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Home My WebLink About1 - COMBINED PUBLIC COMMENTS_4405 W EDINGER AVENUE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CORRESPONDENCE 9/9/2019 ITEM NO. 1 – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2019-01 AND MINOR EXCEPTION NO. 2019-01 FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT LOCATED AT 4405 W EDINGER AVENUE Comments received by 1:00 p.m. deadline LAST NAME FIRST NAME FAVOR OPPOSE NEUTRAL COLE ANDREA X REIS GEORGE/KATHY X TADROSS MARTHA X TADROSS ATEF X QEST MILAD JOSEPH MINA X HERNANDEZ FRANK X TADROS MARY X MATTAR GABRIELA X RIZKALLA SABRI X TADROS ISIS X ASSAL SHERY X SEFINE RAPHAELA X KASSAB MARYAM ANTOUN G. X ARMANIOS SAMEH X MORCOS REMONDA X ARMANIOS VICTOR X NGUYEN TU X YOUNG PATTY X TODISCO JOAN X VETTER GEORGE X VETTER PETRA X NEGRETE KARYN X LY CHARLIE/PAM X RICHARDS ASHLEY X VELARDE LORENA X VELARDE ROSIE X Page 1 of 1 From:Kelaher, Selena To: Subject:FW: planning commission Date:Tuesday, September 03, 2019 3:34:15 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png Hello Andrea, I am the case planner for the project. There will be no street access via W. Regent Drive to the church site. A new block wall will be constructed around the perimeter of the site. Vehicular access to the church is provided via two driveways (one new driveway) off Ediner Avenue. The site plan can be viewed on the project’s webpage: https://www.santa- ana.org/pb/planning-division/major-planning-projects-and-documents/coptic-orthodox-church Please contact me with any additional questions or comments. Thank you, Selena Kelaher | Associate Planner Planning & Building Agency | 20 Civic Center Plaza | Santa Ana, CA 92701 714-667-2740 | SKelaher@santa-ana.org http://www.santa-ana.org/ This e-mail (and attachments, if any) may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and as such, may, therefore, be subject to public disclosure unless otherwise exempt under the Act. From: Andy Cole [mailto: Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 2:36 PM To: eComment <eComment@santa-ana.org> Subject: planning commission Dear Sarah Bernal. I have a concern about the proposed building project at 4405 W. Edinger Avenue. If the 5 single-family homes are destroyed to build the extra facility and parking will there be a back drive-way for the parishioners? If so, will this cause a traffic jam for the neighbors who are still living on Regent Street? I believe this needs to be addressed before continuing on with the proposal. Thank you. Andrea Cole 9/9/19, 7:30 AMRakoty Associate Architects Mail - Fwd: Community Meeting Page 1 of 1https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=f531357b0d&view=pt&search…44054065857890953&simpl=%23msg-a%3Ar-2276097629077080129&mb=1 Mariam Moussa <mariam@rakotyarchitects.com>Fwd: Community MeetingMariam Moussa <mariam@rakotyarchitects.com>Mon, Sep 9, 2019 at 7:21 AMDraftGood morning Selena, Please add this letter below to the Mariam ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Community Outreach Date: Sat, Sep 7, 2019 at 2:35 PMSubject: Fwd: Community MeetingTo: Mariam MoussaThis is George and Cathy Reis, we live at 1224 S. Gates St. and are not able to make it to the community meetingon June 26. This note is to state our support for your church and your future plans. We have lived here since 1979,and remember when your congregration met in the backyard of what was a house on Edinger before the churchbuilding was built.First, I want to let you know that your members are welcome to park in front of my house, and they always havebeen welcome to do so. The street is a public street to begin with, and the parking spaces are there to be used.Please allow your members to continue parking in front of our home. Just as you wish to build good relations withthe neighborhood, we want your members to feel welcome.Second, we fully support your plans to build an additional building and a parking lot. Our understanding is that youalready own the property, and it seems to me that you have the right to do with your property what you wish.Providing additional parking seems like it would benefit your members and reduce traffic in the neighborhood - bothgood things. The additional building will enable your church to provide services and support that will benefit yourmembers, which seems like a good thing.We are happy to have you as neighbors and are happy to support your efforts, as we have always been. Best, George and Cathy Reis 1224 S. Gates St. Santa Ana, CA 92704 From:Kelaher, Selena To:Bernal, Sarah Subject:FW: City of Santa Ana Planning Commission and City Council. 9-9-2019 Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 8:22:59 AM Selena Kelaher, AICP City of Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency | M20 20 Civic Center Plaza | Post Office Box 1988 | Santa Ana, CA 92702 skelaher@santa-ana.org | Direct Phone: (714) 667-2740 -----Original Message----- From: Patty Young [mailto:s ] Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2019 7:46 PM To: Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.org> Cc: Karyn Negrete <hangluse2@roadrunner.com>; kristy@micworks.com Subject: City of Santa Ana Planning Commission and City Council. 9-9-2019 City of Santa Ana Planning Commission and City Council. 9-9-2019 RE: Archangel Coptic Orthodox Church located at 4405 West Edinger, SA The proposed Project for new construction under CUP 2019-01 I have lived at , right around the corner from the church for 40 years. I was a resident when your Mr. Charles View made a presentation to our community on June 20, 1988. Presented was a structure of 1100 sq. ft which was to have a main level sanctuary and offices as well as a basement level with a bread kitchen, storage, book store and social hall. CUP88-11 provided there would be no simultaneous use of both levels. At this time this church was operating out of a house on Edinger and never complied with its CUP (see your City Archives for CUP- 11 and CUP-12) At the time we, the neighbors were skeptical. How can they be expected to use only the main level while there is a 7,058 basement level with restrooms and a social hall? How are they going to have a basement with our high water table? Why does it have to be so big and have architecture as like Cairo, Egypt? How does this embrace our community known as "Little Texas" with it's horses and chickens? The City however granted permission to build. How did this 11,000 sq. ft. Building turn into 16,798 sq. ft. You might ask? It grew...before construction was even completed. The addition of another story of offices and mezzanines were added, serviced by an elevator and not part