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Session 1692, Minutes April 14, 1997 her husband do not wish to move from here. The four sons she has raised here have all attended University City schools. They are very happy here and very much want this addition to their home. Mr. Ueberman asked why the three-quarter addition, approved earlier, was not carried through. Mrs. Collins responded that inclement weather had stopped them from beginning the work and that the contractor had showed her a complete second story at a very favorable price. Mr. Ueberman asked why she needed the larger addition. She said that she felt it was more attractive than the three quarter stoW and provided even more space and subsequently changed their plans. Mr. Munkel noted that there were no changes in the lower level. He would have to agree with Mr. Ollendorff's recommendation because there would be five bedrooms in a very small house. Mrs. Collins said that the two bedrooms, that are currently 8 x I 0, would be converted into other living space, such as an offce and a den. Mayor Adams said that no matter what they would be used for, that technically they would be classified as bedrooms. Mr. Munkel said that he looked at the Collins' house and said that it was a very small house, He explained that adding a whole second floor would add about nine feet above the existing roof level. Mr. Munkel could not see any purpose for putting in trusses that were two feet in height, which adds to the vertical height. He was curious as to why regular floor joists could not be installed to reduce the height, at which point he might consider the addition. Mr. Philip Handelman, owner of Metro Builders, the contractor hired to do the 7878 Trenton addition said that University City staff told him that the only way that they could build the addition was to add the two foot high trusses. The house is tiny and on an incline, but the home at 7876 Trenton is on a much steeper incline, and sits much higher than Ms. Collins' house, that even with the new addition, her house would not be much higher than that home, The full addition does look much nicer that the three quarter addition, but it also adds more living space. It is extremely rare to find homes that have bedrooms that are only 8' x I 0'. Most walk in closets in today's homes are this size. It is extremely difficult to get a bed in these sized rooms. The space is definitely a major consideration in determining to go a full stoW. He understands the City's concern as far as future owners are concerned, but he assures Council that Mrs. Collins is not building the addition so she can turn around and sell it. Mayor Adams stated that he didn't think any member of Council or Mr. Ollendorff believed that Ms. Collins was going to sell the home. What Mr. Ollendorffwas attempting to point out, was that at some point, the house would be sold, or Ms. Collins' heirs would sell the house sometime in the future. His concern, under the housing codes, was that the potential will exist for eleven people to live legally in that structure. Ms. Collins said that her husband had forbidden the purchase of a second house, so she had no choice but to consider an addition to her home. Responding to Mr. Munkel, Lee Fitzmorris, Metro Builder's foreman, said that the building is offset two foot on the lef~ end and the cantilever provides an aesthetic method to make the house straight across. Mrs. Thompson moved approval of the full second stow addition to 7878 Trenton. All voted aye, except for Councilmembers Lieherman and Schoomer, who voted nay. The Mayor recommended that Mrs. Collins use 2 x 6's on the outside walls instead of 2 x 4's for greater insulation. Mr. Wagner wanted to congratulate Mrs. Collins on being a twenty four year resident of University City and that the City needed more people like her and hoped her and her family enjoyed their new, enlarged home. 524 MELVILLE - SITE PLAN Mr. Ollendorff recommended approval of a site plan at 524 Melville, which is the expansion of Blueberry Hill into the space currently occupied by Cicero's restaurant and a portion of the side street salon space. Mr. Wagner moved approval of the 524 Melville site plan. Mr. Ware seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.