CORRESPONDENCE - 75E (GENERAL COMMENTS)

Home Browse Search

Orozco, Norma From: Alan Fuller < Sent: Monday, February 11, 2019 2:07 PM To: eComment Subject: 2525 Main St February 11,2018 Regarding 2525 Main Street Project Response to Presentation of Minh Thai at February 5, 2018 Council Meeting The staff report of other high density projects in Santa Ana that have been approved are not relevant to 2525 Main Street because those other projects are not in a neighborhood of 1,200 single family homes as in this case. These other projects are not appropriate president. 500 apartments in Park Santiago is "not in character with the neighborhood" because of the density. Similarly, the height of the 2525 Main St project is out of character with the neighborhood of single family residences and comparison of the height to the other approved projects is meaningless for the same reason. It is not possible to shield an 8 story complex behind a few trees. Access to the project is hard to rationalize. A 496 apartment complex with parking for as many as 1,000 cars with only one point of access and that point only allowing North bound travel on Main Street is irresponsible. The on -ramps to the 5 freeway are to the south of the project, so 1,000 cars that want to use the 5 freeway, will have to make a U-turn on Main St. at Walkie Way or further up Main St.or use Memory Lane to Broadway. The Cumulative Impact section in the staff report indicates that the "MainStreet/Santa Clara/1-5 on-ramp is unsatisfactory . South bound cars, returning to the project, will have to make a U-turn at Edgewood and cross to the right hand lane to enter. In evening rush hour those lanes could already be full of North bound cars exiting the 5 Freeway. he single access and resulting congestion will surely result in many residents of 2525 Main finding it much easier to cut thm Park Santiago to the project by using Santa Clara to Santiago to Edgewood for a right turn onto Main Street. In the staff report, it is noted that the 2525 Main St development is "not in character with the neighborhood". Staff indicates this is the same problem as other high density projects, that is, high density projects do not belong in a neighborhood such as Park Santiago. It remains not in character. The Economic Analysis was for the 517 unit project, which is now 476, but the amounts have not been adjusted to reflect the reduction in size. While the analysis shows a positive impact from this project, there are 7 other high density projects with over 3,000 units that will benefit the city funds. Sunshine meetings have been held for the Main Place Mall Transformation with up to an addditional 1,900 residential units and for 2700 N. Main with 247 units. Neither of these developments have nearby homes to be impacted and appear to be a much better plan for Santa Ana to transform the Main Place mall. The Planning Commission voted not to approve the 2525 Main St development. This developer has had two of the high density projects approved where single family neighborhoods were not impacted. This parcel should be a low density housing development.