Saint Mary's Street hillside home

Argued only the City Council can approve building permits on lots needing hillside repair, that the staging plan shows real grading on Lot 70, and that the story poles hide the true three-story height.

Welcomed the family but questioned how a three-story house squares with Resolution 61-78's two-story limit and cited a 2005 denial of a three-story home on the same fragile hill.

Cited the soils report's 1.43 stability factor below the required 1.5, asked for enforceable checks on mitigation measures, and raised property-line stake questions.

Objected to a 9,190-gallon water basin and above-ground spa on unstable fill, saying the soils report forbids ponding water and neither feature appears on the grading plans.

A 15-year-old speaker argued 'just because you can doesn't mean you should,' citing California red-legged frog migration, tree removal, and the unfairness of building on an unstable hill.

Asked the city to slow down, order a more comprehensive biological report, and consider cumulative impacts of future lot development in a high fire-risk zone.

A nearby resident worried approving this house triggers a chain reaction of development on all the Saint Mary's lots, eroding the wildlife and views he loves.

As a fellow immigrant, empathized with the family's dream, but urged the commission to evaluate cumulative hillside impacts rather than one lot in a vacuum.

Described four slides in 14 years on his street, weak water pressure and an unreliable pump not being replaced until 2028, and asked to review the newly revised resolution before approval.

Warned drilling 30-foot piers beside the aging 1958-fill road could crack the street and utilities, asking for vibration monitors and a road repair bond.

Raised fire-evacuation concerns with construction trucks on a narrow street with no parking on one side and an insufficient pump for firefighting.

Revealed an October 14 email showing the city's peer reviewer BSK requested slope stability calculations not due for a month, and asked the commission to table the application until they're done.