatibility. Six

other homes in the vicinity have two stories, attorney James Casello

said, making the Clarks’ home not out of the ordinary.

Regardless of any view obstruction, council members decided the

scope and mass of the proposed addition was incompatible with the

neighborhood.

Councilwoman Karen Robinson said the reason she got involved with

city politics was a second-story addition in Mesa Verde that she said

“destroyed the entire character of the neighborhood.” Robinson said

the proposed project on Aviemore Terrace would similarly create

disharmony in the neighborhood and she could not endorse it.

“I don’t think we should make the same mistake here,” she said.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.