CORRESPONDENCE - 75A (COMMENT) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Santa Ana City Council 9/25/2019 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana CA, 92701 RE: Russell Fischer Project 325/ 301 N Tustin Ave Santa Ana CA, 92705 Dear Kristine Ridge, The intent of this letter is to provide all factual data regarding our pending project to assist Santa Ana City Council in making the correct decision. Our Santa Ana location was purchased in September of 2015. Immediately after our purchase, we began all necessary steps to upgrade the existing location. Over four years later, we have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, followed all city requirements and guidelines, and have been approved unanimously by the planning commission. After four years of work and following all city's requirements, we have had no valid opposition. The only opposition that has come forward is an existing competitor (purchased their business in 2017) that aggressively attempts to hurt our company financially and stop our project from happening with the argument that the market is "overly saturated." There are a total of six operating express car washes in the city of Santa Ana, including our existing location. There are over 30 coffee shops, over 20 dry cleaners, over 40 auto repair shops, over 30 oil change centers, over 50 fast food restaurants in the city of Santa Ana. Are we to believe that once a business is established, they are to expect no future competition? Or even worse, that an existing business will be unable to enhance their business after following all city requirements because existing competition doesn't support it? The aforementioned would state otherwise. This is quite the precedent to even consider entertaining for existing or new businesses, no matter what the industry. We understand there is no way around the appeal process set forth by the City and that the appeal process is necessary. However, the company who filed the appeal did so at the 11th hour of the last day of the appeal process in order to inflict the maximum amount of financial loss to our company. Not only did they do so with malicious intent, but they also executed this exact same plan to a previously pending car wash project, (furniture store on 17th and Maybury) which was ultimately approved. Our competitor's egregiously selfish nature and use of government process to inflict financial harm on others without any remorse is appalling. Our business on 325/301 N Tustin Ave has been a fuel station and car wash since the 1970's. Through great cost and effort we jumped through all the required hoops to clean up a dilapidated restaurant site and to enhance an existing business to maximize what can be offered to the community of Santa Ana. Sincerely, Chase Russell