NEIGHBORS FORESEE SQUEEZE FROM HOME DEVELOPMENT.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Happy Valley is a unique Newhall enclave just a short distance from city conveniences, but far enough away that residents can keep horses and enjoy hillsides and oaks.

The community has become a mix of old and new homes, mostly on larger lots. But a recent development proposal to put eight houses on 2.4 acres has raised a variety of concerns among residents who say the development doesn't fit the rural nature of the area.

The L-shape lot at the corner of Valley and Maple streets has been vacant for years, making a development proposal even more difficult for neighbors to accept.

``They're going to be jammed in like sardines,'' said longtime resident Tom Frew. ``The builders don't give a damn. They just want to jam in as many as possible.''

About 150 residents, including former Councilman Clyde Smyth, have signed a petition protesting the project, specifically because they did not want the development to have two-story homes. The developer, Williams Homes, made changes to appease residents by switching to one-story houses with high-pitched roofs and loft-style bedrooms inside.

But many residents yet are concerned that the proposed homes would fit in better in areas such as Stevenson Ranch or Valencia, rather than Happy Valley.

``The people in my area all have half-acre plots,'' Frew said. ``I don't like it when they're so close together, especially when you look at Stevenson Ranch and the homes are rooftop to rooftop. That's what I object to.''

Julie Schubert, another area resident who signed the petition and wrote a letter to the city, said she appreciated the builder's effort to work with residents. But she still dislikes the way the homes will be stacked together.

``The thing on my mind is it's too small a space for eight homes,'' Schubert said. ``Everywhere you go now, it's cropping up where homes are sharing a front yard. . . . What kind of society will we be if we keep building like this?''

As part of the project, the developer has proposed putting in a meandering sidewalk and reducing the setback for the homes by 20 percent, which would make the lawn strip along the curb narrower than the city's standard. Some residents have objected to that proposal as well, arguing that much of the community does not have sidewalks and is better without them.

The city Planning Commission will consider tonight whether to approve a tract map for the project. And planning staff members have recommended that the commissioners approve it. The panel will meet at 7 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.

Associate planner Jennifer Reid pointed out that the proposal fits with zoning for the area, and the only exception being requested is the smaller setback.

``The project is in residential suburban zoning,'' Reid said. ``It can hold up to 12 homes.''

Under the current plan, the developer would build 3.5 homes per acre although the zoning allows for five homes per acre, Reid said.

As for the protests, residents signing the petition complained only of two-story homes, which have been eliminated from the plan, Reid said. The concern at the time had been the new homes would overlook back yards of existing homes.

The petition states: ``We of Happy Valley want ranch-style single-story homes and oppose the building of seven two-story homes in the large vacant field that borders Maple and Valley streets.''

``As far as the city is concerned, that was the only issue, and it has been resolved,'' Reid said.

If the petition signers have other concerns, they should present them at the Planning Commission hearing, she said.