Unit over First Street garage can stay Unit over First Street garage can stay (September 17, 2004)

Blue Victorian to keep all its charm
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

The City Council backed up the Planning Commission last week when it voted to allow the blue Victorian home at 4432 First St. to keep the unit over the detached garage. The garage building will be renovated to meet code requirements, and the upstairs will be allowed as a separate unit from the house in front.

The owners of the Victorian, Maureen and Jean Luc Chatelain, are in the process of selling the property to Scott Johnson, who told the council that he planned to gradually locate his daughter to the independent unit. The Chatelains purchased the home in July 1999 and put the house up for sale earlier this year when they were transferred to Atlanta.

Next door neighbor Debra Donald of the purple Victorian had brought the issue to the Planning Commission in July, saying the unit over the garage invaded her privacy plus she was concerned about the building's safety. When the commission voted to allow the unit to stay if it were brought up to code, she appealed the matter to the City Council.

The Planning Department staff recommended against using the second story as a living unit, saying it should be brought to code and then used as an accessory to the house. The staff report stated concerns about setting a precedent regarding the city's new second unit ordinance. Although the home was originally built in the 1880s, the new garage was constructed by the owner before the Chatelains, Gust Zigenus, who comprehensively remodeled the Victorian.

"The cost of bringing the structure to current code is $60,000," said Peter MacDonald, speaking on behalf of the Chatelains. "They will not spend that kind of money to build a 400-square-foot recreation unit."

MacDonald also said there are about 20 variances in the neighborhood. "Virtually every lot and house in their neighborhood violates the zoning requirements," he said. "It should be a pleasure and not a nightmare to invest in downtown Pleasanton."

Moreover, the blue Victorian and its matching garage are pictured on the cover of the Downtown Design Guidelines published by the city last September, said MacDonald.

Jean Luc Chatelain told the council that when he and his wife were considering buying the property, they met with Gary Smith of the Planning Department and did what he instructed to have the second unit grandfathered in legally. "I took the word of a city official," said Chatelain. "It is important to know we didn't build it. We merely purchased it, and it's been in plain sight."

"I ask for your support," he added, "not just for my benefit or my wife's benefit but for the new owner."

"We hope to be residents of Pleasanton and good stewards of the home," said prospective buyer Scott Johnson, "and good neighbors of all the neighbors."

The vote was 4-1 with Mayor Tom Pico voting no. "There is no immediate pressing occupancy need that I've heard and I have a problem with ignoring the law or bending it or stretching it," Pico said. "I think we're setting a significant precedent here."

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