CORRESPONDENCE - 75E (GENERAL COMMENTS)

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Dale Helvig THREE MAJOR ISSUES 1. DENSITY. Over the course of the past year the residents have repeatedly stated this project is unacceptable. We have seen the project decrease from 87.1 dwelling units per acre (DUA) to 85.1 DUA, to 83.6 DUA and now the staff recommendation is 80.9 DUA. Not much of a change. The80.9 DUA still is more than double ANY project other Specific Development that is next to R1 zoning in Santa Ana that is in existence or scheduled to be built. Table 5, Project Density Compared to Approved Apartment Projects in the Staff Report to the Planning Commission leads you to believe the 81 DUA is the new normal. What Table 5 does not allude to is all these properties share a common boundary with commercial or industrial property. I have attached my own Table of Specific Developments in Santa Ana Adjacent to Residential Developments (RI). The densest property in this table is the Solare Apartment Homes, a 3 -story, 38.9 DUA apartment complex located on 17" and English next to the Santa Ana River. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA: We have not been opposed to the other 3666 units that have been added or will be added within 0.5 miles. We are opposed to, as the applicant has told us, a project on our doorstep. The applicant wants to add a 6 -story mega -apartment complex next to homes that are of historic significance to the community (General Plan Housing Element [page 56]). This is wrong. The applicant then wants to provide funding to help the neighborhood obtain historic status. In addition, the building has an ultra -modern contemporary design with an exposed entertainment deck on the roof of the Stn floor. Their architecture firm has stated this is what it must be due to the size. Santa Ana can and should do much better than this. 3. QUALITY OF LIFE: This project, at this location, will impact the quality of life of the residents of Santa Ana. It adds a very dense site to an already very congested area in Santa Ana. When looking at the a.m. and p.m. peak traffic times and the 15 evaluated freeway access points (30 data points) 22 of those data points currently receive a failing grade. Think of what it will be like after the completion of all the other projects that are currently approved. The EIR lists many General Plan Goals which are not environmentally related. However, when challenged or asked to include others, the comments are dismissed. The fact remains this project will compromise the quality of life of the residents of Santa Ana. Page 2 of 17