of the original approved plan. (see archived letter from Joseph A. Wollett to Charles View, July 2, 1990) In this letter, the church architect explained the basement was "subdivided by the provision of classrooms" and he explains a second level was "added as it does not affect the outside appearance of the structure" and says it was "dropped into what would have otherwise been high ceiling space." There seems to be a practice of deception since the very start. Two homes were retained in the cul-de-sac behind the church on Regent drive supposedly for use as guest quarters and a residence for the Pastor. But the pastor, if he ever lived there had moved many years ago and for many years people simply parked in the neighborhood and used yard gates to access the church from the back. (see city archive of complaints 1992 and 1994/95) While the church said they would keep the gates locked or not use them, it was not remedied until a solid block wall replaced the gate in 2003. In Sept. 29, 1995 LA Times an article about this church dedicated in 1992 and was awarded a settlement against contractors and suppliers and ordered to pay 1.4 million due to water seepage in their basement. The article quotes "church officials say they will use proceeds from the settlement...to lift the structure so that new waterproofing can be added". Did they use the money for that? It seems they use the basement just fine unless complaining about it furthers their plan to expand. Then it is subject to mold and seepage and not good enough for them to use. Now they say they need to replace the basement with a new building. In 2003 the basement was fine. They proposed it be utilized at the same time as the sanctuary above with the addition of 150 seats. Now they want to build a " Community Service Building" 2 stories and 9,928 sq. ft, same Egyptian type architecture and again in excess of the Citys maximum height of 27 feet. They are calling the classrooms "educational rooms", more offices, a multipurpose room etc... And not to be used at the same time as the main sanctuary. They are also asking to put at least 110 seats in the main sanctuary mezzanines. Really? Do you know what it is like to see this structure looming over our roof tops? All lit up at night? We beg you to look at the full potential of occupancy of these structures. As we already have problems with traffic, parking and noise. Realize the addition of building occupancy and so little parking is going to have a very major negative impact and be a further nuisance to our country community. Also obstruction of one of only two entrances to our homes can be dangerous as well. The other entrance is obstructed by the school on Newhope at Regent drive and parents picking up and dropping off their children. Why can't they keep their church but build a school and Community Building elsewhere in Santa Ana, where there is room for them to grow? Respectfully, Patricia Young Sent from my iPad Joan Todisco Santa Ana, CA 92704 City of Santa Ana Planning Commission 20 Civic Center Drive Santa Ana, CA 92702 September 7, 2019 Re: CUP for Proposed Project of Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church To Whom It May Concern: I am a home-owner, impacted by this proposed project, and I wish to go on record as to my opposition to this project. I have attended most of the previous meetings with the Church and listened to the parishioners talking about their spirituality and their education, without ever mentioning any benefit to the residents being impacted by their expansion. I am as educated, or more so, than any of these people. This is irrelevant to the issues at hand. This site will always be too small for this church. Expansion can happen here ONLY if they intrude into our neighborhood. Yes, they need a place to congregate. BUT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE! The proposed plan is just the beginning; I have seen their MASTER PLAN. If taken to fruition, our life style will be destroyed along with our property values. With the current size of their congregation, parking is already hopelessly out of control. We, the residents, have always feared an emergency, such as a fire in the neighborhood when cars are parked on both sides of these narrow streets during church activities. WE DID HAVE A FIRE RECENTLY - thankfully it was on a weekday and the streets were open because 5 fire trucks responded and filled the streets. If this was during church activity, likely that building would have burned down because of lack of access to it. The Fire Chief advised us to notify The Safety Commission to change the layout of the street markings and paint the curbs red to prohibit parking on the street curve. Thankfully the City of Santa Ana responded and this much has been improved. Expected benefits here are completely one-sided. There is nothing in this for the neighborhood but more aggravation. The architecture is completely out of character for the neighborhood. The enormous arches that already exist are lit up at night, glaring into the surroundings. The new project will be in the same design but closer to our homes. If expansion is so important to the church, they need to build it off-site. Provide the school, social hall and parking that they so badly need in an open area that will allow for future expansion. The Church has not shown a hint of compromise; IT HAS TO BE THEIR WAY ON THIS SITE! This continuing push to get their expansion has become a point of harrassment. I am against ANY expansion of the existing church at this site. Currently, we tolerate them without interference; they practice their religion and park on our streets without interference. IN 30 YEARS, they have shown disregard and disrespect for the residents of this neighborhood and we are expected to believe this will improve by allowing them to triple in size? It is insane to expect this to improve. For years this Church has continued to present this same plan to expand. Years ago, the Church made a similar attempt to push this expansion through and it was denied by the City Council. At that meeting, Councilwoman, Pat McGuiggan deemed the existing structure a NUISANCE in its legal definition and stated in open session, that she was the deciding vote on the initial structure and has always regretted her decision. She stated that this church was not a good fit and should never have been allowed. If this project is approved, the next Commission will no doubt admit it was also a mistake but it can't be changed. That is NOT how to fix a mistake. This battle will go on forever and that is not fair to the residents, the landowners, their children and grandchildren who will inherit