HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem No. 1 Public Comment_Luthin - Melinda Luthin LawFrom:melinda@melindaluthinlaw.com
To:eComments, PBA
Subject:COMMENTS ON Amendment Application No. 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2022-14 - Ali Pezeshkpour,
Case Planner
Date:Monday, September 26, 2022 10:15:05 AM
Attachments:ltr 2022.09.26 MLLaw to Santa Ana Commiss re Garry Ave.pdf
Please provide copies to the planning commissioners and include in comments
packet. Thank you.
Melinda Luthin
MELINDA LUTHIN LAW
2721 East Coast Highway, Suite 201
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
(949) 673-1161
www.melindaluthinlaw.com
MELINDA LUTHIN
2721 East Coast Highway suite 201 • Corona del Mar • California 92625 • P 949.673.1161 • MelindaLuthinLaw.com .
September 26, 2022
Santa-Ana Planning Commissioners
Bao Pham (Chair)
Miguel Calderon (Vice-Chair)
Isuri S. Ramos
Mark McLoughlin
Alan Woo
Thomas Morrissey
Eric M. Alderetes.
Re: Amendment Application No. 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit No.
2022-14 for the Garry Avenue Business Park at 1700, 1720, and 1740 East
Garry Avenue
Dear Planning Commissioners:
I represent the Garry Plaza Office Park Association (“GPOPA”), the owners of the real
property located at 1800 and 1820 East Garry Avenue (“GPOPA Property”), which is next door to
the real property located at 1700, 1720, and 1740 East Garry Avenue, Assessor’s Parcel number
430-171-07 (“Subject Property”). Garry Plaza Office Park Association is the owner of an
easement over and across the existing roadways on the Subject Property for purposes of ingress to
and egress from the GPOPA Property (“GPOPA Easement”). I provided to you, a copy of the
GPOPA Easement with my previous letter dated August 22, 2022.
At the August 22, 2022 Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission
considered Item Two on the Planning Commission agenda, “Amendment Application No. 2022-
01 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2022-14 for the Garry Avenue Business Park at 1700, 1720,
and 1740 East Garry Avenue” (“Project Applications”). According to the Planning Commission
agenda packet for that meeting, Greenlaw Partners is the applicant for the project identified in
agenda Item Two (“Greenlaw Project”).1
The Greenlaw Project includes a proposed building located over the GPOPA Easement.
According to GPOPA, the GPOPA Easement crisscrosses the entire Subject Property and is
actively used on a daily basis. As discussed in my previous letter to you, GPOPA is not an
1 Although it is not clear by the documents included in the Planning Commission agenda packet,
it appears that the applicant, Greenlaw Partners is not the owner of record of the Subject Property,
and that the fee owner of the Subject Property is Garry Owners, LLC.
Santa Ana Planning Commission
Re: Amendment Application No. 2022-01 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2022-14
September 26, 2022
Page 2
applicant of the Greenlaw Project and does not agree to the erection of any building or to any other
alteration to the Subject Property that would interfere with GPOPA’s property rights in the Subject
Property or the GPOPA Easement.
In written comments and at the August 22, 2022 Planning Commission meeting, GPOPA,
as an owner of a real property interest in the Subject Property, opposed the Greenlaw Project.
GPOPA also opposed the Greenlaw Project as an owner of neighboring real property. After
receiving our comments regarding the Greenlaw Project, the Planning Commission understood
that the Commission cannot approve the Greenlaw Project until or unless GPOPA reconveys the
GPOPA Easement back to the owner of the Subject Property. In light of this, the Planning
Commission approved a motion to continue deliberations on the Greenlaw Project until the next
Planning Commission meeting in order to provide Greenlaw Partners an opportunity to negotiate
with GPOPA.
Although Greenlaw Partners and GPOPA have been in negotiations regarding the GPOPA
Easement, the parties have not reached any agreement regarding it, and GPOPA remains opposed
to the Greenlaw Project.
In addition, it is our understanding that the utility and drainage easements cannot be
extinguished as proposed without negatively affecting my client’s and possibly other neighboring
properties’ ability to access utilities and to have proper drainage.
It is our understanding that staff has recommended that the Planning commission not
approve any portion of the project until or unless all interest holders of the property resolve all
matters regarding the Subject Property. We fully agree with staff’s recommendation and, GPOPA
kindly requests that the Planning Commission not approve the Greenlaw Project and that staff
deem the Project Applications incomplete until or unless the applicant provides the City with proof
that it is the record owner of all interest in the Subject Property, including the GPOPA Easement.
Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions. please contact me
at 949-673-1161 or at the address indicated at the top of this letter.
Yours truly,
Melinda M. Luthin, Esq. of
MELINDA LUTHIN LAW
cc: Ali Pezeshkpour (apezeshkpour@santa-ana.org)