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Residents push back on Winchester SB 10 parcels, citing late notice, privacy and school-safety risks
Summary
Multiple nearby homeowners told the commission they were surprised by late notice, that property owners do not support the overlay and that increased vehicle trips and reduced setbacks would harm privacy and safety near Daves Avenue Elementary.
During public comment at the Dec. 3 meeting, multiple neighbors described being surprised by late notice and urged the commission to reject or pause the proposed overlay for the Winchester parcels.
“Sounds like this has been in the works since 2023, and we were 1st notified basically 10 days before, Thanksgiving,” said Samara Fishwick, who lives at 17581 Via Sereno, summarizing a common complaint about outreach timing. Fishwick and other speakers said one parcel owner submitted a letter opposing an overlay and the other verbally objected, and they said the lots’ narrow, deep configuration places potential new building side yards directly against neighbors’ backyards.
Several speakers highlighted child‑safety concerns at the Winchester/Daves intersection. Billy Martin, an elementary school principal who lives directly behind the parcels, said the driveway and intersection already have limited visibility and that an increase in morning vehicle trips could present a “clear, predictable, but preventable safety concern.” Other neighbors asked the commission to require objective standards—larger second‑story setbacks, window restrictions, landscape screening and materials that blend with mature trees—to preserve privacy and the Eichler neighborhood character.
Speakers also proposed alternatives: the larger Rose Avenue parcel, HOA open‑space carve‑outs, church property near a school, or voluntary homeowner groupings that could be offered as overlay candidates. Several residents asked the commission to send the proposal back to staff for additional study and outreach so neighbors impacted by the Winchester sites can more fully participate.
The commission’s referral to staff means those neighborhood concerns will be considered as staff prepares revised objective standards and evaluates alternate locations before any City Council hearing.