these properties. A permanent rejection should be made so the Church can not dredge this up any more, hoping a new cast of Board members will give them their way or the neighbors will die off and stop fighting them. Please consider my argument meritorious. Sincerely, Joan Todisco, RN, BS/BA, JD, LLM George Vetter (714) Santa Ana, CA 92704 September 7, 2019 Planning and Building Agency M20 714-667-2740 20 Civic Center Plaza PO Box 1988 Santa Ana, CA 92702 Re: 4405 W. Edinger Ave Proposed Expansion As a direct neighbor to the proposed expansion, I, and my family, are not only completely opposed to the proposal, but we would ask the Commission to consider abating the existing conditional use permit for 4405 W. Edinger Avenue. The following challenges are of grave concern to myself and the neighboring community, all of which the church located at 4405 W. Edinger Avenue is aware of, however has never addressed in a satisfactory manner: 1. Parking 2. Traffic 3. Delinquent Property Care 4. Noise Pollution 5. Light Pollution 6. Proposed Expansion Will Have An Irreversible Detrimental Effect On Neighborhood Parking: The church’s patronship has time and time again proven to be beyond the control of the church. To date, the church has thus far been unwilling to take appropriate, acceptable, and successful action to help alleviate the issues caused by their parishioner’s parking during services. The church will assert that they have taken measures such as securing the parking on the neighboring elementary school, creating signage, and hiring traffic control. In spite of these efforts, none of the measures initiated by the church have done any good, and, in fact, have caused detriment to the neighborhood by creating more traffic within the neighborhood, and littering the neighborhood with their illegal signage. Example Images (Street with no services): Example Images (Street When Services Are Being Conducted): To alleviate this issue the church installed illegal signage in order to prevent their parishioner’s incursion on the neighborhood. Example Images (Signage During Non-Service Hours): This signage was not only ineffective, but was illegal, a blight on the neighborhood, and was left out even when services were not in session. Example Images (Delinquent Signage Left Over Several Day’s Time): For years the neighborhood has lobbied the church to convert two of their current property holdings for parking. This conversion would be a real solution to improve the safety and convenience of their congregation, alleviate parking issues on a residential street, and foster goodwill with the community. This resolution, however, has always been struck down by the church, in spite of these properties being uncared for and used to store derelict vehicles. Example Image (Purposed Parking Area With Access From Major Street, Not A Side Street): Example Image (Eight Derelict Vehicles On Church Properties): Traffic: Along with the increased issues of parking, so too comes the traffic. This traffic is not only associated with the parking, but the traffic between services that come in as the other parishioners are exiting. West Regent Drive, West Lilac Avenue, Richardson, and South Gates Street are all narrow streets with blind corners that are not conducive to this type of traffic congestion. It is unreasonable to assume that what is constructed for neighborhood light traffic is going to be able to handle such heavy traffic requirements. Example Image (Dangerous Interceptions/Curves): Between parishioners lingering after services, dangerous and illegal U-turns, and cars coming in and out of street parking, there are countless near misses and accidents that have transpired over the past years. Delinquent Property Care: The illegal and abhorrent signage the church initiated in order to control traffic is only one in a long list of examples of conduct that has been detrimental to the quality of life in the neighborhood in which the church currently resides. The church controls several properties in the neighborhood, and, all of which, at one time or another have exhibited signs of blatant negligence and willful disregard for the neighborhood’s wellbeing. Properties have been littered with furniture, illegally parked vehicles, derelict vehicles, and all manner of trash. Example Images (Delinquent Care of Properties): Noise Pollution: For years, the church has flagrantly and knowingly conducted operations that contribute to noise and disruption in excess, and at all hours of the day and night to the detriment of the neighborhood’s wellbeing. The causes of the noise pollution generated by the church come from children using the existing parking lot for recreation, which is against the conditions in their current CUP, late night services where the parishioners congregate in the existing parking lot while children yell, and scream in the background, public address systems which are tuned to a level significantly higher than the law allows, and general lack of concern and respect for the neighborhood. At times, these issues have grown so bad that law enforcement has had to come out and enforce noise regulations. As neighbors, we have addressed these issues directly with the church, however little to nothing has been done to abate the noise challenges. We have resigned ourselves to the fact that some of these issues are beyond the control of the church, however with the purposed expansion, this issue is only going to get DRAMATICALLY worse as the church area will encroach deep into the neighborhood, and the newly proposed building will look down right into our property. Light Pollution: The neighborhood that the church plans on further encroaching into has no street lights, and is isolated by the outlying streets. When the main church building and existing parking lot was erected, this changed that isolation dramatically. The light emanating from the current structure and parking lot is off putting and unwelcome. With the purposed expansion, this issue is going to be made considerably worse, and the light emanating from the new proposed structure will illuminate my property untenably. This reason alone should be grounds to deny the expansion of the church parking lot and new structure. The Proposed Expansion Will Have An Irreversible Detrimental Effect On Neighborhood: The expansion the church is proposing destroys six homes in a community that has a housing shortage, causes irreparable harm to the existing community, and further separates the church from the neighborhood that it inhabits. The houses taken away will never be reconstructed, or turned into housing again. This lose comes with no benefit for the immediate