Item 34 - Public Hearing - Appeal Application No. 2024-01 for Construction of a 23’-4” Tall Accessory Building (2221 N Heliotrope Drive)

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From: Diana Christoffersen To: eComments. PBA Subject: VARIANCE REQUEST FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK HOME at 2221 N. Heliotrope, Santa Ana (commonly known as the "Maharaja House' Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022 9:33:20 AM Regarding: VARIANCE REQUEST FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK HOME at 2221 N. Heliotrope, Santa Ana (commonly known as the "Maharaja House") In regard to the above referenced variance request that is scheduled to be heard before the Santa Ana Planning Commission on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, we respectfully submit the following comments/perspective as a neighbor in Floral Park. The "Maharaja House" is a well-known premiere property within Floral Park situated on a lovely large corner lot with a colorful and storied history. Although a truly unique home and property, it fits well within the community where the Art Deco style is repeated in several other homes within Floral Park. The current owners of 2221 N. Heliotrope have added many outbuildings and art features that honor their Vietnamese heritage, and that are enjoyed from a distance by neighbors. However, the construction of the proposed 23'4" pagoda that will tower over the existing privacy fence surrounding their property, as well as being on the prominent front side of this beautiful home, is out of scale and obtrusive, and will greatly diminish the beauty of what is already there. We Floral Park residents take great pride in our neighborhood and happily follow the "rules" in place to ensure and maintain its specialness. Particularly now with the official designation of a Historic Neighborhood, it is important to ensure that the vision of those who worked so diligently to achieve that official designation is not compromised. There is a point when less is more, and this is clearly one of those situations. The approved construction of this pagoda would diminish the beauty and historic presence of the "Maharaja House," conflicts with the outbuildings and art sculptures already in place at the property and, by scale alone, will become the dominating feature of this beautiful property. We, therefore, respectfully request that the Planning Commission deny this variance and disallow the construction of this pagoda.