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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPA2017-228 Comment 186_05062019_ArblasterFrom: NMSC <nmsc@prodigy.net> Sent: Monday, May 06, 2019 12:22 PM To: Zdeba, Benjamin Cc: Planning Commissioners Subject: Opposing the Condo Development at Ford Road/BCSP Mr. Zdeba, I’m writing to express my concern and opposition to the proposed 21-Unit Condo Development at 4302 Ford Road. My name is Mark Arblaster and my wife and our two grown children have been homeowners in Newport Beach for the last 31 years. I am also the Founder and going on the 14-year President of the Newport Mesa Soccer Club (NMSC). NMSC is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing a youth club soccer program to children in our city. We have approximately 400 children and our Home Field is just 1,000 feet down the street (Ford Road) at Bonita Canyon Sports Park Field #5 (aka, Mid-Park). The City didn’t have the foresight to build a separate parking lot for “our” field. I say “our”, because for the last 12 years, we’ve been the sole tenants of that field/park. It’s where our kids practice and play their games 9 months out of the year, 7 days per week. I, myself, and the volunteer, unofficial groundskeeper of the field. I’m out there 1-2 times per week to paint the lines. I see the activity on that stretch of Ford Road probably 100 times per year (for 12 years). That’s why I feel obligated to write to you. Not only for myself, but for the 400 children and their extended families that frequent this Ford Road park. As you know, this slice of Ford Road is a bit of a misnomer. It’s not connected to the main drag that is Ford Road on the other side of MacArthur. I suppose it was connected at some point in the pre-Bonita Canyon Road days. Now, it’s a cul-de-sac. One way in and one way out. Both going past this park and the park at the top/end of Ford Road – Bonita Canyon Sports Park #6 (where the President Reagan Bronze Statue once resided). The fact that this is a cul-de-sac is the main problem with this proposal. It dramatically increases the number of cars and trucks that will zip past these parks. Parks=Children. If Bonita Canyon Sports Park Field #5 (BCSP#5) had its own parking lot, then maybe it wouldn’t be such a problem. Visitors to the park would be safely shielded from the traffic. But, there isn’t a parking lot. The only parking is on the street (Ford Road) and on top of that, parking is only allowed on one side of the street. So, it is very common to see cars parked, on Ford Road, from the corner of Mesa View ALL THE WAY UP TO THE AT&T BUILDING. It’s common, though illegal, to see cars double-parked while the pick up or drop off their elementary aged players. It’s not condoned, but it’s a reality. Now, I would imagine that if this 21-Unit Condo Development goes in, that there will be a lot of cars and trucks that opt to take easy street parking on Ford Road, rather than hunt and jostle in a cramped underground or tight-fitting surface parking lot at the complex. In fact, I’d wager that many of the residents will opt to park on the street rather than play musical cars with the 26 “Tandom” (nose-to-tail) parking places underground. I remember having that arrangement at my college apartment. It didn’t work well – running keys in and out, up and down stairs (elevators). It just took too long. We parked in the street whenever possible. IF, the ingress and egress to the underground parking and the surface parking lot could come off of Bonita Canyon Road, then I don’t think I’d have a problem with the project. That solution would reduce the traffic and the parking on Ford Road. That’s my only issue with it. But, if it’s all running up and down this cul-de-sac, past two city parks, and they are taking our valuable parking places – that’s a big problem. One last thought – the city should mandate that they include a small dog park on their property. That apartment complex they recently built in Costa Mesa, off the 55, the Baker Block Apartments has one. If they don’t have one to service the needs of all those housebound dogs who don’t have yards, are going to turn the adjacent Bonita Canyon Sports Park #6 into a pet toilet. Who’d want to take their toddlers to play on THAT grass? Respectfully, Mark Arblaster Newport Beach