Hello to you all,

I will be at the meeting tonight in support of Marcia and Phil Friedly
and Marie Traub. My husband and I have lived at 810 Lemon Street for 11
years and our back property line is shared with the Hasslens as well as
the Friedlys.

I will be reading a short, prepared statement by Dianne Blake, 730
Lemon Street, who was involved in an appeal to City Council in 2001
concerning a two-story house to be build next to them at 710 Lemon
Street, an appeal which provides precedent for the Council ruling in
favor of neighborhood concerns for the intrusion of a two-story house
in the midst of one-story houses.

In addition I will have a minute of my own concerns that I would like
to voice that will address the value of scale in a neighborhood and the
jarring loss of neighborhood character. This new home will not impact
us at 810 Lemon in any large degree, as there is a thick line of trees
on my side of the property which will hide the house from view in my
garden. But my heart aches for the Friedlys and Marie Traub, long-time
residents of Evergreen. While I feel that the parties on both sides of
this issue are reasonable and intelligent and will be willing to work
toward a compromise, I wish to come down firmly on the side of my
long-time neighbors and give them what support I can. The Hasslens are
lovely people and I have met with them and heard their needs and their
plans but I do strongly support the cohesiveness and the small scale
that now exists in this block and that I have loved and enjoyed for 11
years.

Thank you for your concern and mindfulness in this matter and I look
forward to addressing you tonight.

Best regards,

Kathleen Baker Rice
810 Lemon Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-326-2040
Received on Wed Feb 7 01:27:02 2007