HomeMy WebLinkAbout2 - CUP19-10; CUP19-11_1801 S MAIN STREET_COMMENTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CORRESPONDENCE
10/14/2019
ITEM NO. 2 – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2019-10 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2019-11 FOR THE
PROPOSED PROJECT LOCATED AT 1801 S. MAIN STREET, UNITS AND E
Comments received by established deadline
First Name Last Name Organization Favor Oppose General
Mark Gaughan Genesee Group X
Mark Gaughan Genesee Group X
Tim Rush X
TOTAL 2 1 0
Page 1 of 1
Re: Planning Commission direction to Mariscos Hectors and
interested commenters.
Dear Chairman McLoughlin and Commissioners:
This note is intended to provide you with an update following your Planning
Commission meeting on April 29, 2019.
At the April 29 meeting Commissioners Cano and Contreras-Leo requested
that the applicant meet with interested commenters to hear their concerns and
return for consideration at the May 28th meeting. Further the commission directed
city staff to assist in scheduling and facilitating that meeting.
Unfortunately, despite the staffs best efforts that meeting has not been
scheduled and staff is currently being told by the interested commenters that a
meeting can not take place until late June.
This strategic delay is very disappointing to Hectors Inc, the applicant, and
Maria Sebold, the owner. Maria and I have been requesting a meeting with
neighborhood association representatives since November of 2018. Promises have
been made but they have refused to schedule a meeting. The City planning
department has also attempted to contact the neighborhood association
representatives but they have failed to respond.
In addition to the economic hardship this places on the applicant this delay
tactic also is disruptive to the restaurant improvement plans that are intended to
compliment the city’s South Main St. improvement project scheduled to begin this
summer.
Hectors Inc is a good applicant for a conditional use permit. For the last
several years Maria Sebold has taken numerous steps to regain ownership and
therefore management control of each of the Mariscos Hectors in Santa Ana. Maria
is driven to gain control so she may rebrand Hectors in accordance with her vision
as a family oriented restaurant serving the community in which she lives and
works. To date Maria’s efforts have been successful and her path to full
management control is expected in the near term.
When our application is next under consideration by the commission we ask
that you act to move this item forward. Approving the application will support
your economic development goals, support community upgrades and support a
local corporate citizen who employees hundreds of Santa Ana residents who
contribute to the community in which we live and work.
As the representative for the applicant I am committed to continue being
responsive to the needs of the city and the community. Should you have any
questions or concerns I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Gaughan
Genesee Group
7
Re: Planning Commission direction to Mariscos Hectors and interested
commenters. Second update - September 3, 2019
Dear Chairman McLoughlin, Vice Chairwoman Contreras-Leo and
Commissioners:
This note is intended to provide you with an update of the second meeting between
interested community members and Mariscos Hectors’ management. That meeting
was facilitated by city staff and took place on July 29, 2019.
You will recall these meetings were suggested by Vice Chairwoman Contreras-Leo
and Commissioner Cano in order for representatives of Mariscos Hectors to listen
to the concerns of the community and take appropriate action on items within its
power to address.
Much like the first meeting the second meeting was friendly, informative and
appeared to be aiming in a direction of productive resolution. Please recall that the
first meeting ended with an agreement to meet again in order to address agreed
upon action items.
The first agreed upon action item was the review of a Google Docs tool intended to
improve communications and give concerned citizens a place to anonymously
lodge their concerns and for the responsible party to collect information and
respond. Unfortunately this tool was discounted by one community member as a
“waste of time” who then began to question “why are we here”, “why is the city
not protecting us”, why is the city using bad data”? With others asking “why is
the community flooded with bars” and why is alcohol necessary in the
community”? Fortunately, city staff was able to respond with facts about each of
these issues, about the lack of record of complaints, the lack of concentration of
alcohol-licensed establishments, the positive steps taken by the Mariscos Hectors,
and has since launched the Google Docs tool.
When the conversation returned to the application, suggestions were made about
changing the restaurant model, for example, to cater to families with an emphasis
on “good” breakfast or to a venue with quality entertainment to be a “House of
Blues Mexican Style”. All comments were heard by the Mariscos Hectors
management and are under consideration.
There was also a discussion about a “major expansion”, the “taking of" space
within the strip mall and “dislocating more businesses”. I was able to explain that
the expansion is, as stated in the application, limited to one unit, a closed
barbershop and would only add 600 sq. ft of space for meetings and diners.