neighborhood nor the greater neighborhood at large. Losing these houses and people only serves the interests of one inhabitant of the neighborhood, and that is the church. Without exception, the people who live in the neighborhood, and are not directly affiliated with the church, do not want to replace housing with a giant structure, parking lot, and prison wall. This is a legitimately frightening prospect for those of us that live in the neighborhood. Even more frightening is that, if this proposal is allowed to move forward, the church will no longer have any responsibility to the neighborhood. As demonstrated, the church already holds the neighborhood with some degree of contempt, and a complete separation will only serve to make this situation worse. With their proposed annexation from the community, it is reasonable to assume that the wall facing the neighborhood will be uncared for, and left derelict as so much of the church’s already existing properties. Even under the best case scenario, this wall would be an insurmountable problem for the neighborhood, but given this property owner’s history, allowing such a thing would be a horrific mistake that cannot be undone. Currently this is what I see when I drive into my home: Under the current proposal, I can look forward to driving home to this: This is unacceptable. Before the planning commission is a scheme to change the landscape of one of Santa Ana’s oldest and most unique neighborhoods. A change that nobody in the neighborhood supports, wants, or asked for. A change that would be a complete abomination. Even if the church had been a perfect neighbor, and obeyed all of the provisions of their current CUP, this kind of expansion into a neighborhood should never even be remotely considered. As a business owner, I can appreciate the need to expand, however it is imperative to expand when and where it is appropriate. This purposed expansion is not appropriate. The church has sited other church expansions such as the Bao Quang Temple on Newhope as an example as to their project having merit. It is important to note, with that particular project, the proposal kept the building primarily on a major street (which this proposal does not), and that project has been an unmitigated disaster for the immediate neighborhood. The expansion of that property hurt property values, has escalated crime, and caused undue hardship for the immediate community. Fortunately, in our community we have an opportunity to stop this intrusion before it is too late. Our goal as a community is to enrich the lives of everyone in the community, and it is in this spirit that we propose abating the current CUP that is held by the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church. We would like to propose that the church’s operating hours be truncated to bring their operation more in line with the standards of the community that they reside. Due to the current issues of noise and congestion, we would request that the church only be permitted to services with at least a 3 hour break between services, that no service begins before 9am, and that the church cease any and all operations at 8pm daily. These conditions do not restrict the church’s ability to worship in accordance with their faith, but will go far in keeping the neighborhood that they inhabit a much more enjoyable place to live. Thank you, George Vetter From: Petra Vetter < Date: September 5, 2019 at 10:54:43 AM PDT To: Karyn Subject: Archangel Michael Church Santa Ana Dear Ms Negrete, I’m sending you pictures from our street, Gates St, after the Lilac St turn. It is clear that the church, after feigning goodwill, have no interest or intention to ease traffic from parishioners entering our neighborhood. Please note the half blocked gate at one if the houses which sadly is a normal occurrence. Worst then the cars for our family is the constant noise from the church parking lot. Our house is the property directly bordering east to the church parking lot. About 3 weeks ago on a Saturday we woke up to children screaming at 6:15am - apparently they gathered early for an outing but the adults in charge never bother to quiet those children. We called the church and left a message and called SAPD. The people congregating in the evening after services are worst because, they more often then not, won’t stop their hollering and shrieking until well after 11:00pm. We have addressed this issue countless times over the years directly with the church leaders. We will get promises of compliance and changes but nothing has ever changed for the better. The arrogant and entitled disregard for the people in our neighborhood leaves us feeling saddened and defeated. We have lived in our home for 45 years. Should we be forced to move because Archangel Michael Church has destroyed our peace? There has to be a better solution and as Santa Ana voters and tax payers (which neither the church nor most of the congregation is not) we have have only our city officials to help us in this dire situation. Thank you for your kind consideration, Rolf and Petra Vetter From:Kelaher, Selena To:Bernal, SarahSubject:FW: Archangel Michael Church Santa Ana Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 8:24:51 AM Selena Kelaher, AICPCity of Santa AnaPlanning and Building Agency | M20 20 Civic Center Plaza | Post Office Box 1988 | Santa Ana, CA 92702skelaher@santa-ana.org | Direct Phone: (714) 667-2740 From: Petra Vetter [mailto:artep6equ@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2019 11:33 AM To: Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.org> Subject: Fwd: Archangel Michael Church Santa Ana "Manners and Style are looked upon as arrogance only when viewed from below" "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle" ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Petra Vetter <artep6equ@gmail.com>Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 at 11:19Subject: Fwd: Archangel Michael Church Santa AnaTo: <jtodisco@hml.law> Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Petra Vetter <artep6equ@gmail.com>Date: September 5, 2019 at 11:13:22 AM PDTTo: Karyn7902@gmail.comSubject: Fwd: Archangel Michael Church Santa Ana Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Petra Vetter <artep6equ@gmail.com>Date: September 5, 2019 at 10:54:43 AM PDTTo: Karyn7902@gmail.comSubject: Archangel Michael Church Santa Ana Dear Ms Negrete,I’m sending you pictures from our street, Gates St, after the Lilac St turn. It is clear that the church, after feigning goodwill, have no interest or intention to ease traffic from parishioners entering our neighborhood. Please note the half blocked gate at one if