| | Published November 26th, 2008
| Concerns Remain Over Palos Colorados Visibility
| | By Cathy Tyson |  | |
Nothing seems easy for the Palo Colorados project. No, not yet another lawsuit, or the California red-legged frog, or a proposed golf course. In a nutshell, "Staff is concerned about the visibility from the BART station" specifically for the most visible lot, number 106 and eight others on the Lafayette side of the proposed development, said Niroop Srivatsa, Lafayette's Planning and Building Manager.
The entire project, owned by Richfield Investment Corporation, spans over 400 acres just south of the city of Lafayette, on the edge of Moraga, and will have 123 homes when construction is complete.
Already in place is a landscape mitigation plan that was included in the 1999 Settlement Agreement, and Richfield argues, because it was included in the 1999 document it's not required by the 2007 Settlement Agreement. In a recent letter to Lafayette's Planning and Building Manager, attorneys for Richfield, "respectfully disagree with Staff's interpretation of the 2007 Settlement Agreement." Concern focused on the visibility of lot 106.
Richfield believes that conditions imposed by Lafayette are onerous. Srivatsa noted, "Our hope is to come up with a reasonable solution."
Lafayette Mayor Mike Anderson agreed, "I was shocked how visible it was - I have a great deal of concern and we should stand firm on those conditions."
Council Member Carol Federighi, although she agrees that the story poles and orange tape can be easily seen from BART, "our power may be limited," because the project is within the Moraga town limit.
Calls to Moraga's Planning Director were not returned.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA