HomeMy WebLinkAboutPA2017-228 Comment 228_05062019_VerfaillieFrom: Polly Verfaillie <phackathorn@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2019 9:34 PM
To: Zdeba, Benjamin
Cc: Herdman, Jeff
Subject: Ford Road Project
Hi Ben,
My name is Polly Verfaillie, and I live on Port Abbey, adjacent to the park. We purchased our house 4
years ago because we loved the neighborhood, especially because it was safe and kid friendly.
Just as we moved in, we got notice of possibly having pickle ball courts built in the park behind our
house. In case you’ve never seen or heard pickle ball being played, you would understand why everyone
in our neighborhood objected to the courts being installed. Of course, we lost that battle, as it seemed
like the city had already made up their mind and were convinced that this was the right thing to do –
regardless of what the residents who live less than 400 yards away had to say. Needless to say, it’s been
a nightmare. We can hear pickle ball being played at all hours of the day, from every room in our house,
even when all the doors and windows are closed. I can hear it as I write this email to you. I believe it is
and will be a negative factor for the value of our house, which we have worked our entire lives for to
purchase. And the trees that the city promised to plant, have still not been planted (they never will be, I
assume). The worst part of the pickle ball courts, is that the people who play, speed down Ford Road in
their fancy cars, careless of all the babies, kids, dogs, bicyclists, and pedestrians, without ever being
warned or ticketed by the police. There have been no additional stop signs or speed bumps installed. To
say that I wish this never happened is an understatement.
So we were really surprised to hear that the city is even considering building anything on the “public
utility” land near our house (about 450 yards away), let alone 21 units! Wow! Not 3, but 21! Not just a
building, in a location we thought wasn’t even usable to build anything, but 21 units. Yikes. Clearly,
money is the bottom line. Not safety. This is clearly not something that “the city” is deciding on. It’s all
about money and greed. Whoever bids the most, wins. Even if it is illegal. The city just changes the law.
WOW! To say I am surprised and disappointed to have moved to a city where the homeowners have no
say, is again, an understatement.
While there are many, many, many reasons why I hope and pray that this oversized building does NOT
get built, my main concern is safety. I have one year old twins and a dog. We go for at least one walk a
day in the park behind our house. In order to get there, we have to walk down Ford Road. When we first
moved here, it was safe. There were not too many cars driving fast, and the parking lot rarely
overflowed, except on busy weekends with lots of soccer games and birthday parties – which is a very
pleasant for me, as a mom a teacher, and a soccer and tennis player. It was busy, but still safe. Since the
pickle ball courts have been installed, that stretch of Ford Road is no longer safe. Fancy cars speeding
well beyond the speed limit, make me think twice about going for a walk, especially at dawn or dusk,
which is when we go for walks in the winter. As a mother, I am extremely concerned about street safety
for children, which is EXACTLY why we chose to buy a house in the Port Streets. The way the port streets
are designed is safe – especially in comparison to most neighborhoods in Newport Beach (and most of
OC). And to have a park at a cul de sac behind our house…THAT is what sealed the deal for us.
Unfortunately, I was hit by a car in a crosswalk in Manhattan Beach. I did everything perfectly, but the
driver didn’t see me, and my life has permanently changed as a result. I have all kinds of health issues,
resulting from the accident. I no longer can play soccer. My brain tumor, doctors believe, is a result of
being hit so hard and landing on the street. I lost everything. Every penny I ever saved, my job, my
health. Everything. I wouldn’t wish such an awful experience on my own worst enemy. Words cannot
describe how horrible it is to be hit by a car. Not in a million years. It was the worst experience of my
life, and that is saying a lot.
I know many people have emailed you, and that all the safety hazards have already been pointed out to
you and the city council. I don’t know if you own property in the city of NB, or if you have children, but I
beg you to not build this proposed building. There are SO MANY things wrong. If you are considering
building something, then please, by all means, build something. But do it right. DO NOT build 21 units
(even though that’s what makes financial sense for the greedy builder). DO NOT have only one entrance
and exit, that are so poorly designed. I could go on for days. Please, please, please reconsider this
project. It is not safe for anyone. It is not in the best interest of the current homeowners and most
importantly, it is not in the best interest of all the children in this neighborhood.
Polly Verfaillie