SVHOA Board Meeting June 20, 2002

Meeting commenced at 7:05 p.m.

Board Members in attendance: President Brian Brick, Treasurer Jennie Brick, and Plans Chair Gail Rappl.

Board members absent: Vice-President Jill Warner and Parks Chair Matt Cronin.

Other attendees: Joe McClintock, Steve Grodin, John Shimko, Tracy Shimko, Don Fuller, Janice Jorgensen, Pat Mossburg, Sally Barro, Madeline, Bill, and Marisa Jay, Don Melcher, Michael Waldean, Cathy Carson, Diane & Benton Russell, Bob & Bobbie Hartman, Vicki Yang, Nancy Bergman, Steve Pellitteri, Fabomi Ojuola, Dawn Chesney, Capt. Dennis Shinn, Tim Herron, and Ed Patmont (and his son).

Mr. Patmont stated that some of the attendees may remember him from a previous presentation to the SVHOA. Since that time the proposed project "has doubled plus in size", from 32 to 65 or 66 acres. He now has property with access to Lockard, a fire easement, to Covington, and a small strip near a school to Malcolm. The main property line is at the Dunsmuir Estate property.

He plans to build only one home per acre. There will be access for 10 homes out to Malcolm. The main entrance will be off of Covington. He wants to put in a straight road where the fire trail is, coming onto the Dunsmuir property; he wants to "punch through Covington to Foothill". In answer to a question, Mr. Patmont stated that Covington would be the main way in and out for the development.

He plans to have a two way street on this side of the freeway. Exiting to the right would have access to the freeway and MacArthur Blvd. Or one could go left onto Foothill. In response to a question, Mr. Patmont stated that he was in the "pre-application" stage at this time. Returning to his presentation, he explained there would be a secondary exit to Kerrigan, and a primary and secondary exit to Lockard. He tried to avoid traffic through the Village, but it was not possible; this was the "best way".

Mr. Patmont stated that he went to a South Hills Homeowners group a couple of weeks ago. The project might be a planned development or might be a subdivision.

Mr. Patmont stated that there are two creeks on the property. He wants enhancement of a trail from Dunsmuir near the southerly creek. He will keep them natural but will need bridges. He has hired the firm of Wolf, Mason of Berkeley to do creek work.

He has not prepared any EIR yet. With 66 lots he might want to do 8-10 houses per year. In answer to a question regarding the need for traffic from the project to go through Sheffield Village, Mr. Patmont said: "I'm in a sense sorry to have to be the bad developer… but I have no other way… this is the right way…this is a major artery, to 580. My traffic engineer says we can do this."

Mr. Patmont believes that Villagers would not see the road with the landscaping. The road will be paved. He acknowledged that the road might carry potential traffic from the existing development up above as well as from his development. He is amenable to possibly giving up some land for trails, perhaps a parking trail also. Earthquake engineering has been considered. He knows the project is close to the Hayward fault, but stated it was not on the fault itself.

In response to a question, he stated that they are still in escrow on the second half of the property for their development. The escrow should close within two and a half to three weeks. The sellers have been delaying.

Mr. Patmont acknowledged that his project needs and easement from the Dunsmuir House. He stated that he will be heard by their board of directors on August 1st, he is willing to pay fair market value for the easement. He is paying the school to widen the road near Malcolm.

Some of the homes may be visible at certain angles, but a lot would be hidden from Sheffield Village. The project is on the other side of Dunsmuir Heights. They will be taking some trees down- "a lot of trees, but no more than we absolutely need to"- for roads or houses.

Mr. Patmont stated "66 is the minimum that I feel is appropriate. I need it… these will be one acre homes… beautiful homes." He suggested that people look at 6509 Elverton as an example of the quality of his homes. The houses will be 3,000-5,000 sq. ft. and prices will range from $800K - $1 million +.

Bollards will be used to discourage traffic to Malcolm and Kerrigan. The fire department would have keys. CalTrans and the City of Oakland would be involved in resolving the Covington/Foothill access. He might make an offer to buy the piece of land with the telephone pole near Covington/Foothill. He has talked to engineering, fire and planning.

Mr. Patmont stated that the present Covington Circle is "a mess"; that it's a lousy entrance to Dunsmuir. His proposal cleans up the whole traffic pattern. He could put a bern, or landscape, to minimize impact on the nearby homes. It is a 50 ft. wide strip next to Dunsmuir, with 30 ft. from Dunsmuir, which will give him the 80 ft. needed for the road. There is a fire trail there right now. The water lines for the project could come from Malcolm and/other areas. The project will not be a gated community. He is proposing that it all be public streets- he was told the City prefers that.

"You have a nice neighborhood here, very lovely homes and we want to do a nice neighborhood too." Mr. Patmont doesn't know for certain, but thinks that new construction probably has an overall positive impact on property values nearby. Most of the houses will face Dunsmuir. He wants a road out to the southwest. He is open to discussing giving the prominent areas within view to the City in exchange for the road. He wants the lots big and the setting open.

Mr. Patmont stated that he might be willing to forego some building if he could get ultimate approval for the road through at Covington, but will seek an easement of necessity in court if approval is not given. He plans to widen Foothill on our side of the freeway so that it is two lanes; there would be lanes in each direction from Covington to the freeway entrance.

Mr. Patmont identified the attorney for the school which gave him an easement as being Mr. Jerry Suich.

Asked what he would do if he could not get a road through the Dunsmuir Property, Mr. Patmont stated that he might use the back way out toward Lockard, with 10 homes using Malcolm. He would also look to the northern edge of the Dunsmuir property. His preference is to be at the southern edge of Dunsmuir, next to the Village. "It's unfortunate that it is so close to you… but this is the best…this is what I'm going to propose."

Mr. Patmont stated that he might try to go out to Peralta Oaks Court. President Brick interjected that access to the court would probably be blocked by the new parking structure under construction for the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Mr. Fabomi stated that the City abandoned Helman 40 years ago. Mr. Patmont stated that a road could be put in. He acknowledged that 40,000 cubic yards of dirt would need to be moved on the road by the school to Malcolm. This might require 2 years, at 8 truckloads per day.

Pat Mossberg noted at this point that Council Member Larry Reid will not support the project unless the community supports it.

Mr. Patmont suggested that the project might ease the difficult parking situation for the Dunsmuir House. Several attendees commented that they did not believe there was a parking problem; President Brick noted that Dunsmuir has made arrangements with State Fund for use of the Fund's parking lots.

Mr. Patmont stated that he hopes to build 5 to 7 or 8 homes per year. It will be a long term build out. The road will have retaining walls. Mr. Patmont was unaware of the truck ban on portions of I 580, when questioned by an attendee.

Mr. Patmont stated the road will be "tucked down below the ridge", with homes not visible at all, "but others not much". He might negotiate so that the corners of his property would remain as open space.

The project will not have retail. No community center is planned. The homes will have a Tuscany or Mediterranean feel. His target for breaking ground is three years. Responding to a question he stated that his largest development to date was Elverton Drive in Oakland, involving 90 lots.

At approximately 8:35 Mr. Patmont finished, and left the meeting. Thereafter, a very brief discussion ensued. The attendees were unanimous in their opposition to the project. Several possible strategies were discussed. President Brick suggested that a committee would likely need to be formed. Interested persons were invited to provide email addresses so that they could be apprised of further developments.

At approximately 9pm the meeting adjourned.