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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPA2017-228 Comment 128_05022019_HornbyFrom: Diane Hornby <ltlpeas@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2019 10:59 PM To: Zdeba, Benjamin Subject: 4302 Ford Road Proposed Project Dear Ben, My name is Diane Hornby and I have been a resident at 1842 Port Abbey for 22 years. My husband and I moved to this community to raise our two young children because it was a safe and wonderful family oriented community surrounded by wonderful parks and terrific schools. Before your commission is a plan from the Hines Co. to develop 4302 Ford Road in to a 21 unit condominium project or possibly a 21 unit apartment complex. The determination apparently is to be decided by the developer at a later date if the project is approved. I am sincerely asking you to review the concerns from all the owners in the Harbor View Community/Port Streets regarding the public safety of this project. If you or anyone on the planning commission cares about the public safety which would be grossly compromised if this project is passed by you and your committee, you will deny the application and put a STOP to this project. The hazardous design of the project is a tremendous infringement of the public's enjoyment and safety at the park. The means for entering and exiting the project to the parking garage are a disaster waiting to happen. How can it ever be safe for trucks ie: trash, postal, delivery, moving trucks and so many more to back up the driveway going uphill, on a blind 90 degree curve, over a bike path and sidewalk be safe. It would be extremely negligible for the city to approve such a dangerous design. Is the city willing to take responsibility if someone is hit or even worse killed. No one needs to live the grief and loss that the family lives with every day of the young 8 year old boy who was run over and killed by the trash truck in Newport Heights. Regarding proposed underground parking, the project may conform to the parking standards as set by the city but there is no way the layout will provide adequate parking for the residents and their guests. The overflow of cars will no doubt fall in to the city park parking lot adjacent to the property. The numbers to not add up to provide a minimum two cars per home. The tandem parking would only accommodate one home per tandem. If the 4 bedroom homes have four drivers that would further be reason for more parking. There are only a few spaces on the street with the rest marked NO PARKING on Ford Road. If the project is turned in to apartment the problem will only worsen. A four bedroom home rented to college kids potentially with two students per room would create a need for eight spaces. The project would not be able to accommodate the needs and they would ultimately park in the only place available..the park parking lot. Ray Lawler stated they would monitor it but when asked how, he did not have an answer. You and I both know posting PARK PARKING ONLY would be ignored by the residents of 4302 Ford Road. Does the City of Newport Beach want to agree to post someone in the parking lot or the take on the responsibility to tow any violators? Where will all the families who are parking for soccer games, birthday parties, pickle ball games, basketball games etc. park? The city has built a wonderful park that is used by many but where will everyone park when spaces are taken by the residents or guests of 4302 Ford Road?? Another important concern and liability is the easy access for residents and guests to enter thru the gate bordering the pool. There is no doubt in my mind that this will become an additional liability if the gate is left unsecured. Does the city want to allow a project with access to a pool adjacent to a park especially one with a tot lot so close? Does the city want to accept the liability of a child drowning in the pool because they permitted the project to be developed? Ray Lawler from the Hines Co. and as you know is also a Port Street resident, held an informal meeting in the park across from the proposed project on April 29th. The meeting was not publicized however there were over 70 angry residents. In attendance was a representative from the Newport Mesa School Board who informed Mr. Lawler that the school board was unaware of the proposed development and was quite shocked to have learned of it the day of this meeting. She was disappointed and surprised that the Hines Co. had not reached out to them to discuss the project. She stated that the district has been working hard to improve the traffic congestion to and from CDM HS which I have personally lived thru for 8 years. She stated that they are working on encouraging children to walk or ride their bikes to school. How can we possibly promote this if you are going to create a death trap for them going to and from the Harbor View Community. As I understand it an EIR report is not required at this time. I strongly believe one must be done. The CA standards to not apply to the situation we have before you. When I attended the Planning Commission meeting I invited all of the committee members to drive over during peak rush hour when residents, children, workers etc. are entering and leaving the community. It is a traffic nightmare. You may just see this as an inconvenience but it is more than that. It is another safety issue. People are waiting in long lines turning left or right from the east to get on to Mesa View. All it takes to make it even worse is for one nimrod to block the left hand of the two turn lanes not allowing others to line up to turn left. The lines are long and then what happens is everyone has been waiting so long that when the light turns red at least 2-3 cars run the red light. With the addition of 21 homes this traffic nightmare will only worsen creating another safety issue. Safety is my number one concern but I do have others which pertain more to the design of the building structure. The developer states that the project will not create any light pollution. I strongly disagree. How do you build a three story building with decks that face the park and the homes on Port Sheffield and Port Abbey and not have light shining down on the homes. Whether people have their outdoor lights on or lights on in their homes, there will be light shining down on the residents. In addition to the building light there will be car headlights shining in to the homes on the end of Port Sheffield and Port Abbey. I understand the prior Phase 1 Environmental Assessment documents prepared in 2015 indicated that there are clear reasons to perform a full EIR. I feel that the renderings presented to your commission are extremely misleading. They show the existing mature trees which they state in their plan that all 12 Eucalyptus trees will be removed. The renderings give you a belief that the project as well as the AT&T building will be covered by trees. The renderings are further misleading because they imply the parking at the AT&T building is part of the complex which we know it is not. Furthermore, the renderings do not show the entrance to the parking garage or delivery area. So many of the Port Street homeowners are not aware of the proposed project. I believe an exception should have been made to the requirement that notice must be given to those within 300' of the development. By default of the 300' requirement, no one needs to be made aware the proposal before your committee. I have talked to many residents of the community who were shocked to not have heard anything about the project. I strongly urge you to listen to the voices of the community and put a STOP to this development. I feel that the best use for the land is for the city to-approach AT&T again to negotiate a purchase and expand the park that is clearly appreciated by the citizens of Newport Beach and many others. Thank you for helping protect the safety of our children and community. Regards, Diane Hornby 1842 Port Abbey Place