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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 75A q1= .' /<. City Council Meeting Correspondence 1, %' Th114 * 2/20/2018 PUBLIC HEARING-APPEAL DECISION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON DENIAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW NO.2017-96,AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2017-02 TO CHANGE THE 75A ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTIES AT 2056 AND 2058 NORTH BUSH STREET, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2017-29 FOR THE PROPERTY AT 2129 NORTH MAIN STREET,AND VARIANCE NO. 2017-07 FOR THE PROPERTIES AT 2115, 2123 AND 2129 NORTH MAIN STREET FOR A HAMPTON INN HOTEL-NET DEVELOPMENT COMPANY,APPLICANT Date of Name Representative of In Favor In Opposition Correspondence of RA*. of RA.* 1 1/25/2018 Kevin A.Coleman Net Development Co. Yes 2 2/13/2018 David Elliott,President Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce Yes 3 2/14/2018 Eugen C.Andres, Partner Palm Court Parnters Yes 4 2/19/2018 PJ&Neda Jahangiri Yes No 5 2/20/2018 William H.(Bill) Ihrke Yes No 4 Mkhoet G®dsby Sub-total: . 1 2/16/2018 Edward J. Casey Alston&Bird Concer ned 2 2/16/2018 Elizabeth M. Lawrence Concer ned Sub'#offal 2 TOTAL: 7 *RA-Recommended Action Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Page 1 of 1 Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 4:09 PM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Subject: RE: Email from Kevin Coleman/Net Development Co., Main St. -Hampton Inn project From: Kristi Love [mailto:l<love@netdevco.com] Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 3:03 PM To: City Council <CitvCouncil@santa-ana.ore> Cc: Kevin Coleman <kcoleman@netdevco.com>; Morley, Marc <MMorlev@santa-ana.ora> Subject: Email from Kevin Coleman/Net Development Co., Main St. -Hampton Inn project Email from Kevin Coleman: Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, I wanted to shed some light on the Planning Commission meeting held on Monday night regarding the items for the Hampton Inn project to be located at 2129 N. Main St.. The items were moved to the February 20t' City Council meeting due to a 3/3 impasse, it was an unfortunate outcome but I look forward to the presentation at the City Council meeting. It is my desire to ensure that you have all the information that you need and I would be happy to meet with each of you to answer any questions or concerns that you might have. Please let me (and my assistant Kristi Love) know when it would be convenient for a call or to meet in person. Thank you. AL- developmenEco Kristi Love Whitacre Executive Assistant to Kevin A. Coleman Net Development Co. 3130 Airway Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-754-4454/714-754-0198 fax www.netdevco.com Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 4:15 PM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Subject: FW: Hampton Inn Project -. Letter 'of Support Attachments: Hampton Inn Project - Letter of Support (2).pdf From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 5:44 PM To: eComment <eComment@santa-ana.org> Subject: FW: Hampton Inn Project- Letter of Support From: Dianna Mejia [mailto:dmeiiaC@santaanachamber.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 2:32 PM To: City Council <CityCouncil@santa-ana.ore> Cc: Kevin Coleman (KColeman@netdevco.com) <KColeman@netdevco.com>; Kristi Love (I<love@netdevco.com) <klove@netdevco.com>; Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.ore> Subject: Hampton Inn Project - Letter of Support Members of the City Council, On behalf of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce please see our attached letter of support for the Hampton Inn project. We thank you for your prompt attention and time spent on this matter. Regards, 296CCluta ✓ te#a Executive Assistant Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce 1631 W. Sunflower Ave., Suite C-35 Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 541-5353 ext. 116 N February 13, 2018 Members of the City Council, On behalf of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce I would like to extend our support of the Hampton Inn project located at: 2129 N. Main St. in the city of Santa Ana. This project is a positive Economic Development enterprise. From our perspective this increases workforce opportunity as well as additional tax revenue for our city. It also provides needed hotel space on the north end of our city complimenting the Bowers Museum and the Discovery Cube. I urge you to support this project. Thank You Sincerely, David Elliott President Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce 1631 W. Sunflower Ave #C-35, Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 541-5353 Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 4:18 PM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Subject: FW: Development of Hampton Hotel From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 12:32 PM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma <NMitre-Ramirez@santa-ana.org> Subject: FW: Development of Hampton Hotel From: Jane Angel [mailto:tiangel andreslaw.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 10:55 AM To: City Council <CityCouncil@santa-ana.org> Cc: I<coleman@netdevco.com; Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.org> Subject: Development of Hampton Hotel PALM COURT PARNTERS February 14, 2018 Re: Development of Hampton Hotel To whom it may concern: Palm Court Partners consists of the five contiguous parcels immediately south of the proposed Hampton Hotel site on the east side of North Main street in Santa Ana. Palm Court Partners is in favor of the development. We would prefer that the facade would be Spanish architecture to fit in with the Bowers Museum. To keep the two story McFarland building and move on a one story building onto the site seems unnecessary since the site is small to start with. We are prepared to work with the city and the development company to see that it is completed in a way that best serves the parties involved and the city of Santa Ana. We think the development will be a positive improvement to the triangle area and the museum district. ECA:ja Jane Angel Andres & Andres Law Offices 2041 N. Main Street Santa Ana, Ca. 92706 Phoce : 714-558-7775 Fax: 714-558-9440 Email: ttangel@andreslaw.com With Kindest regards, EUGEN C. ANDRES PARTNER VI Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Categories: PJ Jahangiri <pjahangiri@advantage-reo.com> Monday, February 19, 2018 4:08 PM eComment Hampton Inn Hotel - 2129 N. Main Street Letter of. -Support for Hampton Inn - PJ & Neda Jahangiri 02-19-18.pdf Correspondence Honorable Mayor Pulito and Council Members, attached please find our letter of support and comments for the upcoming hearing on the Hampton Inn Hotel Project. Thank you. PJ & Neda Jahangiri 714-423-2017 February 19, 2017 City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92702 RF,: Hampton Inn Hotel — 2129 North Main Street, Santa Ana Honorable Mayor Pulito and. Council members, We are writing again to express our utter support for the Hotel development project. The City of Santa Ana has this unique opportunity to take advantage of its central location in the heart of the Orange County's booming tourism industry. Once completed, the high -rated Hampton Inn Hotel development is in an ideal location to highlight the approach to our beautiful city and "Museum District". There has been a small opposition from a few nearby commercial property and apartment owners. Their chief compliant amounts to asking the City to continue to provide free parking for a very few; instead of doing what should be done for all the city — that is approving the city parking lot to its highest and best use. We recognize that you have a challenging position. As City officials, you are not only required to make individual decisions on daily issues light now, you are also engaged in planning for the future of our City. This involves strategic long-term considerations. Decisions that affect us for decades and generations to come. We could also like to speak to you in detail about our frustrations with the condition and current use of the parking lot. The City has heard us speak previously concerning the un- monitored parking lot site attracting the displaced homeless as a new place to live, prostitution, used drug paraphernalia and all the issues associated with these conditions. Although those in opposition to this project have an immediate interest in free parking, we have an immediate interest in all of these negative activities going away. However, we are not here to tell you to approve this project to rid the location of these negative conditions only. We are asking for your approval of this project not only to rid the location of negative conditions but because we believe it is good for the City as a whole. We all realize the City is dedicated to being a good steward of their assets. In this instance the approval of the Hotel Project is both the right decision for this site and for the City as a whole. Thank you in advance for understanding our concerns and look forward in meeting you all tomorrow at scheduled meeting Si e y; r PJ ahangiri Ne a iahm=girir-- 1421 N. Wanda Road, Suite 120/0range, California 92867 714.288.8600w 714.423.2017c Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Bill Ihrke <bihrke@msn.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 11:54 AM To: eComment Cc: Kevin A. Coleman; klove@netdevco.com Subject: Letter in Support Qf Hotel Project at 2129 N Main Street - Feb 20 2018 Santa Ana City Council Meeting Attachments: Letter in Support of Hotel Project at 2129 N Main Street - Feb 20 2018 Santa Ana City Council Meeting PDF.PDF Dear City Clerk, Please see the attached letter of support. Please include in the record of proceedings. Sincerely, Bill Ihrke Sent from my iPhone Apologies for any typos. Begin forwarded message: February 20, 2015 City of Santa Ana Clerk of the Council Office 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 emailed to: eCommentCcDsanta-ana.ore RE: Support for Proposed Hotel and Related Project at 2129 N. Main Street, Santa Ana Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council: I am re -sending a letter similar to what I had submitted to the City Council in May 2017 and Planning Commission in December 2017, in support of the above -referenced project. As a proud resident of the Floral Park neighborhood in Santa Ana, who regularly hosts guests and takes them to the downtown area for a true "new urban" experience, I enthusiastically support the proposed 135 -room hotel with restaurant and bar/lounge, proposed for 2129 N. Main Street. As a resident of a registered historic landmark (historic home) in Floral Park, I also enthusiastically commend the project's proposed preservation of two historical homes that are next to the proposed hotel. A new and sophisticated downtown hotel is the precise economic development stimulus that would assist residents like me hosting guests, as well as visitors to Southern California, easily experience Santa Ana's "buzzing" downtown scene, hidden gems like the Bower's Museum, and other nearby attractions like Main Place Shopping Mall. In the spirit of full disclosure, please be advised that Mr. Kevin Coleman is a good friend of mine, as we know each other very well through the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and other city-wide organizations. Additionally, my law firm, Rutan & Tucker LLP, does work for Mr. Coleman's company, Net Development. This letter of support, however, is based on Mr. Coleman's proven track record to design, build, lease - up, and maintain top-quality hotel projects and ancillary buildings. I have visited and stayed at such hotels. I have also worked with him personally, through Habitat for Humanity, with the construction of a single family home in Santa Ana, at the corner of Flower Street and Edinger Avenue. This project would be the beneficiary of Mr. Coleman's and Net Development's strong expertise in construction and admirable understanding in maintaining good community relations. In other words, this project will not only be a huge economic benefit to the city, through hotel (TOT), sales and property taxes, but also will be yet another shining star in the City's inventory of unique and community -oriented projects. I urge the Planning Commission to approve the project at its meeting this month. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, William H. (Bill) Ihrke Santa Ana Resident Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Camacho, Dana <Dana.Camacho@alston.com> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 2:41 PM To: eComment; sonia.carvalho@bbklaw.com Cc: Casey, Ed; Rollens, Max Subject: Proposed Hampton Hotel Project: Agenda Item No. 75A Attachments: 2018-02-16 Letter to City Council re Hampton Hotel Project.pdf Categories: Correspondence Dear Clerk of the Council: In connection with the above -referenced matter, attached please find Ed Casey's letter dated February 16, 2018. Please include this letter in the Council's Agenda Packet. Kind regards, Dana Camacho Legal Administrative Assistant James R. Evans I Nicki Carlsen I Andrea S. Warren I Maya Lopez Grasse I Max Rollens ALSTON & BIRD 333 South Hope Street, Suite 1600 Los Angeles, CA 90071 213-576-1125(D) 213-576-1100 (F) Dana. C wnacho@alston. com NOTICE: This e-mail message and all attachments may contain legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you may not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use this message or its attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by email and delete all copies of the message immediately. (it: 4. • CPathbLirt CS* NEIGHBORHOODS f 17901 Von KZallikart Ave,Suite 600 Irvine,CA.92014 (949)556-8714 www.better-neighborhoods.com/ February 20, 2018 Santa Ana City Council HAND-DELIVERED 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Re: Item # 75A, HAMPTON INN, on tonight's agenda Dear Hon. Mayor Pulido and Council Members: Better Neighborhoods, Inc., hereby wishes to enter this letter into the record with regard to the Council's consideration of the above-referenced matter, and to reiterate its objections to approval of the proposed Hampton Inn project (the "Project") on the following grounds, among others: 1. Variances. Variances should only be given to a developer if there are special circumstances. There are no findings of"special and unique circumstances"justifying the proposed variances. For example, what substantial property right would be preserved by granting the proposed variances? In fact, granting the variances for this Project would be detrimental to the surrounding business community due to the reduced public parking caused by the Project. 