PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CORRESPONDENCE

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My name is Dale Helvig and I have been a resident in Park Santiago for the past 27 years. During this stretch I have seen many good changes in Santa Ana. I have been here for the creation of the Kidseum, the expansion of the Bowers museum, the widening of Main Street and the I‐5 freeway, the improvements to Main Place and the creation of City Place. I have seen the transformation of the Bekins Van Lines depot into a wonderful science museum. The city pitched a museum district that the city and the rest of Orange County could look at as a destination site. I am proud of these changes and I often refer friends to visit these places. Several projects are proposed or going up around the North Santa Ana area. A six‐story, 135 room Hampton Inn on Main Street next to the I‐5, which will include changes to 2 historical sites, the Melton House and MacFarlane House; the 2700 N. Main Residential Development, a 247‐units just north of the I‐5, the Park View at Town and County Manor, 174‐ units, and the Jeannette Lane Residential Project, 182‐units, which is almost completed. The City of Orange has almost completed the Eleven 10 West Project, 260‐units, right near the Jeannette Lane Project. And there is a proposal for the 999 Town and Country project of 262‐units. In total, this is roughly 1000 multi‐family units or hotel rooms. The most interesting fact is not one is next door to a single‐family home, except the 2525 Main Residential Development. This appears to be “spot zoning”. A Sunshine meeting was held last week for the 2525 Main Residential Development, 517‐units. The almost 500 people in attendance at this meeting were opposed to the project. The North Santa Ana Neighborhood Alliance categorically opposes any rezoning and general plan amendment for the 2525 Main Residential Development to residential use, regardless of any future design changes proposed. We need to support the vision we had for current businesses and museums along Main St. The city has been doing good work over the past decades, so don’t go backwards. City leaders are soliciting for businesses to come to Santa Ana. Don’t allow a project to remove a great work location. It comes down to the value we place on residential areas versus the money the city generates with high density living spaces. The Santa Ana Strategic Plan vision that was adopted on March 18, 2014 states: “The City’s vision sets the focus for the future”. It goes on to mention things like, safe and healthy community, neighborhood pride and quality government services. The residents of Santa Ana have a lot of neighborhood pride and again, the North Santa Ana Neighborhood Alliance opposes any rezoning and general plan amendment for the 2525 Main Residential Development to residential use, regardless of any future design changes proposed.