A proposal by Dilbert comic strip creator Scott Adams for a 8,300-square-foot home and adjoining 8,500-square-foot indoor tennis court was given the green light by the Planning Commission.
While the plans were disliked by neighbors who said the house was too large and would block their views and take away their privacy, they realized the commission would approve the project because it had met city planning standards and instead primarily used their time to address the planning board on imposing conditions of approval.
Many of the commissioners cited that while they understood neighbors wanting privacy and to maintain their views, there are no existing view easements, meaning they don’t have a legal right to those views.
Resident Becky Randall said “never did we think Pleasanton would support something like this,” adding that “this would likely be the largest home in Pleasanton.”
But despite those sentiments, Randall said she feels Adams and his wife Shelly have worked with the neighbors on their concerns.
Residents have said the home would be significantly larger than those surrounding it, which range from 2,700 to 5,000 square feet.
At the meeting, Adams and his architect Terry Townsend updated the commission on information they compiled in response to a previous meeting on the proposal. The information included a report on what trees would be removed, kept or added, a grading and drainage plan and a landscaping plan. According to a city staff report, unlike most custom home development proposals which require design review, the Adams proposal does not because it was exempted in the original Foxborough Estates development approval.
“The proposal we have right now isn’t our solution, but it does a lot to address the neighbors’ concerns,” Adams told the commission.
Conditions of approval included no construction on weekends, prohibiting construction vehicles on Gray Fox Circle in Foxborough Estates and directing lighting downwards.
The proposal for the home on Crellin Drive was approved 5-0 by the commission on March 12.
The commission has praised Adams for giving the home an above 150-point rating in terms of environmental-friendliness. The roof will have embedded solar panels and the home and property will incorporate recycled wood and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Adams, who currently lives in Dublin, said he wanted to move to Pleasanton because his wife Shelly and her two children are from here. He also will be more centrally located to the two restaurants he owns, Stacey’s Cafe in downtown Pleasanton and Stacey’s at Waterford in Dublin.
Planning Commission OKs updated massage ordinance
After an approval by the Planning Commission recently to update the city massage ordinance to allow student clinics, the World School of Massage will open its own on April 9.The clinic will serve a dual purpose, according to school manager Nick Tangney–provide student with professional experience and offer residents reduced-cost massages.
For more information on World School, located at 699 Peters Ave., call 461-2533.
–Janet Pelletier
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