Subscribers keep our independent community news in business. If you already have a subscription, log in or register for an account on our website to continue reading. Click here if you’re having trouble accessing your subscriber account.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Subscribers support the Los Altos Town Crier – please log in or subscribe to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Subscribers support the Los Altos Town Crier – please log in or subscribe to continue reading.
Subscribers keep our independent community news in business. If you already have a subscription, log in or register for an account on our website to continue reading. Click here if you’re having trouble accessing your subscriber account.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
Your weekly print newspaper delivered, and more
Less than 20¢ a day
√ Weekly Print Edition delivered to your mailbox
√ Unlimited access on all devices
When you don't want the printed newspaper
Less than 20¢ a day
√ Unlimited access on all devices
√ No paper copy – less to recycle
Activate your all-inclusive access for print subscribers: Link your losaltosonline.com account to your print subscription here.
Your account number is your one-line street address as printed on your newspaper – use normal capitalization. Example: 138 Main St.
When your current subscription expires later this year, you will be able to renew at losaltosonline.com/users/admin/service/purchase.
If you have any trouble accessing your account or linking your subscription, our Subscription FAQ may have the answer you need.
Contact howardb@latc.com or call him at (650) 397-5213 with any questions or to learn more.
Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.
Promotional Rates were found for your code.
Sunny. High 81F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph..
Clear skies. Low 54F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
A new prefabricated home on Laver Court has neighbors unhappy about a design they claim is nonconforming. The city of Los Altos and the new homeowners said the project met all city conditions for approval. The new home's large windows, above, currently have a clear view into the backyard of a next-door neighbor.
A new prefabricated home on Laver Court has neighbors unhappy about a design they claim is nonconforming. The city of Los Altos and the new homeowners said the project met all city conditions for approval. The new home's large windows, above, currently have a clear view into the backyard of a next-door neighbor.
The recent installation of a prefabricated home in an established south Los Altos neighborhood had neighbors perplexed by what they felt was a stark departure from the architectural styles of the surrounding homes.
Neighbors said an existing home on Laver Court was razed in the fall to make way for the new house, which was installed in sections with a “big crane” approximately five weeks ago. The project was approved in 2020.
“The city has told us there was no rule in place to notify the neighbors of this construction unless it’s a two-story, which this was not,” said one Laver Court resident, who did not want his name used. “This was a teardown and rebuilt one-story, so we were never notified.”
The project involves a main house with a flat roof and an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU.
Laver Court is a sloped street, so the new home is elevated above Joan Muhlfelder’s property. The windows of the new prefab structure overlook her backyard.
“Now people can look right in,” Muhlfelder said.
She said it would take “major, major landscaping” to mitigate the impact.
“I don’t want to wait 50 years for a tree to grow,” she added.
Muhlfelder said the new homeowners have been communicating with neighbors, willing to discuss possible landscaping and fencing.
“We had worked closely with the city to ensure we are in compliance with all regulations and requirements, including setbacks and matching architectural styles,” said Serena Li, co-owner of the newly installed home. “We have reached out to neighbors and are working directly with neighbors to ensure they also benefit from the new development.”
Li pointed to the house’s “cool roof system,” designed to reflect the sun’s energy.
“We had picked this particular prefab company (Connect Homes) as we are strong believers of doing our part to be environmentally friendly,“ she said.
“Yes, they are in conformance, but (the planning department) can reach out and try to influence the owner that it would be in their interest to work with the neighborhood for good relationships in the future,” said Laura Simpson, the city’s interim planning director.
One resident pointed to the city’s own website on design review guidelines. They read in part: “Residential design guidelines were adopted to ensure that new development and modifications to existing development are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and integrate well within the fabric of the community.”
“Does this conform with the rest of the houses in the neighborhood?” one neighbor asked, referring to most of the surrounding homes built in the 1950s. “It does not, obviously.”
Neighbors have been meeting among themselves and with city officials to discuss options, but Muhlfelder acknowledges it’s likely too late to do anything about the new home.
“My point (in drawing attention) is to prevent this from happening again,” she said.
The company did work through a tough design review and worked with the city and it’s design guidelines to make it more compatible to the neighborhood.
Bruce Barton is longtime editor-in-chief of the Town Crier.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
Keep it Courteous. Be respectful, truthful, and use no threatening or hateful language. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts and the history behind a news event. Read our full comments policy: losaltosonline.com/comments