Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

'May 7, 2008, is a day that will live in neighborhood infamy. A poorly prepared three-person committee of the city planning commission rejected an appeal of a site approval of a much too large home planned on a too small lot. The creation of a 4,350-square-foot home (the other adjacent homes do not exceed 2,800-square-feet) is planned for an 8,200-square-foot lot and will be jammed in between two homes that have been in place for 50 years.

' The appeal meeting began late because one of the three hearing committee members was late and upon entering the hearing said in a loud voice, "Well, what are we supposed to do today?" The committee member was completely ignorant, we'd say. Both sides of the case spoke, and the committee informed the participants that their decision was to deny the appeal. So, our $770 appeal expense was for naught. This decision was final and nonappealable. The decision is critical. In the hill area others can affect your property by building too large a house on too small a lot.

' On the more pleasant side, on May 14 at Leona Lodge, the Leona Heights Improvement Association meeting featured the subject "Neighborhood Safety," with speaker Renee Sykes of the Oakland Police Department. She provided much-needed practical suggestions for individual and family safety and preventing personal and home attacks, as well as suggestions for avoiding encounters with bad guys in car or home. Mary Velasco was a prime mover on this meeting.

' And lastly, more good news; recently nine little mallard ducklings appeared at the McCrea Park fly-casting ponds at the junction of Carson and Hwy 13. The mother and father often hide the young ones when people are present, but they sure are cute.

' Have a good summer and be sure to continue fire and earthquake safety planning.

Gordon Laverty can be reached at lavertyhillmob2\@sbcglobal.net.