Former Sun Microsystems CEO waits for city approval of backyard hockey rink roof - San Jose Mercury News

By agreeing to stop building on his property in the Palo Alto foothills, former Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy may have improved his chances of getting a new sloped roof approved for his backyard hockey rink.

McNealy told the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission that after going through the city's planning process twice, he has no intention of giving it another whirl and would accept the suggested compromise.

Following a two-hour hearing Wednesday, however, the commission voted 4-3 to resume its discussion about the roof at a later meeting -- either Sept. 15 or 29 -- when staff provides additional information about whether it would comply with the city's comprehensive plan and green building code. The commission also indicated it wants everyone from Palo Alto and Portola Valley who had previously complained about the roof informed about the next meeting.

Complaints about McNealys' home at 610 Los Trancos Road have been lodged since he built a backyard tennis court a few years ago that is turned into a hockey rink during the winter. Area residents said the sounds of slapshots and tennis rackets shatter the solitude of their open-space abodes.

Though McNealy previously tried to muffle the noise by putting a roof over the ice rink, neighbors complained it was a translucent eyesore that glowed at night.

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