the houses which sadly is a normal occurrence.Worst then the cars for our family is the constant noise from the church parking lot. Our house is the property directly bordering east to the church parking lot. About 3 weeks ago on a Saturday we woke up to children screaming at 6:15am - apparently they gathered early for an outing but the adults in charge never bother to quiet those children. We called the church and left a message and called SAPD. The people congregating in the evening after services are worst because, they more often then not, won’t stop their hollering and shrieking until well after 11:00pm.We have addressed this issue countless times over the years directly with the church leaders.We will get promises of compliance and changes but nothing has ever changed for the better.The arrogant and entitled disregard for the people in our neighborhood leaves us feeling saddened and defeated. We have lived in our home for 45 years. Should we be forced to move because Archangel Michael Church has destroyed our peace? There has to be a better solution and as Santa Ana voters and tax payers (which neither the church nor most of the congregation is not) we have have only our city officials to help us in this dire situation.Thank you for your kind consideration,Rolf and Petra Vetter Sent from my iPhone From:Kelaher, Selena To:Bernal, Sarah Subject:FW: Archangel Michael Church Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 8:23:19 AM Selena Kelaher, AICP City of Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency | M20 20 Civic Center Plaza | Post Office Box 1988 | Santa Ana, CA 92702 skelaher@santa-ana.org | Direct Phone: (714) 667-2740 From: Karyn Negrete [mailto:h ] Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2019 4:32 PM To: Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.org> Subject: Fwd: Archangel Michael Church Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Karyn Marosy > Date: September 8, 2019 at 4:30:48 PM PDT To: Karyn negrete <> Subject: Fwd: Archangel Michael Church ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Petra Vetter <> Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 4:02 PM Subject: Archangel Michael Church To: < This is today - our street was completely taken over again by the parishioners of the church. Last night they were congregating and making loud noises in the parking lot until 11:05pm. We did call the police but it being Saturday evening they took a long time to come out. It is shocking that just a couple of days to a meeting with the city they do not bother to make an effort to be good neighbors. Sent from my iPhone -- Kind Regards, Karyn Negrete GSY & Associates, Inc. Santa Ana, CA 92704 714- From:Orozco, Norma To:Bernal, Sarah; Fregoso, Vince Cc:Mitre-Ramirez, Norma; Lopez, Kenia Subject:FW: Planning Commission - Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 9:38:37 AM FYI – below is correspondence received for the Planning Commission. Thank You. From: PamLy Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2019 11:49 PM To: eComment <eComment@santa-ana.org> Subject: Planning Commission - Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church Hi Sarah, This is Charlie and Pam Ly and we live on S. Gates Street, which is located in “Little Texas” behind the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church. Charlie’s father, Chao Ly, also lives across the street from us on S. Gates St. and has been there since 1987. We are writing to express our concerns with the church’s request to expand their church building and add a parking structure in hopes that the city will NOT allow the church to move forward - again. We have lived her for over 20 years and have seen the disastrous church parking, traffic issues, and monopolization of several homes by the church to gain property for their planned expansion. We have expressed the same concerns over and over each time the church decides to submit the same plans to expand and have seen little change, if any, made by the church to alleviate these problems. When the church parking overflows into our neighborhood, which happens quite often, they: · park in front of our mail boxes which prevents us from receiving our mail · leave their trash on our lawns and/or the streets · park in hazardous corners which could cause accidents because the parked cars block the view of the oncoming traffic and/or the parked cars stick out from the curb so bad that it could be hit by another car · make U turns at the intersections of Edinger and Richardson and/or Lilac and Richardson that causes traffic in both directions to have to come to a full stop to wait for the driver to complete the U turn They claimed they hired parking patrol etc., however we have seen the parking and traffic problems continue. Just recently a part of Lilac street was deemed red zone which now helps prevent parking in the tight street corners. The church has already proven over and over again they cannot handle the size of their church congregation and traffic problems. In addition, as homeowners and property tax payers in the neighborhood, it will be an eye sore to have to stare at a raised parking structure from our yards every day. We believe this will also decrease our home values as well. We enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of our neighborhood and would much prefer it to remain a flourishing and family oriented neighborhood without the increase in commercialized properties. If the city allows the church to expand their building along with a new parking structure, the facts have shown they will NOT be able to resolve or control the parking or traffic problems they cause. This will only allow their congregation to grow larger in size and cause even more parking and traffic problems for the surrounding neighborhood. Our neighborhood is not the right place for the church to expand. They should really look into an area that will allow them to be as big as they want without disturbing the surrounding neighborhood’s livelihoods. Thank you for your attention with our concerns. Sincerely, Charlie and Pam Ly Chao B. Ly From:Kelaher, Selena To:Bernal, Sarah Subject:FW: Opposition CUP 2019-01 Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 10:24:56 AM Selena Kelaher, AICP City of Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency | M20 20 Civic Center Plaza | Post Office Box 1988 | Santa Ana, CA 92702 skelaher@santa-ana.org | Direct Phone: (714) 667-2740 From: Ashley Richards [mailto:ashleylynnrichards@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, September 09, 2019 10:01 AM To: Kelaher, Selena <skelaher@santa-ana.org> Subject: Opposition CUP 2019-01 January 