HomeMy WebLinkAboutPA2017-228 Comment 184_05062019_GormanFrom: Connie Chung Gorman <c_chung1@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2019 11:33 AM
To: Zdeba, Benjamin
Subject: Ford Road/Bonita Canyon Residential Project
Mr. Zdeba:
I am a home-owner in Newport Beach in the Bonita Canyon community. I am very disappointed
to learn that a three-story, 21 residential unit condominium building providing for 63 bedrooms
has been proposed at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard & Ford Road. That specific
intersection as well as areas nearby such as Fashion Island have already undergone a
substantial increase in occupancy, traffic and congestion through the recent construction of
new retail, office and residential buildings around Fashion Island. Although growth and change
is expected for a vibrant city, development should be done with consideration of its impact on
the existing residents, resources and character of the community.
In addition to the office construction and retail expansion at Fashion Island, there have already
been two large residential projects recently completed in Newport Center. The New Home Co.
has developed 79 condominiums on Santa Barbara Drive and the Irvine Company has built a
524-unit complex at the intersection of San Joaquin Hills and Jamboree. In addition, there is
the existing Newport Bluffs apartment community with well over 1,000 residential units which
also contribute to the traffic flow through Bonita Canyon & Mac Arthur Boulevard intersection.
Clearly, the proposed development will be built next to an already congested intersection
which will increase delays and traffic accidents. Even though the entrance will be at Ford Road,
the traffic from this new community will flow through our existing roadways. We personally
use the intersection at Mesa View & Bonita Canyon many times daily to exit our neighborhood
and traffic is already dangerously congested. We personally witness cars exiting from Mesa
View & Ford Road turning left onto Bonita Canyon consistently running the red light
endangering other vehicles and our children who cross Bonita Canyon from our neighborhood
to the Bonita Canyon Sports Park! Furthermore, the parking lot and entrance are proposed to
be built directly next to the community park and bike path that is frequently used by
pedestrians and cyclists - including many children - creating an additional safety concern for
families in our neighborhood. The two- to three-story building will also tower directly over the
community park impairing the natural enjoyment of the park. I also understand that it is not
yet determined whether the condominium units will be for sale to longer-term residents or rent
to shorter-term tenants. Naturally, this construction project will also directly impact our
community resources, particularly our surrounding schools in addition to the safety around our
neighborhoods and community parks.
We bought our home in Newport Beach to live in a comfortable, safe community with well -
regarded schools near the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean. We did not choose to move
here to live in a dangerously congested, traffic-laden, over-developed community and are
strongly opposed to the construction of this proposed condominium development.
Connie Gorman