Springhill Valley Homeowner Association Meeting Minutes
December 4, 2001
Attending Board Members:
David Van Etten
Kevin Gahagen
Guy Atwood
Paul Melmed
Ernie Gabiati
Lori Lane
Alida Smit
Absent Board Members:
Joan Beerline, Bill Bishop, Bruce Westphal, Nancy Wolff, Don Schneider, Bill
Hansen, Dave Dunbar, and Dave Harnish
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Dave VanEtten.
Our Association is looking into scheduling our annual meeting at Springhill
Elementary School on either February 4th or 5th. Alida will contact Cathy
Sturnam, the schools secretary, for a date and to secure the library.
Several members expressed concern regarding the old blue gum tree at the
beginning of Springhill Road. Another large piece of the tree fell over
toward the side of the creek. Other branches have fallen and have caused
power outages. The association has expressed interest in collaborating with
the school in getting an arborist to look at the tree to see if the tree
needs trimming and if the city can therefore trim back the tree to a safe
shape. Alida will contact Bruce Wodhams regarding this issue.
An old Porsche still resides near the first bridge on Springhill Road and
Guy
is actively seeking the removal of the vehicle.
Our website is not getting as much use as we would like it to. David will
put in on the agenda for the annual meeting to have someone show our
neighbors how to access it.
Informational Updates:
Lafayette Library: Guy reported that the city is going to choose between
two
sites for the new library. The two being considered are: the Lincoln
Property and the Veterans Hall. The city is getting appraisals for both
and
will decide soon on which site to begin work.
Senior Citizens Housing: Guy also reported that the Senior Citizens Housing
Project on Deer Hill Road is on hold. The couple who own the property are
threatening to pull their application and give the property to an Indian
tribe. The land sits across from the Lafayette BART station.
Open Space: An issue will be posed to the voters to float a bond which will
be used to buy more open space. Be on the lookout for this. A private
enterprise is using the term "smart growth" which promotes high density
building while perserving the open space. They will pull agencies together
and the county will pay for the program. It comes down to county control
versus local control.
Design Review: Guy shared that the Design Review Committee is proposing to
set up new triggers for homes being build similiar to Orindas guidelines.
For a home to be remodeled more that 50 and/or tear downs, a new set of
guidelines will have to be followed. This committee is looking to avoid the
very large homes currently being built in Lafayette.
Hillside Ordinance: A joint meeting is scheduled for January 7th in the
Sequoia Room for the City Council, the General Plan Committee, the Planning
Commission and the Design Review Committee. The topic is discuss changes in
the Hillside Ordinance before the General Plan goes into effect. The
Planning Commission will also meet in January.
Roughing It Day Camp: Bob Taylor has asked to check the Roughing It Day
Camps application with the City of Lafayette for their use of the Brown
Ranch. Technically, an application is reviewed after 5 years of current
use,
however, the camp has asked for an application for a permit after one year
of
use for their equastrian center. Bob Taylor has asked the association to
look into this permit since a year is not enough time for an evaluation.
Hynek Application: After 4 hearings, the Hynek application was approved.
Carol Federica and Earlene Horn consistently side with developers according
to the Lafayette Homeowners Council. The Alameda whipsnake has been sited a
few times on their property. The city issued a condition that no grading be
done until Federal and State governments (the Wildlife Federation and Fish
and Game) approve the building permit.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