The meeting ended and the participants felt as though they had expressed their
concerns. Everyone agreed that there was no further need to meet.
Commissioners this application is being submitted by a Santa Ana resident, a Santa
Ana businesswoman who lives in the neighborhood, who wishes to improve the
neighborhood as much or more than anyone. The applicant has a personal and
vested interest to improve the business environment on this section of South Main
that is slated for significant city improvements. This application is about
competition. To keep a locally-owned, woman owned, decades old business in
business. To employ Santa Ana residents in Santa Ana. To be on an even playing
field with out-of-town operators with a similar model, such as Culichi Town.
Commissioners, the community members who have spoken and have expressed
concerns that are shared equally by the Mariscos Hectors. Specifically, the
expected concern for noise, for parking and for security of the neighborhood and
its patrons. Mariscos Hectors actively and sincerely manages each of these issues.
However I must express a concern, it is unfortunate that some have stated highly
inflammatory and anecdotal information as fact. Statements the Mariscos Hectors
takes seriously, finds to be hurtful and can not be held accountable for. These
anecdotal statements can not be used against the applicant in this application.
Mariscos Hectors has made significant facility, landscape and operational
improvements and has plans to do more once this application is approved. (As
evidence by improvements to Hectors on Broadway since we regained ownership.)
This applicant is good business operator and neighbor as is demonstrated by the
Santa Ana police department (SAPD) report that is part of your staff’s
recommendation for approval. This application is fully in compliance with city
policy and should be approved.
As a representative for Mariscos Hectors I emphatically state we are committed to
being responsive to the economic development needs of the city and the health of
its neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Mark Gaughan
On behalf of Mariscos Hectors and it’s sole owner Maria Sebold
Re: Planning Commission direction to Mariscos Hectors and
interested commenters.
Dear Chairman McLoughlin and Commissioners:
This note is intended to provide you with an update following your Planning
Commission meeting on April 29, 2019.
At the April 29 meeting Commissioners Cano and Contreras-Leo requested
that the applicant meet with interested commenters to hear their concerns and
return for consideration at the May 28th meeting. Further the commission directed
city staff to assist in scheduling and facilitating that meeting.
Unfortunately, despite the staffs best efforts that meeting has not been
scheduled and staff is currently being told by the interested commenters that a
meeting can not take place until late June.
This strategic delay is very disappointing to Hectors Inc, the applicant, and
Maria Sebold, the owner. Maria and I have been requesting a meeting with
neighborhood association representatives since November of 2018. Promises have
been made but they have refused to schedule a meeting. The City planning
department has also attempted to contact the neighborhood association
representatives but they have failed to respond.
In addition to the economic hardship this places on the applicant this delay
tactic also is disruptive to the restaurant improvement plans that are intended to
compliment the city’s South Main St. improvement project scheduled to begin this
summer.
Hectors Inc is a good applicant for a conditional use permit. For the last
several years Maria Sebold has taken numerous steps to regain ownership and
therefore management control of each of the Mariscos Hectors in Santa Ana. Maria
is driven to gain control so she may rebrand Hectors in accordance with her vision
as a family oriented restaurant serving the community in which she lives and
works. To date Maria’s efforts have been successful and her path to full
management control is expected in the near term.
When our application is next under consideration by the commission we ask
that you act to move this item forward. Approving the application will support
your economic development goals, support community upgrades and support a
local corporate citizen who employees hundreds of Santa Ana residents who
contribute to the community in which we live and work.
As the representative for the applicant I am committed to continue being
responsive to the needs of the city and the community. Should you have any
questions or concerns I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mark S. Gaughan
Genesee Group
7
From:timrush@bhhscaprops.com
To:Bernal, Sarah
Subject:Planning Commission Agenda item No. 2, for meeting 10/14/19
Date:Monday, October 14, 2019 11:37:51 AM
Mark Mcloughlin
Chairman
City of Santa Ana Planning Commission
Via email
Your meeting 10/14/19 agenda item No. 2, Hector Mariscos No. 1
Dear Chairman and members of the Planning Commissioin;
I write to ask that you deny the applicant the requested change in their liquor license. This business
is NOT a benefit to the commercial corridor or the neighborhood. The extreme loud music coupled
with hard liquor and long hours requested will further erode the quality of life for the nearby
business’ as well as the residents who live nearby. These elements combined with an operator who
has not provided a good track record elsewhere will only further strain our police department
resources.
Please vote NO on this agenda item. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely
Tim Rush
Yost Carlton House
Wilshire Square, 92707
7