The Citrus Heights City Council unanimously axed a proposed development on the city's northern border after a noisy meeting packed with neighbors opposing the project.
At issue was a proposed six-unit development on 1.24 acres on Whyte Avenue near Lichen and Vernon Oaks drives.
The applicant, Citrus Heights resident Valentin Krasnodemsky, wanted to rezone the property from a maximum of two units per acre to a maximum of five. Property records show that Krasnodemsky acquired the property in 2005.
The council voted 5-0 to deny him the rezone at its Aug. 14 meeting.
The six homes on Krasnodemsky's project would have ranged between 2,800 and 3,400 square feet, significantly larger than most of the existing homes on the block, residents at the meeting said.
"We're pleased with the way our property is, and we'd like it to remain that way," said June Luna, who lives next to Krasnodemsky's property.
Tammy White, another neighborhood resident, said the homes, which were to feature solar panels on massive roofs, amounted to "putting George Jefferson's house next to the Flintstones'."
Councilwoman Jayna Karpinski-Costa said the homes didn't meet the city's requirement for granting a rezone.
Citrus Heights' general plan calls for a project to have "superior design" and "enhance" the surrounding community, she explained.
"These are not superior design," she said. "When you have six ugly houses (next to one another), it just multiplies that."
The council discussed allowing Krasnodemsky to present a new project that fits the existing zoning, but he said he felt the current design was the best he could do.
"I think I've done all I can do," Krasnodemsky said. "I've done more than enough; I think it was superior."
Call The Bee's Stan Oklobdzija, (916) 608-7453.
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