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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - Design Standards for Single-Family and Duplex in Multi-Family Residential Zoning Districts - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed May 28, 2019 Item No. 4 From: Harp, Aaron To: Brown. Leilani Subject: FW: Opposition to 05.28.19 CC Agenda Item 4 Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2019 6:35:18 AM From: Catherine <catherinewolcott@hotmail.com> Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2019 3:50 PM To: Dixon, Diane <ddixon@newportbeachca.gov>; Avery, Brad <bavery@newportbeachca.gov>; Duffield, Duffy <dduffield@newportbeachca.gov>; Muldoon, Kevin <kmuldoon@newportbeachca.gov>; Herdman, Jeff <jherd man@newportbeachca.gov>; Brenner, Joy <joy@newportbeachca.gov>; O'Neill, William <woneill@newportbeachca.gov>; Jurjis, Seimone <sjurjis@newportbeachca.gov>; Ramirez, Gregg <GRamirez@newportbeachca.gov>; Harp, Aaron <aharp@newportbeachca.gov> Cc: Carol Martin <candwmartin@sbcglobal.net>; Bill Martin <wandcmartin@att.net>; joniwords@aol.com; Cynthia Martin <cynthiamartin6@hotmail.com> Subject: Opposition to 05.28.19 CC Agenda Item 4 Dear Council Members and staff, I am writing as one of the legal representatives of the Martin Family Trust, the entity which owns 1824 West Ocean Front. I am also writing as the daughter of the trust's Trustee. The Trustee and beneficiaries of the trust strongly oppose Item 4 on the City Council's May 28 agenda. The property located at 1824 West Ocean Front has been in my family since 1937, and my parents have lived there full-time for over 50 years. During that period, the oceanfront side of the 1800 block has always had some version of multi -family residential zoning, with up to three stories and three units permitted on each parcel. As a result, the 1800 block of West Ocean Front already features a high percentage of structures that are built to the maximum height and minimum setback allowed in multi -family residential zones. Some of these structures contain three dwelling units, some do not, but the owners all had the right to build to the full height and size allowed in multi -family residential zones and many exercised that right. If design standards applicable to R-1 and R-2 zones are now applied to all future construction of single- and two -unit structures on our block, only the limited number of owners who have not yet fully built out their properties would be deprived of the benefit and value other property owners on the block currently enjoy. Since 1824 West Ocean Front is composed of three separate adjacent oceanfront lots, our family would be hit three times as hard as all the other property owners on the block who only own one lot. Under the current zoning and development standards, the trust or its successors in interest can build three buildings that are the same size, FAR, and scale as the very large two -unit building that is currently being built next door at 1820 West Ocean Front. If the Council proceeds with the course it is considering, you are affecting our property's monetary value as well as the living experience of current and future residents of the property. If the Council is trying to prevent the impression of height and mass on our block, that ship has sailed. Like many other existing buildings on the 1800 block, the two -unit building currently under construction next door to my parents' house is being built to the maximum height and scale allowed, and it looms over my parents' two-story house and front yard. My parents have accepted this without complaint because they knew they could build their own comparable buildings in the future, but that potential course is now being threatened. If the City proceeds as the staff report suggests, our family would be left with the choice of either 1) developing buildings that are the same size and height as the two -unit neighboring property, but with three significantly smaller dwelling units and challenges meeting the required parking standards, or 2) developing smaller buildings, significantly shorter than neighboring building, with two commensurately smaller dwelling units each. I have attached photos of the neighboring building under construction at 1820 so you can see the impact requiring us to build at a lower scale and height would cause. The first two photos are taken from my parents' front yard. In the photo taken from the beach, my parents' house is the one on the far left. If, as the staff report states, the Council is interested in creating consistency in size and mass, only allowing property owners to apply the current RM design standards to any structures built on the 1800 block of West Ocean Front would create such consistency and provide evenhanded treatment under the law. I hope that you will vote against initiating any amendments to the NBMC that would deprive property owners in RM zones of their current right to build in compliance with the design standards applicable for multi -unit buildings in these zones. At least in the case of the 1800 block of West Ocean Front, it would provide no benefit and create substantial harm. Sincerely, Catherine Martin Wolcott Received After Agenda Printed May 28, 2019 Item No. 4 From: Catherine <catherinewolcott@hotmail.com> Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2019 3:50 PM To: Dixon, Diane; Avery, Brad; Duffield, Duffy; Muldoon, Kevin; Herdman, Jeff; Brenner, Joy, O'Neill, William; Jurjis, Seimone; Ramirez, Gregg; Harp, Aaron Cc: Carol Martin; Bill Martin; joniwords@aol.com; Cynthia Martin Subject: Opposition to 05.28.19 CC Agenda Item 4 Attachments: IMG_3471 jpg; IMG_3472 jpg; IMG_3473jpg Dear Council Members and staff, I am writing as one of the legal representatives of the Martin Family Trust, the entity which owns 1824 West Ocean Front. I am also writing as the daughter of the trust's Trustee. The Trustee and beneficiaries of the trust strongly oppose Item 4 on the City Council's May 28 agenda. The property located at 1824 West Ocean Front has been in my family since 1937, and my parents have lived there full- time for over 50 years. During that period, the oceanfront side of the 1800 block has always had some version of multi- family residential zoning, with up to three stories and three units permitted on each parcel. As a result, the 1800 block of West Ocean Front already features a high percentage of structures that are built to the maximum height and minimum setback allowed in multi -family residential zones. Some of these structures contain three dwelling units, some do not, but the owners all had the right to build to the full height and size allowed in multi- family residential zones and many exercised that right. If design standards applicable to R-1 and R-2 zones are now applied to all future construction of single- and two -unit structures on our block, only the limited number of owners who have not yet fully built out their properties would be deprived of the benefit and value other property owners on the block currently enjoy. Since 1824 West Ocean Front is composed of three separate adjacent oceanfront lots, our family would be hit three times as hard as all the other property owners on the block who only own one lot. Under the current zoning and development standards, the trust or its successors in interest can build three buildings that are the same size, FAR, and scale as the very large two -unit building that is currently being built next door at 1820 West Ocean Front. If the Council proceeds with the course it is considering, you are affecting our property's monetary value as well as the living experience of current and future residents of the property. If the Council is trying to prevent the impression of height and mass on our block, that ship has sailed. Like many other existing buildings on the 1800 block, the two -unit building currently under construction next door to my parents' house is being built to the maximum height and scale allowed, and it looms over my parents' two-story house and front yard. My parents have accepted this without complaint because they knew they could build their own comparable buildings in the future, but that potential course is now being threatened. If the City proceeds as the staff report suggests, our family would be left with the choice of either 1) developing buildings that are the same size and height as the two -unit neighboring property, but with three significantly smaller dwelling units and challenges meeting the required parking standards, or 2) developing smaller buildings, significantly shorter than neighboring building, with two commensurately smaller dwelling units each. I have attached photos of the neighboring building under construction at 1820 so you can see the impact requiring us to build at a lower scale and height would cause. The first two photos are taken from my parents' front yard. In the photo taken from the beach, my parents' house is the one on the far left. If, as the staff report states, the Council is interested in creating consistency in size and mass, only allowing property owners to apply the current RM design standards to any structures built on the 1800 block of West Ocean Front would create such consistency and provide evenhanded treatment under the law. I hope that you will vote against initiating any amendments to the NBMC that would deprive property owners in RM zones of their current right to build in compliance with the design standards applicable for multi -unit buildings in these zones. At least in the case of the 1800 block of West Ocean Front, it would provide no benefit and create substantial harm. Sincerely, Catherine Martin Wolcott VaL: