HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-01_8_Saunders PropertiesBURNS, MARLENE
From:
Wisneski, Brenda
Sent.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013 9:55 AM
To:
'Woodie Tescher; Marlie Whiteman (mwhiteman @urbanxroads.eom); maho @planningcenter.com;
Burns, Marlene; Ramirez, Gregg
Subject.
FW: Saunders Froperties
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
For distribution to the LUE Committee.
From: Patrick Strader [ mailto :PS(a)starpointeventures.comj
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 9:30 AM
To: Wisneski, Brenda
Cc: Tim Strader Jr.; iohn(alspcnb.com
Subject: Saunders Properties
Brenda,
Please share this email with the Committee today.
Thank you for taking the time to further discuss the properties which have commonly been referred to as the "Saunders
Properties" at the important gateway to the City of Newport Beach. Through the process, which Mr. Saunders has been
participating in from the beginning, we have attempted to refine the proposal in order to fit within the planning process
the City is currently undertaking. It is important to note again that a General Plan Update is not a short term or a small
focus document, but rather a long term and general focus document which must look at the Airport proposals as part of
a comprehensive look at the City's evolution. The City Council was clear in their direction at the Study Session that these
proposals should be considered as part of this undertaking.
Based upon the sensitivity expressed by Staff regarding the total number of trips proposed by the Saunders Properties
and, with a nod to the likelihood of near term redevelopment, Mr. Saunders is willing to further refine his request in the
following ways:
1. By drawing an imaginary line through the block along Corinthian Way and limiting the proposal to the block
North of this line (which lowers the affected area from approximately 26 acres to 19 acres and which takes into
account the long -term ownership of those southern properties by car rental companies as well as the likelihood
of redevelopment in the near term).
2. With a request to amend the Zoning to MU -112 to allow for the mixed -use, live -work plan consisting of office,
retail /restaurant/ and residential.
3. By lowering the request to an FAR of 1.0 for these remaining acres (with a trip reduction of almost % of the
number of ADT trips) and by lowering the request to 329 units of residential (again with a trip reduction of
almost % of the number of ADT trips), the overall proposal is reduced by almost half. The residential would
again, be limited to the area outside of the 65CNEL noise contour lines and is based on a density of roughly 50
du /ac. For the acreage which falls within the block, but outside of the noise lines. Other sites within the AELUP
have included residential in close proximity to the airport and this site is screened by several buildings per the
FAA requirements.
4. These reductions in trip count would bring the total to less than 5,000 ADT trips, however, two things are
important to note, first, that the trips may come from excess trips within the City of Newport Beach (i.e. R2
zoned areas of the City with very little likelihood of more than single family occupancy and excess studied trips
and /or units in the airport area) resulting in net traffic neutrality. Second, and most important, CEQA studies
impacts and impacts are based on peak hour trips. Applying only ADT as a basis for reviewing Mr. Saunders
proposal ignores the obvious benefits of locating apartments near jobs and commercial and fails to account for
the "trip capture" which traffic engineers agree occurs when trips which would have had to originate or end
from elsewhere are consolidated. As the policymakers have clearly stated, these proposals should be analyzed
and then reviewed after the impacts or lack thereof are known. Please also consider this a request for any
"unused" trips or units to be allocated to this project as available.
This is an important project for the long term vision of the City of Newport Beach as well as the specific airport area and
should be given due consideration as part of this General Plan Update. Based on the foregoing reasons, Mr. Saunders
requests that these proposals be included in the study undertaken by the City and that Staff continue to work with Mr.
Saunders to further refine this request based upon General Plan assumptions.
Unfortunately, I cannot be at the meeting this afternoon due to a previously scheduled conflicting meeting, but my
partner, Tim Strader, Jr. will be present should the Committee have any questions about this proposal.
Best,
Patrick
Patrick B. Strader, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Starpointe Ventures
CA DRE #01211855
19700 Fairchild, Suite 240
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 622 -0420 phone
(949) 622 -0423 facsimile
ns(a) starpointeventures. com
www.s=ointeventures.com