By Scott Wong

Had the property owners who demolished the historic Winbigler home admitted their mistake rather than blamed the city staff, Los Altos Hills City Council members hinted they might have agreed to let construction continue on the proposed new 23,000- square-foot residence.

No such admission came and Thursday council upheld the planning commission’s Sept. 12 decision 4-1 to deny property owners Gordon Campbell and Maria Ligetti their request for a permit to construct a new residence with a 52-foot height variance on the corner property on Campo Vista and Fremont Ave.

Councilman Mike O’Malley, the lone dissenting vote, said he would rather see a new residence built with the proposed design than a subdivision, which could allow up to seven homes.

Other members said they were outraged by the presentation from Attorney Nancy Chillag and Architect Jerry Loving, who attempted to deflect responsibility for the demolition on city staff members.

“You are just trying to fool the whole town,” Councilwoman Emily Cheng told the two. “It was a remodel plan, not a demolition plan.”

Council member Breene Kerr called the community landmark’s demolition a “tragic situation.”

“But I have felt it is necessary for the applicant to admit what appears to be deception,” he said.

The property owners relocated then demolished the Winbigler home, which previously sat on their property and was recognized as a historic structure in the town’s General Plan for over 25 years.

Planning Director Carl Cahill said the planning commission’s approval of revised construction plans in August 2000 did not authorize the complete demolition or removal of the existing structure.

Campbell and Ligetti were not present at the meeting, but Chillag said the demolition of the structure simply boiled down to a “major miscommunication.”

According to Chillag, the homeowners submitted the revised plans to the city planning department clearly showing the 1926 French Provincial home would not be incorporated in the new structure.