TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — A quiet Tempe neighborhood is suddenly the center of controversy. Homeowner Mathew Patt lives across the street from a neighbor who wants to build a big casita in his backyard, not far off Mill and Southern avenues.

The plans call for a two-story structure to be 18 feet tall, which is three feet higher than the current height of the home.

“I really think the two story doesn’t fit in,” said Patt. “If it was a house that matched everybody else’s size, it wouldn’t be an issue, but when the house is two-story, it kind of blocks the view and the aesthetic of the neighborhood. I think that’s the big issue here.”

Arizona’s Family has covered similar stories in cities across metro Phoenix, involving homeowners pushing the limits and trying to build giant casitas or acc

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