Ridge Building Plan Blasted
By Corey Lyons
Contra Costa Newspapers
Oct. 5, 2003
MARTINEZ -- Bill Chase stepped out of his attractive, two-story house on Costanza Drive and aimed an index finger at a thirsty hillside above his property.
"If they start pushing soil around, will this hill come down into my back yard?" he said. "Now, when I look up there, I get an uneasy feeling."
So do his neighbors. They are fuming about a plan to build nine single-family homes on a sun-scorched ridge above their houses.
While Chase is mostly worried about a landslide similar to the one in 1988, his neighbors want to preserve a key slice of open space as well as their own privacy.
The Riggs Court proposal, similar to one rejected 15 years ago, has revived a battle over the vacant ridge in a city known for its golden, oak-studded hills.
In this case, the developer in the project not only faces dozens of irate neighbors but also a proposed ridgeline view ordinance by a Martinez councilman.
In it, Councilman Bill Wainwright wants to prohibit any construction "within 100 feet, measured vertically," of the centerline of any ridge.
All of this has left the developer, Jim Busby, defending a 6-acre project still in its design and planning phase.
"It's inevitable when you put housing on a piece of open ground that someone can see it," he said. "It's also a shame today that housing has to apologize for being somewhat visible."
Nothing has ever been visible on the ridge aside from a few bushy oaks.
In 1988, the City Council voted to reject a similar subdivision on this hilltop because of its inconsistency with the general plan.
"Specifically," a council resolution read in 1988, "the proposal would have placed homes on the ridgetop in prominently visible locations," rather than "hidden locations."
The resolution also identified "potential soils stability problems." It directed the land owner, Nelda Riggs, back to the Planning Commission for revisions, including fewer homes.
Now, it is back. Only this time Busby -- who has built about 2,500 houses in Martinez since the early 1960s -- is the developer representing Riggs.
"This property is designated and zoned residential," said Busby, owner of Security Owners Corp. in Martinez. "The immediate owners are unhappy, and I can understand that. No one likes change in the neighborhood."
Busby added that the project could be built without being overly intrusive on neighbors, and that the ridge ordinance was a cheap shot to thwart his plans.
"I have no question in my mind that Wainwright targeted my site," he said. "Obviously, people around the site had lobbied Wainwright, and he triggered this proposal, on a knee-jerk basis."
Wainwright, who was elected in November, said his idea for a ridgeline ordinance was part of his campaign -- it had nothing to do with any specific project.
"In a perfect world, from his perspective, people like Busby can build wherever and whenever they want," he said.
The ordinance, which is similar to one in Danville, is on hold until city staff begins analyzing its ridgetops and determining where development can occur.
The Riggs Court proposal, meanwhile, will be heard before the Planning Commission at a later date. Busby wants to start building houses on the ridge sometime next year.
Chase, the resident on Costanza Drive, has already submitted a seven-page letter to planning commissioners in which he outlines his objections.
"The owner of the property was refused approval about 15 years ago," he said. "Why? What is different now? Nothing. Should another ridgeline be built upon, spoiling the vista for all of us?"
Contra Costa Newspapers
Oct. 5, 2003
MARTINEZ -- Bill Chase stepped out of his attractive, two-story house on Costanza Drive and aimed an index finger at a thirsty hillside above his property.
"If they start pushing soil around, will this hill come down into my back yard?" he said. "Now, when I look up there, I get an uneasy feeling."
So do his neighbors. They are fuming about a plan to build nine single-family homes on a sun-scorched ridge above their houses.
While Chase is mostly worried about a landslide similar to the one in 1988, his neighbors want to preserve a key slice of open space as well as their own privacy.
The Riggs Court proposal, similar to one rejected 15 years ago, has revived a battle over the vacant ridge in a city known for its golden, oak-studded hills.
In this case, the developer in the project not only faces dozens of irate neighbors but also a proposed ridgeline view ordinance by a Martinez councilman.
In it, Councilman Bill Wainwright wants to prohibit any construction "within 100 feet, measured vertically," of the centerline of any ridge.
All of this has left the developer, Jim Busby, defending a 6-acre project still in its design and planning phase.
"It's inevitable when you put housing on a piece of open ground that someone can see it," he said. "It's also a shame today that housing has to apologize for being somewhat visible."
Nothing has ever been visible on the ridge aside from a few bushy oaks.
In 1988, the City Council voted to reject a similar subdivision on this hilltop because of its inconsistency with the general plan.
"Specifically," a council resolution read in 1988, "the proposal would have placed homes on the ridgetop in prominently visible locations," rather than "hidden locations."
The resolution also identified "potential soils stability problems." It directed the land owner, Nelda Riggs, back to the Planning Commission for revisions, including fewer homes.
Now, it is back. Only this time Busby -- who has built about 2,500 houses in Martinez since the early 1960s -- is the developer representing Riggs.
"This property is designated and zoned residential," said Busby, owner of Security Owners Corp. in Martinez. "The immediate owners are unhappy, and I can understand that. No one likes change in the neighborhood."
Busby added that the project could be built without being overly intrusive on neighbors, and that the ridge ordinance was a cheap shot to thwart his plans.
"I have no question in my mind that Wainwright targeted my site," he said. "Obviously, people around the site had lobbied Wainwright, and he triggered this proposal, on a knee-jerk basis."
Wainwright, who was elected in November, said his idea for a ridgeline ordinance was part of his campaign -- it had nothing to do with any specific project.
"In a perfect world, from his perspective, people like Busby can build wherever and whenever they want," he said.
The ordinance, which is similar to one in Danville, is on hold until city staff begins analyzing its ridgetops and determining where development can occur.
The Riggs Court proposal, meanwhile, will be heard before the Planning Commission at a later date. Busby wants to start building houses on the ridge sometime next year.
Chase, the resident on Costanza Drive, has already submitted a seven-page letter to planning commissioners in which he outlines his objections.
"The owner of the property was refused approval about 15 years ago," he said. "Why? What is different now? Nothing. Should another ridgeline be built upon, spoiling the vista for all of us?"
posted by Corey at 8:21 PM
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