29, 2019 Chairman Mark McLoughlin and Members of the Planning Commission City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 My name is Ashley Richards. I reside at Regent Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92704. I have lived at this residence for eight years, though I have been a citizen of Santa Ana for 27 years. I live with my family, the Vetters, who have lived at the residence since 1974. I attended the meeting held in regards to Archangel Michael Coptic Church wanting to expand their church property, construct a community center, and put in place more parking. I thank you for listening to the neighborhood’s complaints and concerns in considering denial of this project. Although, I am very proud of my community coming forth and voicing their concerns about this project, it seems as though there was a lot left out that you need be made aware of. I will try to keep this as brief as I can. At the meeting, you had witnessed a great divide between a church community that simply wants better for their parishioners and a neighborhood community, “Little Texas” that will no longer stand for Archangel Michael Coptic Church’s disrespect of our neighborhood. The one thing that we agree on is that Archangel Michael Coptic Church has outgrown their currently facility. We however cannot seem to agree on how to resolve this issue. Traffic and parking seemed to be the main concern of a good majority of our neighborhood. I would also like to point out that the noise coming from Archangel Michael Coptic Church is immensely bothersome as well. Another thing that wasn’t really brought to your attention as well as it should have been is how absolutely this project will change the integrity of our neighborhood. Traffic caused by parishioners of Archangel Michael Church is abhorrent and dangerous. There is an increase of traffic on Edinger Drive. Parishioners stack car after car into an unprotected left-hand turn lane to get into our neighborhood to park. They also use this lane to make u- turns so they may access the parking made available to them on the church campus. However, it is not uncommon for motorists making their way to the church to make an illegal u-turn before they reach the unprotected left-hand turn lane to park alongside Edinger nearest to the church. When these motorists enter our neighborhood to park when there is no longer available parking in the church parking lot, they often times do not abide by the regulations of the road. They very often refuse to make full and complete stops if they bother to pause at all. The speed limitations are very much ignored as well. Anyone walking within our neighborhood is at risk of being run down by a fast motorist looking to get parking and run to mass. The other extreme is the issue of motorists looking around to park their car. They often drive extremely slowly and will not pay attention to what is around them causing impediment to anyone trying to get through the neighborhood, especially tying to exit. Sudden stops by these parishioners are not uncommon. They will stop because they found a spot to squeeze into. They will stop to drop people off in the middle of the road. They will stop to talk to other parish members. It is surprising that more accidents have not occurred, but alas, it’s been thirty years and our neighborhood has come to expect this awful behavior. Parking of cars belonging church parishioners is a major safety concern in our neighborhood as well as a nuisance. There is not sufficient and safe parking on our narrow roads to accommodate the masses of people who use our neighborhood park their car to access the church. Whoever did that study needs to be fired because it many, many more cars than simply eleven that park in our neighborhood. There is a public safety issue due to the fact that these cars very often park on curves, park in front of driveways, and park their cars blocking our fire hydrants. Where these parishioners park lends to access to homes being blocked. It creates bottlenecking in our neighborhood. It creates blind turns due to curves being blocked. Obviously, parking in front of a fire hydrant is an extreme violation. When church lets out, it is a whole other issue of lingering people in the streets by their vehicles continuing conversations for several moments. Cars will often stop in the middle of the road to greet people on the streets and wave you on to unsafely go around them. Our streets are extremely narrow. When there are cars stacked on either side of the road it nearly becomes a one- way street. The pedestrian traffic is a major issue when parishioners park in the neighborhood. There are absolutely no sidewalks in our neighborhood. You cannot park many cars in our neighborhood and safely walk. Often there are families with young children lingering about in the street. It is very easy to turn a corner in our neighborhood and be surprised with pedestrians. Parking in our neighborhood should be reserved for those who reside in it. Noise coming from Archangel Michael Coptic Church is obnoxious and disturbing. Our residence is the direct next-door neighbor of the home in which the nuns of Archangel Coptic Church reside. Our backyard shares a wall with the parking lot of the church. I have called the police department numerous times about the noise that occurs in the evenings. There have been often late night conversations in the parking lot. There have been incidences of loud music coming from vehicles as well as numerous accounts of cars honking. This occurs both in the parking lot and within the cul-de-sac that we share with the church. The worst infraction of noise is screaming. Children simply shriek with no end seemingly. There is no reason for screaming, yet it occurs continuously. Under their current CUP, they aren’t supposed to have children playing, but they’re playing in the parking lot, screaming. The expansion will be hideous and will be an absolute detriment to our neighborhood. Something that wasn’t at all touched upon at all is that the current plans as they stand is that Archangel Michael Church wants to demolish the homes that we share the cul-de-sac with and replace those homes with a parking lot. They want to build a wall to surround the cul-de-sac. I will walk out my door and look down my driveway at a wall. A wall. What an abhorrent idea. One part of “Little Texas” will be closed off from another part. I won’t see my neighbors. I will see a wall. Neighbors on facing the cul-de-sac will see a wall as well and beyond that, they will see a massive community building that does not serve them at all, but in fact takes and takes. They will have to look at a