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Orozco, Norma From: Diane Fradkin <dianefradkin@hotmail.com> Sent: Monday, July 06, 2020 6:49 PM To: Pulido, Miguel; Sarmiento, Vicente; Penaloza, David; Bacerra, Phil; Villegas, Juan; Mendoza, Nelida; Solorio, Jose Cc: Ridge, Kristine; Thai, Minh; eComment Subject: July 7th Agenda Item 19E - General Plan Update Land Uses Importance: High Honorable Mayor & Councilmembers: I am happy to see that the Planning Department is working on updating the City's General Plan. I personally contributed my input by way of the online survey as well as attending 2 community meetings..... one last year and one in early 2020. 1 also provided direct feedback to the Planners regarding specific comments to the area located north of 17th Street & west of Grand Ave (Medical Arts and adjacent Shopping Center). 1 have to say, 1 am rather disappointed at the resulting land use designation of "District Center" for that area. There has been an overwhelming response from the citizens of Santa Ana about not desiring any more high density for our City (medium density is more acceptable). Again, as you know, we are one of the densest Cities in US based on our population and size. I believe that the Planning Department, during this General Plan Update, has already predetermined the land uses and then does the "check the box ....... meet with the community in order to satisfy the requirements. They never have any intent to incorporate any of the community's ideas or alternatives for their land use vision. It really is a disingenuous process! The specific area located at 17th & Grand Ave (Medical Arts) is a very physically constricted property. It is bound on the west with NO access due to the rail road tracks. There is limited access directly onto 17th Street and traffic can only turn right out as 17th Street has a risen divider and therefore, is limited to u-turns at Lincoln. The other outstanding issue is the proposed grade separation at 17th Street and Lincoln for the rail road ..... this will further constrain the access onto 17th Street from the Medical Arts property and therefore cause a burdening to other over congested areas along Grand Ave. Also, there is certainly a need for a specific called out use for a "Park/Open Space" component at the 17th & Grand properties. I had mentioned this on numerous occasions, but it apparently fell on deaf ears. There is a culture within the Planning Department which is one direction..... in my experience, they are not at all willing to listen to the community. They continue to solicit community input, but flat out refuse to include any input from the community and do what they have set out to do from the beginning. Its time to take a stand .... there needs to be some change to the Planning Department culture and way of thinking. If you want community input and solicit community input, then it should be seriously considered, otherwise, don't waste our time and make a big deal that "you've gone out to the community for their input"!