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5 - PUBLIC COMMENT_KOLDEWEY
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04-02-20 Adjourned Special Meeting
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5 - PUBLIC COMMENT_KOLDEWEY
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asked to make this important decision hastily and prematurely before the City has negotiated a new Development Agreement with the <br />Applicant. To approve the Applicant's request under the present circumstances clearly benefits the Applicant but needlessly exposes your <br />constituents to risk of harm. In a project of this magnitude, the interests of both the Developer and the current residents of the City---will be <br />best served by taking a little more time to renegotiate a sound Development Agreement. As the City did in 2004, the Planning Commission <br />and the Council should first approve a Development Agreement for OBP before voting for final approval of any Zoning and General Plan <br />Amendments. I urge the Commission either to delay your vote or to to recommend that the City renegotiate a new Development <br />Agreement with the Applicant as a condition to finally approving the present requests for amendment. To recommend approval of 5(a) <br />- (c) tonight without a current Development Agreement can only harm the City's residents. <br /> <br />I agreed with the Planning Agency's Executive Director when he indicated at the March 30, 2020 meeting that you can't "force the Developer to <br />sign a development agreement." However, I was also concerned by this remark. Does it suggest that the City and Developer are facing <br />obstacles to renegotiating a new development agreement? Are there new problems we need to discuss? Did the 2012 lapsing of the previous <br />Development Agreement after being enacted in 2004 and amended in 2010 have any effect on the validity and effect on the Zoning or General <br />Plan Amendments? To clear up these concerns, I request that the Commission inform your constituents when we can expect a new <br />Development Agreement to be negotiated. Assuming that the City and the Developer are willing and able to renegotiate a new <br />Development Agreement, I urge the City to vigorously negotiate with the Developer on our behalf for the best deal possible before <br />finally approving the current amendments of 5(a)-(c). <br /> <br />I appreciated Mr. Harrah's verbal promises at the March 30 virtual Planning Commission meeting on a number of ways he would be willing to <br />improve the project to the benefit of the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods and the City. I urge the City to confirm these promises in a <br />new Development Agreement or other legally binding document. <br /> <br />I support the Developer's right to take advantage of the federal tax incentive program for his investment that designates downtown Santa Ana <br />as an "Opportunity Zone" and the City's wish to make this development happen. I also want to make sure the projects in these zones create <br />benefits for current residents as well as developers and investors in our City. ** <br /> <br />At the March 30, 2020 virtual meeting, I had hoped to hear some compelling reason from Mr. Harrah or the City Staff to help me understand <br />why the City needs to fast track the votes on 5(a) and (b). However, I did not hear that there would be any significant advantage to the City and <br />our residents to do so. On the other hand, as I mentioned above, as a result of the information presented at this meeting, I became <br />increasingly concerned that fast tracking this decision could result in harm to Santa Ana residents if the City approves the amendments to the <br />zoning agreement and general plan without first renegotiating the lapsed Development Agreement. Please delay your decision or make <br />your approval contingent on negotiating a solid Development Agreement. <br /> <br />Thank you for your consideration and your tremendous effort in conducting the business of our City under very difficult <br />circumstances. I am writing to you as an individual Santa Ana resident and voter. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />Mrs. Ellen Koldewey <br />Santa Ana CA 92706 <br />*(http://www.theonebroadwayplaza.com) <br /> <br /> ** (https://www.ocregister.com /2019/01/21/ <br />trumps-tax-overhaul-could-give-santa-anas-planned-skyscraper-a-boost/) <br />by Jeff Collins (JeffCollins@scng.com), Business, Orange County Register, 1/21/2019. <br /> <br /> <br />
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