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> ATt'AGHMENT5 <br /> >Dear Carl: <br /> >We are writing as neighbors of the Kerns house project. The Kerns' <br /> >architect met with us about their proposed landscape/screening plans, and <br /> >told us we should direct our comments to you. Thus, on his advice, we are <br /> >sending this to you; we hope it is appropriate and actionable. <br /> >As a result of that meeting, we have concerns in 3 areas which have not <br /> >been <br /> >adequately addressed: lighting, shielding, and color. <br /> >1. Lighting. <br /> >I told the architect that lighting was one of my biggest concerns. I was <br /> >not shown any plans for the exterior lighting. Several weeks ago, the <br /> >house <br /> >was lit up all night with general area lighting, and it was extremely <br /> >bright <br /> >and disruptive to the view of the night sky. I can only hope that it was <br /> >temporary work lighting that was left on accidentally, but it illustrated <br /> >the large potential problem of lighting up the night sky due to the exposed <br /> >position of the house. <br /> >It is our assumption that the Kerns house is subject to the same conditions <br /> >that our house was, which is that all exterior lights must be <br /> >downward-directed, shielded, and **NOT VISIBLE FROM OFFSITE**. <br /> >The Kerns house has the potential to destroy one of our most treasured <br /> >aspects of living in the Hills, i.e. the unimpeded view of the dark night <br /> >sky. The Kerns house should be required to take extra precautions due to <br /> >the fact that it affects the night view for so many houses. <br /> >2. Shielding. <br /> >The plans for shielding the house from offsite views seem insufficient. My <br /> >recollection may be faulty, but we seem to recall (before the house was <br /> >built) being told by the owners about much more extensive plans for <br /> >shielding. As it is now, only a few oak trees are to be planted. I don't <br /> >claim to know much about trees, but I would think that oaks won't shield <br /> >the <br /> >house for many years. Faster-growing, better-shielding trees or bushes <br /> >should be required to mask the house from lower viewpoints. <br /> >3. Color <br /> >We were not informed of the intended color of the house, but we were led to <br /> >believe it will be quite light and therefore visible. It is our hope that <br /> >the color will be required to be darker and less reflective, to blend in <br /> >with colors of the surrounding environs. <br /> >The house's highly exposed position along the ridge top (visible along the <br /> >entire Moody road corridor, let alone all the Rhus Ridge houses like ours) <br /> >makes it a particularly jarring distraction to the natural view of the <br /> >hills. <br /> >We would be happy to discuss this further if we can be of any assistance. <br /> >Best regards, <br /> >Roger & Elizabeth Spreen <br /> >11970 Rhus Ridge Road <br /> 2 <br />