Building onthe Unique Value of Lee Drive

Presentation to the permit applicant for 947 Lee Dr and the Menlo Park Planning Commission on the unique qualities of the surrounding neighborhood and the importance of a floor area/lot size ratio consistent with prevailing building densities.

By residents and owners of Lee Drive, Menlo Park CAFeb 6, 2012

Request by 947 Lee owner to the Menlo Park planning commission for approval to construct a 2600 sq ft home on a substandard 4800 sq ft lot

Use Permit, Variances/Whitney Peterson/947 Lee Drive:

“Request for a use permit to determine the Floor Area Limit (FAL) for a lot with less than 5,000 square feet of developable area, and for the construction of a two-story, single family residence on a substandard lot in the R-1-U (Single-Family Urban) zoning district.

In addition, a request for variances for construction of a first story encroachment of approximately five-feet into the required 25-foot 6-inch front yard setback, and 10-feet into the required 20-foot rear yard setback. As part of the proposed development, one heritage Monterey pine tree (58-inch diameter) in poor condition at the right side of the property would be removed.

Item deferred at the request of the applicant.”

8 Residences of Lee Drive form close-knit community Small parcels situated around compact cul-de-sac with no street parking

947937

941

945949

939943

935

Neighborhood home/lot ratios

Lee Drive Address Lot Size (Sq Ft) Home Size (Sq Ft) House/Lot ratio

Proposed 947 4792 2600 54%

935 5999 1560 26%

937 5772 1340 23%

939 5772 820 14%

941 5830 780 13%

943 5830 1261 22%

945 6098 1380 23%

949 4792 830 17%

947 Lee Dr permit applicant proposes the largest home (by +60%) on the smallest lot in this community, with 2X to 4X higher building density than the remaining 7 properties on the street.

Lee Drive is a unique settingConsisting of a cluster of small homes on small lots nestled beneath numerous heritage trees in a park-like oasis.

History of Lee Drive:

The original builder of the neighborhood, took deliberate advantage of the special setting, anchoring the cul-de-sac under towering heritage oaks.

The builder and subsequent residents were relations and associates of Dr Russell Lee, respected founder of the medical group known today as the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

The Lee Family still owns narrow strips of land on both sides of Lee Drive, with the intention of preserving the quaint country lane for posterity.

The Joy of Lee Driveis small homes among large trees

Every neighbor on Lee Dr plays a partThe intimate scale, the close quarters and the shared setting brings our neighbors together, in our homes, in our yards, and on our street.

Home owners may choose alternatives…Different building density choices generate very different living environments

Big Homes on Small LotsProperty owners may choose to live with higher building density. This permanently reduces the space available to accommodate tree canopies.

Small Homes on Small Lots are needed to sustain the leafy ambience and generous tree canopy cherished by Lee Dr property owners

941 Lee: 780 sq ft home on 5830 sq ft lot (13% home/lot density)

937 Lee: 1340 sq ft home on 5772 sq ft lot (23% home/lot density)

Small Homes on Small Lots a look around the neighborhood

943 Lee: 1261 sq ft home on 5830 sq ft lot (22% home/lot density)

935 Lee: 1560 sq ft home on 5999 sq ft lot (26% home/lot density)

Small Homes on Small Lots a look around the neighborhood

Replaces 780 sq ft predecessor

935 Lee: 1560 sq ft home on 5999 sq ft lot (26% home/lot density)

947 Lee proposal: 2600 sq ft home on 4792 sq ft lot (54% home/lot density)

Small Homes on Small Lots a look around the neighborhood

947 Lee proposal has 2X to 4X greater building densitythan surrounding 7 homes on cul-de-sac

Impacts of Current 947 Proposal

• Introduces a residence dramatically out of scale with surrounding homes

• Seeks to benefit from the park-like setting of the surrounding properties without allocating the necessary setbacks and air space to contribute to this setting

• Creates a likely parking congestion problem in a very compact neighborhood that has no street parking

We respectfully ask our prospective new neighbors at 947 Lee Drive to work with us and the Menlo Park Planning Commission to pursue a floor area to lot size ratio consistent with the surrounding properties and preserve this unique setting for all the property owners.