building that caused them so much strife over thirty years. A building that houses a community that litters our neighborhood and causes so much stress upon us. What will become of this wall? Who is responsible for this wall? When the wall becomes subject to graffiti, which our neighborhood has a history of, does the church take care of it? I doubt they would. In addition to calling the city about noise I will have to call about graffiti and trash. They have proven thus far that they simply do not care about “Little Texas” and they just want to bulldoze it for their own personal use. When litter piles up and people start dumping in front of this hideous wall, what happens? Litter, old furniture, and mattresses sit in front of their homes that are in the church’s charge already. Nothing will be done and my neighbors will have to face a hideous wall covered with trash and graffiti everyday. Not to mention what this does to the resell value of our homes. I guess that’s the intention they have to make it so impossible for us to live peacefully and impossible for us to get any value out of our homes. They can just bulldoze more homes for more parking when they need it, because they un-doubtfully will need it if they are allowed continue this project. We need to find solutions to these issues, but what has been presented to “Little Texas” is not sufficient. Archangel Michael Coptic Church is full of empty promises. Traffic and parking issues seem to be the only thing the church has addressed, but their solution is not going to be effective. Noise will increase with the expansion and creation of a community center. By going forth with their plans, Archangel Michael Coptic Church will have created a bitter and hideous “Little Texas”. Archangel Michael Coptic Church has not considered the ramifications of their desires and actions. There had been talk about how they’ve opened the line of communication and sought out our opinions on the matter. This was done simply for their own defense when they hope to make their plans a reality. They have not listened to “Little Texas”. We do not want them to expand at all. They simply want to convince us that everything is going to be fine and that the parking concerns are going to be met, but this is simply not the case and they are fighting against a terrible track record. Thirty years of disappointed people simply want to live in peace without the destruction of their neighborhood. Archangel Michael Coptic Church feels as though they are trying to do everything they can to accommodate “Little Texas”, but they are not. The parking issue will not be resolved because they still will not have enough parking made available to their members. Archangel Michael Coptic Church believes that they have solved their parking issue. This is not the case at all if they are planning to add more to their campus. They plan to add more seats inside their church. They will have more room for parishioners, but will not have properly assessed their parking situation. They are creating enough parking to keep to code, but it will simply not be enough. They will attract more parishioners when they have more to offer with their community center. They came up with the solution that they will use Newhope Elementary, but this still not a good solution as the traffic and overflow parking from that still comes into our neighborhood. And what happens when it’s not enough? Buy another home in the neighborhood and bulldoze that as well? They will keep pushing until we’re completely gone. This needs to stop now. The community center will not decrease noise, but in fact increase the noise in the neighborhood. They have made claim that they will not use the community center when there are church services. That is very doubtful. Certainly, like many churches, they would like to use the community center after mass to feed and congregate. This is even more of a traffic and parking issue as now more people are staying on campus than leaving. The noise apparently won’t be an issue because they plan on keeping the kids and students the community center, but they currently don’t keep them in the basement they’ve been using now. How could one believe that they are going to confine everyone in this community center and keep it quiet outside? There are plans for a new courtyard between the church and community center. That is certainly a more appealing place to be compared to standing around in a parking lot to have loud conversations. The only difference in the noise issue that will happen is that it will get worse. Perhaps this community center will be used for the reception of the many beautiful weddings that occur at the church. I’m sure the parish would really love to bank on that opportunity. I’m sure the caterers will enjoy the kitchen they want to build. Loud music will come from the community center. Drunken party guests will exclaim with joy the fun they had on the way to their vehicles when the night is over. Oh what fun we have in store for us residents. We will be left with an ugly and unmanaged wall that will divide our beautiful neighborhood and cause detriment to our homes. After Archangel Michael Coptic Church builds its community center and builds it’s walls surrounding the parking lot that will be it. They’ve closed off their responsibility to the neighborhood with a wall. The will have thought they have removed us from the situation, but in fact they have angered us even more than they have in the passed thirty years. To be faced with an ugly wall with a towering building to mock us everyday with how they destroyed our neighborhood. They need to find a better solution elsewhere and no longer harass our community. There is really only one reasonable solution to this immense problem. They need more space and a place where their community can thrive. We need them to stop trying to take over our neighborhood. I hope they can find a place where they can thrive and continue to do the good work for the communities they serve. They however, do not serve our community and in fact have caused more harm than good. I am so sorry that they did not predict their fellowship would increase so much (good for them!) before settling at their current location. Relocation is the best option for them if they want their church and community center at the same location. However, another solution to their issue is to perhaps continue as they are now with improvements upon not harming the neighborhood. They could simply find a location for their community center elsewhere. There are plenty of vacant industrial buildings nearby that will service them well. Afterall, they had said that they will not be