HomeMy WebLinkAboutPA2017-228 Comment 3a_04202019_BrusicFrom: Pamela Brusic <pbrusic@pacbell.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2019 2:00 PM
To: Zdeba, Benjamin
Cc: Herdman, Jeff
Subject: Hines project on Old Ford Road
Dear Mr. Zdeba,
Thank you for including your email in the information about the Hines project that was shared through
the Port Streets Neighborhood Watch group. I did not attend Monday’s planning commission study
session. But I did want to share my thoughts.
I think the Hines project is not very appropriate for this neighborhood. I see several reasons—
inappropriate or mismatched housing type as it relates to the neighborhood, too many units, and a
problem with increased traffic on Old Ford Road/Mesa View/Bonita Canyon Road.
First, housing type. A number of years ago, the Irvine Company began to develop the property along
what became Bonita Canyon Road, east of MacArthur. Initially, the land that is now the Bonita Canyon
Sports Park was proposed to be developed as apartment housing. I don’t recall the exact number of
units, but the density was significant. The Harbor View neighborhood actively opposed the proposal
because of the impact on the neighborhood for precisely the reasons I listed above. In particular,
residents were concerned about the potential of high-density apartment housing to change the quality
of the neighborhood and possibly have a negative effect on property values. An additional concern was
the potential impact on the neighborhood public school, Andersen Elementary. While the Hines
proposal is much smaller than the former development proposal along Old Ford Road, it still seems that
apartments are an inappropriate housing type within a neighborhood that is otherwise exclusively single
family. The neighborhood enjoys relatively low occupant turnover and the built in incentive to maintain
both property and amenities that comes with predominantly owner-occupied high value
homes. Apartment housing is usually a shorter-term commitment than owner occupancy.
Second, number of units. If the property at MacArthur/Bonita Canyon/Old Ford Road is to be
developed, 21 units is too many. That is a tiny parcel of land. Squeezing that many units onto it can’t
help but have a crammed in feel—a tiny island of urban level density in a suburban zone. Even with the
proposed underground parking, a 21-unit development there would be out of place.
Third, traffic. According to data from the Governing website ( https://www.governing.com/gov-
data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html ), the average number of vehicles per
household in our neighboring community, Irvine, was 1.83 in 2016. There wasn’t data for Newport
Beach at this source, but I seriously doubt our city’s average vehicles per household is less. Likely it is
higher. Even at 1.8 vehicles per unit, that is 38 more cars traveling daily in and out of the neighborhood
along Mesa View and Old Ford Road. Furthermore, the inbound (north) side of Old Ford west of Mesa
View has heavy transient traffic and parking activity because of the high-use soccer fields along that
section. Residents who need to use Newport Hills West to enter and exit their neighborhood will be
adversely affected by another 38+ vehicles crowding an already busy local access road. Non-residents
who use the soccer fields will also be negatively impacted by increased local traffic.
I’ve copied this letter to the City Council member for this district. I hope you will include this letter in
the documentation of public comments about the proposed Hines development.
Sincerely,
Pamela Brusic
1829 Port Sheffield Place
Newport Beach, CA
949-640-6023