Friends of Riverside's Hills
P.O. Box 5165
Riverside CA 92517-5165
watkinshill@juno.com
951-784-4954

Regarding: Case EP-039-890 (revised) / VR-023-023 (follows the wording of the case)

The following proposal of Mr. J. Guthrie is being appealed to the Riverside City Council by the Friends of Riverside's Hills (FRH) e-mail: Watkinshill@juno.com

1. Revised grading plan. Relocating the originally approved pads on lots 10 & 11 from along Lochmoor Drive, to positions closer to the boundary with Sycamore Canyon Park. In the case of lot 10, the new location would be up against the site of the proposed wildlife corridor leaving the Park (near the date palm). In the case of lot 11, the new location is on a ridge top overlooking the Park.
   
2. Variances to allow 2-story, 27.5 ft high houses on lots 10 & 12. The zoning permits 1-story, 20 ft high houses.
   

There are several lots between Lochmoor Drive and the eastern boundary of the Park. Earlier, the City Council okayed building on these lots with the house pads placed much closer to Lochmoor without impinging on the sight lines (views) of the park nor on the wildlife corridor.

On Tuesday, May 6 (@ 3:00) the planning commission will recommended to the City Council that the builder be allowed to 1.) relocate the pads far further into the park than was originally approved and 2.) build several 2-story houses against existing zoning.

If they are not stopped, these decisions will drastically change the existing characteristics of the Park.

The proposed pad for Lot 10 will locate the (2-story) home on a knoll along Central Av, situated very close to the big date palm. Building this home on the proposed pad will be so close to a long-planned wildlife corridor as to render it impractical for animal use. Overtime, this will result in severe limitation of the biodiversity of the Park which is currently maintained by animal migration between Sycamore Canyon Park, Quail Park (across Central to the fwy), Coyote Hill (between the fwy and Watkins Drive), and Box Springs Park. FRH is asking that the City have the builder locate the pad on the lot in an area away from the wildlife corridor and that no 2-story variance be granted.

The proposed pad for Lot 11 will place a million dollar home on top of a ridge right at the boundary of the Park. This will give the buyer 360° views of Sycamore Cyn and Box Springs Mt while effectively cutting off much of the same views for visitors to the Park. FRH is asking that this house be placed closer to Lochmoor where it was originally okayed by the City.

As for Lot 12, FRH is requesting that no 2-story variance be granted.

Protect your Park!