using the community center at the same time that they would have church services, so having a place for study, prayer groups, etc. wouldn’t be an issue if it were somewhere else. Archangel Michael Coptic Church has never been true to their word. When they get what they want they will have ruined our neighborhood. We will never recover. The church is going to do everything they can to prove that they are within their current CUP (bet they took that basketball hoop down), but whatever they do in this short period of time cannot change the minds of “Little Texas”. Even if they try to improve they will ultimately revert back to their horrid behavior as they always do. It has been thirty years of arguments and disappointment. Decades of empty promises cannot be improved in six months. Archangel Michael Coptic Church may think they can do better by us, but we cannot believe that anything they do will help our community because it never has. I hate to be annoying, and I simply do not want to be a nuisance to you, but I have been left with no choice. The thought of looking at a hideous wall everyday makes me sick, literally. I want to thank you for your time in reading this. I hope I have been able to provide you with more insight into this situation. I hope that we can work together to solve this issue for “Little Texas” and I appreciate your help. Thank you, Ashley Richards Ashley Richards Santa Ana, CA 92704 -- Ashley Lynn Richards Photographer Website Facebook Instagram From:Orozco, Norma To:Bernal, Sarah; Fregoso, Vince Cc:Mitre-Ramirez, Norma; Lopez, Kenia Subject:FW: Planning Commission Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 10:31:26 AM Attachments:.msg FYI – below is correspondence received for the Planning Commission. Thank You. From: VELARDE Lorena om> Sent: Monday, September 09, 2019 10:23 AM To: eComment <eComment@santa-ana.org> Subject: Planning Commission Good Morning, I will be unable to attend the meeting tonight but I needed to express my concerns for the Church Parking issue. My parents, sister and myself attended the last meeting and we spoke up about my mother’s Parkinson’s and her issues. We often need to take her to urgent care and we hope it’s never on a Sunday because the church goers park in front of her house and my sister and I are left without a place to park to load my mom in the car she can barely walk and uses a walker. I have attached pictures of the cars parked in front of her house and also a picture of the school parking lot that they are supposed to be using but as you can see they do not they choose to park in front of people’s homes. My father is 92 he is in good health but is slowing down so when he has to go out in front of his yard and pick up trash that is left behind it’s wearing on him. My father prides on his lemon, guava and avocado trees he has in his front yard and so has often encountered the Sunday church goers trespassing in his yard to pick his fruit. He has confronted them and they have gotten verbally hostile towards him, my father should not have to put up with this especially at his age or at any age. I’d also would like to address the actual parking and church structure that they want to build, my parents bought their home in 1966 it was a quiet and peaceful neighborhood. Our family is still very good friends with the people we grew up still in communication and very much part of our family. When this church was built we have had nothing but continuous issues with disrespect of the people in the neighborhood. How do they think it is ok to build this monstrous parking structure and a high church structure and that it isn’t going to take away from the beautiful landscape and historical neighborhood that many have worked so hard and many years to build. This is all my parents have 53 years for someone to step in and constantly say it isn’t going to affect anyone, since they have been there it has affected everybody continuously. When making the decision today whether to let them build please keep in mind all the people in the neighborhood and the lives that will be effected by this construction. Thank you for your time and hope that your decision will be fair for all. Thank you, Lorena Velarde LIGHTING QUOTATIONS SPECIALIST OneSource Distributors | A Sonepar Company Work: The information contained in this e-mail is intended only for the confidential use of the above named recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you have received this communication in error and must not distribute or copy it. Please accept the sender's apologies, notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete this communication. Thank you. Please consider the environment before printing this email. From:Orozco, Norma To:Bernal, Sarah; Fregoso, Vince Cc:Mitre-Ramirez, Norma; Lopez, Kenia Subject:FW: Planning Commission Date:Monday, September 09, 2019 11:14:37 AM Attachments:image001.png FYI – below is correspondence received for the Planning Commission. Thank You. From: Rosie Velarde <rvelarde@mainelectricsupply.com> Sent: Monday, September 09, 2019 11:01 AM To: eComment <eComment@santa-ana.org> Subject: Planning Commission Hi, I am writing regarding the church expansion of the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church. I was at the last meeting and they were given terms. They followed the terms of putting no church parking signs for a few weeks and they went back to not putting signs up and started the parking again. As you can see in the pictures that the red was put on a part of the sidewalk and that didn’t stop anyone from parking. I believe our biggest concerns is adding another building will only create more traffic and even more problems. Last time they mentioned that only on church days they have these problems but any time there is a funeral or holiday they church takes over the neighborhood. It is just not the Sundays that they claim it is. If it was just that one day we could adjust. They have outgrown the space and feel instead of making it larger would make the problem even worse. This neighborhood consists of families that have grown up with each and very tight and it seems like the historical feeling is being washes away. I would like you to picture your home with a huge building right behind and to come home and not be able to park in your front yard. Also, not even being able to hold a birthday party or celebration until after the church is done because of the fear that people can’t find parking. Please reconsider allowing it to become a larger problem. Thank you so much for your time. Rosie Velarde | Project Manager Office Direct Fax 3600 W. 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