5 Responses to “Lot Merger Decision Moved to May 8 Despite Neighbor Request”
Comments
April 25th, 2012
I really don't get this at all! Mayor Gardner is hoping for a compromise!!! The Guida's new neighbors are only asking from the City what is fair and legal. One of the conditions for allowing a lot merger is : "5. The lots as merged will be consistent with the surrounding pattern of development and will not create an excessively large lot that is not compatible with the surrounding development." (taken directly off of the City's application). The whole idea behind adding this stipulation to the City's application was to eliminate the mansionization of a quaint community. The Guida's bought their two small homes on speculation that they would be able to merge the lots so they could build their 12,000 square foot mansion. They also knew about the restrictive covenants that are recorded against the land protecting the views of the neighboring properties. Why does Mayor Gardner hope for a compromise? Mayor Gardner should be protecting the rights of long time Corona Del Mar residents rather than cow towing to a Chicago area transplant that has total disregard for agreements that have been in place for over 50 years and City requirements for lot mergers that do not allow for excessively large parcels. Every property owner in the City of Newport Beach should be enraged that the Mayor has such disregard for long time City residents and property owners. A compromise is not what is needed in this case. Just because someone has lots of money and can pay for expensive consultants does not mean that they are right! Please City Council Members, do what is right, do not allow this lot merger!
April 25th, 2012
I don't know the whole story/background here but that said, I don't understand why the City is even involved with regard to the height restrictions. There is a private agreement in place which runs with the land. One could build a beautiful single story home on two lots. There's your compromise.
April 25th, 2012
To "Fed Up" - who says that CDM is a "quaint" community? CDM is an "exclusive" community of multi-million dollar mansions on small lots. So let's get that straight. I don't buy into the "quaint village" idea unless you want to pay for my loss of property value. Ocean Blvd. is filled with large homes on two or even three lots. This house will be an asset to the community and will increase neighborhood lot values overall, therefore I support the new construction over building two dinky homes that in turn will decrease values. This is one of the premiere home locations IN THE WORLD - it is worthy of a world class structure. I absolutely agree that it should comply with any legal height covenants, but that is a private matter between the litigants. I also believe people should not cause harm to others while seeking their own happiness or profit. And once again, I do not know any of the parties involved. And I'd like to ask - what is the motive behind the folks who are not directly affected and who do not want a new beautiful home on this site. Please explain why you are against the modernization of CDM and the replacement of old houses built in the 1940's and 50's with modern beautiful, high value homes? Are you jealous, do you just oppose change on principal? What? I really want to understand.
April 26th, 2012
"Jaime" - I have lived in NB since the early 70's, in CDM, on the peninsula, and in the Heights. My family has lived here since the early 50's. I guess I am showing my age when calling CDM a quaint community, as this is what it was in the 70's when I first lived here. I am not opposed to modernizing Corona Del Mar. What I am opposed to is the total disregard of City requirements for lot mergers that were made to stop the mansionization of Newport Beach. Have you seen the horrid "boxes" in Newport Heights? From what I have seen of the proposed plans, the structure is a big box (19 1/2' tall), lacking any character, drawn to maximize interior square footage. A beautiful single story structure with some architectural appeal would be welcome. I do have to disagree with you on property values decreasing if two single story houses were built on the existing lots.
May 1st, 2012
I think a convincing argument could be made in FAVOR of lot mergers. Our village is densely packed and many of the older homes that were built upon 60 foot lots have been subdivided, yielding the narrow and awkward looking homes on 30 foot lots. More lots means more cars and more people per block. We should welcome folks who are proposing to merge two lots with one home. As for the height restriction in this particular case, I agree with Sammy and think the City should stay out of it.
