A proposal to rebuild a home will return to permit reviewers.

Private views aren’t protected in La Jolla, but that didn’t stop a handful of neighbors from raising objections about a proximal new home proposed for 7231 Encelia Dr. 

The project will return to the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee after its first pass Nov 12, after reviewers also asked for more information about landscaping and other plans.

The requested permit for 7231 Encelia Dr would demolish a 3,500-square-foot single dwelling unit and construct a 11,043 square-foot single dwelling unit over a basement with associated site work.

The current house, built in 1964, is one story; the new build would be two stories over the basement, according to architect Claude Anthony Marengo.

The house, in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood’s arrangement, would be oriented so the front of the house faces the alley to the east of Encelia, with the back of the house on Encelia facing west. 

The basement will be 3,735 square feet, Marengo said. The first floor is 3,450 square feet and the second floor 3,858 square feet.

However, the basement area is not typically included, “so that’s 7,308 of actual countable square footage for the building,” he said.

There will be a three-car garage with turntable and the building will be “subterranean from the south” side of the property, Marengo said.

Property setbacks on the 0.33-acre site range from six to 20 feet.

The property will also have a pool, elevated on columns above a garden.

Three neighbors spoke at the DPR meeting about the project’s disruption to their views.

“We have significant concerns about what this will do to our neighborhood,” Jeffrey Scott said.

Going from a one-story to a two-story home will naturally disturb views, Marengo said. “There’s nothing I can do for that. … [private] views aren’t protected in La Jolla.”

Marengo and his clients did make efforts to adjust setbacks and heights where possible, he said, along with agreeing to maintain a tree on the southwest corner of the property for shade and to preserve a neighbor’s view.

Marengo will also increase the bottom barrier of the elevated pool from 12 to 16 inches to appease DPR members worried about leaks.

The project will return to a future DPR meeting to also address committee questions about building angles, landscape plans for under the pool and drainage plans.

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