2. Historical Site. The developer Project intends to relocate one historical building to another location and to turn it into a bar, and to turn another historical building into a restaurant. The Historical Resources Evaluation Report says about the proposed move of the nationally historic Melton House, "the move will cause the Melton House to lose several aspects of historic integrity that includes location, setting, feeling and association." We believe the proposed mitigation measures to try to minimize the loss of the historical integrity of these historic buildings are completely insufficient. We do not see how you could possibly mitigate the magnitude of the historic losses merely by following the Secretary of the Interior's standards, as has been proposed. For these reasons and the many others given by others in the community tonight, we urge the Council to reject the proposed Project. Sincerely, 711eduid?diet J. Michael Goolsby President and CEO Better Neighborhoods, Inc. ASTON & BIRD 333 South Hope Street, 16th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90071-1410 213-576-1000 Fax: 213-576-1100 www,a]ston.com Edward J. Casey Direst DiaL 213376-1005 E-rnai - ed.casey@alstoncwm February 16, 2018 Via Email Santa Ana City Council Attn: Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor Santa Ana, CA 92702 Re: Proposed Hampton Hotel Project: Agenda Item No. 75A Dear Councilmembers: This law firm represents the owner and operator of Hollybrook Senior Living of Orange ("Hollybrook"), located at 2025 North Bush Street, Santa Ana—less than one- quarter mile from the site of the proposed Hampton Hotel Project ("Hotel Project"). Hollybrook has been an important member of the community since it began its operations in 1969. We write this letter to reiterate our client's concerns about the parking and traffic -related impacts that the Hotel Project would cause, and request that the City Council require adequate parking be provided. 1. Staff has not done what the City Council instructed with respect to parking Parking has been an issue for this project since the City Council first approved the purchase and sale agreement in May 2017. During the hearing held on May 2, 2017, at the request of Councilman Jose Solorio, the item was continued and staff was directed to report back on the availability of other public parking options in close proximity to the existing parking lot. Yet there is still no report with possible solutions. During that same hearing, Hassan Haghani, Executive Director Planning and Building, stated that the Hotel Project planned to meet all "required" parking on site, in effect assuring the community that at least code -required parking would be provided. Yet code -required parking is not proposed and the applicant is instead seeking a parking variance. 2. The applicant has not done what the Planning Commission instructed with respect to parking After hearing much community testimony at its first hearing on the project held on December 11, 2017, the Planning Commission recognized that parking is a serious issue for the Hotel Project. In response, the Commission continued its decision and directed the applicant to further study "[t]he impacts of displaced parking; specifically the loss of 98 public parking spaces." Yet, this also has not happened. Apparently, the Alston & Bird LLP www.alston-com Atlanta ] Beijing I Brussels I Charlotte I Dallas I Los Angeles I New York I Research Triangle I San Francisco I Sillcon Valley I Washington, D.C. Santa Ana City Council February 16, 2018 Page 2 applicant did not conduct additional studies since they "would have been conducted over the holidays." Over six weeks have now passed since the holiday season, however, and no additional justification has been given for not conducting these studies. Still, nothing has been done to meet the Planning Commission's requests on parking impacts. 3. The record does not support the requested parking variance Despite the significant impacts that displacing the existing parking will have on local businesses and residents, and despite the assurances staff provided that the Hotel Project will meet Code parking requirements, the applicant is requesting a variance to reduce parking by approximately 20 percent. This request is not supported by the record. The state Zoning Law provides that to justify the grant of a variance, there must be special circumstances applicable to the property such that "the strict application of the zoning ordinance deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical zoning classification." (Gov. Code, § 65906.) Here, the record does not contain substantial evidence of a valid hardship. The Staff Report states that "[s]taff is recommending approval of the applicant's request due to the economic benefits of a hotel development, the support for shared uses and parking and the irregular lot configuration." However, economic benefits to the community are legally irrelevant to variance determinations. (Broadway, Laguna, Vallejo Ass'n v. Board of Permit Appeals of City and County of San Francisco (1967) 66 Cal.2d 767, 777-79.) Similarly, whether a shared parking analysis supports the request is irrelevant under state law; it has nothing to do with a "hardship." Finally, vague assertions of the "irregular lot configuration" and the site being "bound by the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway" are not sufficient to establish the subject property differs substantially from other parcels in the zone. (OrindaAssn. v. Board of Supervisors (1986) 182 Cal.App.3d 1145.) The record shows that the request is actually financially based and driven by the applicant's design choices. (See January 22 Planning Commission Staff Report [stating that "[s]trict application of the SAMC's