HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200206_Letter Regarding StatusCommunity Development Department
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949 644-3200
newportbeachca.gov/communitydevelopment
February 6, 2020
Hines
Attn: Scott Peterson
scott.peterson@hines.com
RE: Project Status of PA2017-228 for Ford Road Residential located at 4302 Ford Road
Dear Scott:
I am writing you regarding Hines’ application for a General Plan Amendment and rezoning of the parcel located at 4302
Ford Road. Your firm originally submitted the application in November 2017. The City worked diligently to process it until
the middle of 2019, when the project received an unprecedented amount of attention from the adjacent residential
community. Over 640 petitions were received against project without it being scheduled for a public hearing. City staff also
expressed significant concerns regarding the project’s layout and circulation. Working with you and your team, we had put
off taking the project to a public hearing with the Planning Commission in order to allow you time to conduct community
outreach and to explore redesigning components of the project to address the community’s (and staff’s) concerns.
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, we had a phone conversation regarding the status of the application. I made you aware of
the inactivity on the application and the need to either move forward or withdraw the application. We also discussed the
need for Hines to withdraw and file a new application if the project was going to change significantly. We agreed that I would
contact you prior to the Christmas holiday and, at that point in time, you would know if Hines is intending to move forward
with the application or to withdraw.
Although we did not connect before the holiday, we had a phone conversation on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. During that
conversation, I reiterated City staff’s desire to address the inactivity of the application. You inquired whether the City’s high
draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) would change how Staff was viewing the application. I discussed this
matter with my Director and Deputy Director. Collectively, we do not believe the RHNA addresses our concerns with the
project. Additionally, we do not see how the high RHNA would affect community support in a positive way. If you believe
otherwise, let us know.
Please respond with the applicant’s intentions on this project by Friday, February 28, 2020. As recommended previously,
without community support, project redesign, and some overriding public benefit, we see a very challenging road ahead for
the project. If you choose to withdraw the application, please do so in writing and we will refund any unused funds if
applicable. I can be reached at 949-644-3253 or bzdeba@newportbeachca.gov if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Senior Planner