off-street parking requirements would render the project infeasible due to site constraints and construction costs"].) Yet, self-induced economic justifications are insufficient. (See Broadway, supra [economic hardship insufficient]; Town ofAtherton v. Templeton (1961) 198 Cal.App.2d 146, 165 [self- induced hardship insufficient].) Even if economic hardship was a sufficient justification, there is no evidence in the record (such as an economic feasibility analysis) showing that the Hotel Project would be infeasible with code -required parking. Thus, there is no valid justification for variance, and no substantial evidence in support. Without a valid basis and substantial evidence, this Council would be granting the applicant an indefensible "special privilege" prohibited by Government Code Section 65906. Santa Ana City Council February 16, 2018 Page 3 Further; granting the parking variance would be detrimental to the health and general welfare of persons residing and working in the vicinity, as it would prevent relatives from visiting residents of Hollybrook resulting in negative health implications, and it would harm local businesses whose patrons rely on currently available public parking. 4. The record does support a fair argument that the Hotel Project would have significant indirect impacts stemming from the parking shortage In our comment letter dated December 7, 2017, we previously explained that the loss of parking, combined with the inadequate amount of parking that the Hotel Project would provide, will cause significant indirect and secondary traffic impacts associated with motorists driving on local streets looking for parking spaces. This is supported by countless testimony in the record from local citizens and business owners. It is also supported by the Planning Commission's comments on the Mitigation Negative Declaration ("MND"), including that it was "inadequate" and "not supported by the evidence presented." Staff have provided no response to these concerns. If the record supports a fair argument that a project will result in significant environmental impacts, the required remedy is to order preparation of an EIR. (Communities for a Better Environment v. South Coast Air Quality Management Dist. (2010) 48CalAth 310, 319-20.) "[D]eference to the agency's determination is not appropriate and its decision not to require an EIR can be upheld only when there is no credible evidence to the contrary." (Id., [emphasis added].) The public testimony in the record, especially when combined with the Planning Commission's denial, is credible evidence of a fair argument that the Hotel Project will have significant impacts, and therefore an MND is not warranted. 5. The City Council should simply require the applicant provide more parking Hollybrook is not opposed to the Hotel Project in principle and appreciates the City's financial realities and needs. But. the City must balance those needs with the needs of its citizens. Your residents and business owners have been clear that without additional parking, at least to code requirements, the Hotel Project will significantly impact them and their businesses. The Council should simply require the applicant provide more parking. We appreciate your consideration. Very truly yours, Edward J. Casey EJC/dtc cc: City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho, by email at sonia.carvalho@bbldaw.com Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: elizabeth lawrence <lizlaw3@att.net> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 5:23 PM To: eComment Cc: JW Property Services; Paul Mies Subject: Mitigated Negative Declaration, Environmental Review #2017-96 Categories: Correspondence To City of Santa Ana: My family has a large apartment building located at I have received a copy of Notice of Public Hearing to be heard on February 20, 2018. I will be unable to attend but want to make my voice heard. Our apartment building is a large 3 -story building with 37 units. There are also a couple other apartments on the the same block of Bush Street. The concern we have is with possible noise levels as this is a residential area with many families. A bigger concern is for the parking on the street. There is already limited parking on that block and it appears that parking could become even more limited with the addition of a hotel and other changes as proposed. Our building has underground parking but for tenants with two cars or for visitors, it is necessary that they use street parking. Some of that block of Bush Street does not allow for street parking so the parking spots are very limited. I do hope that before this issue is approved, there is a census taken of the number of residents that live in the Bush Street block directly behind the proposed project and an assessment of street parking. It appears that this new project will limited street parking that is already at a premium. A problem with parking in that areawill only add to the congestion already found on that street and in that area. I would appreciate your consideration of my concern before approval of this project. Elizabeth Mies Lawrence Trustee of Mies Family Trust