HomeMy WebLinkAbout27A Res 2021-34 & Ord 1368 - Montage GHA - Public CommentsRuiz -Serrano, Sandra
From: CouncilMeeting Comments
Subject: FW: OPPOSITION TO: Case No. PP/CUP 21-0004 (Pacific West Communities, Inc., Eagle,
Idaho, Applicant).
rom: rondegenova@aol.com Finailto:rondegenova@aol.comj
Sent: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 1:07 PM
To: CityhallMail
Subject: OPPOSITION TO: Case No. PP/CUP 21-0004 (Pacific West Communities, Inc., Eagle, Idaho, Applicant).
REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION of a recommendation to the City Council for the
construction of a 269-unit affordable apartment project with a clubhouse, recreational
amenities, and roadway improvements located on a 12-acre vacant parcel at the
southwest corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Rembrandt Parkway; and adopt a Mitigated
Negative Declaration in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
addressed to:
Mayor Kathleen Kelly
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik
Council Member Jonathann Sabby
Council Member Gina Nestande
Council Member Karina Quintanilla
As a homeowner at The Gallery since 2016, I want to formally oppose this project for the following
reasons:
• Objections to a 269 unit apartment complex due to ingress/egress issues. On average there will be
approximately 800 - 1000 new residences added to the area with the only ingress/egress from the
road (extension) of Rembrandt Parkway. In the proposal, it mentions a traffic signal will be
installed, however, the only way in and out is through this extension of Rembrandt. At The Gallery,
we have two options for entrance and exits.
• Objection of the use of the name Rembrandt Parkway. This street name belongs to The Gallery; a
private, gated community and should not be used by The City.
• Objection to the complex being 100% affordable housing. This means it will be government
subsidized. The homeowners and residences in this surrounding community do not want a
government supported housing community because it will increase crime.
• Objection to the distribution of the Notice. I learned just yesterday, that The City mailed out to
homeowners who live 300 feet from the new complex. In addition, an announcement printed in The
Desert Sun. The City is obviously nervous about this project getting support, and therefore, did not
make a broad submission of notices mailed out. The City may have a provision to limit it to only
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300 feet radius and think it only affects people living that distance away. However, The City is
incorrect on this assumption. This project affects people living on Shepherd Lane, Scholar Lane,
Wildflower, Jeri Lane, Encore Lane, Cosmopolitan Lane , etc, but also, all of The Gallery, Dolce,
Sage, Genesis, and the new development at University Park. This project needs to be stopped or
Kathleen Kelly, Jan Harnik, Jonathann Sabby, Gina Nestande and Karina Quintanilla will find
themselve elected out of office the next time they run.
Respectfully,
R.J De Genova
Homeowner
73699 Vermeer Way
The Gallery
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Ruiz -Serrano, Sandra
From: CouncilMeeting Comments
To: Mitchell Wichter
Subject: RE: Letter of Concern - Development proposal on Gerald Ford & Rembrandt Pkwy
This letter is for Mayor Kathleen Kelly, Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik , Council Member Jonathann
Sabby , Council Member Gina Nestande, and Council Member Karina Quintanilla.
I am writing this letter to the current decision makers of the city council as a brand new homeowner in the city
of Palm Desert, a business owner and member of all desert cities. My experience with development and
commercial real estate has me concerned with a specific pattern Desert cities seem to repeat no matter how bad
if not foolish the decision makers look as a result of making them. That is to say, the pattern of allowing
development companies the rights to develop when times are good and the economy is doing well so tertiary
market places like Palm Desert and the entire Coachella Valley start to see ground up development activity
increase. All too often these opportunities fall flat on their faces ending up incomplete and stalled for years. The
vacant halfway completed projects like the one in downtown Palm Springs that Hilton has now abandoned will
take years to finish making the downtown area look horrible, forcing property values down further than they
need to go when a negative economic cycle does eventually happen.
There is still an opportunity to ensure the decisions you make on this specific project proposal ultimately protect
the interests of the community you serve. The form this opportunity takes is in conditions placed on the permit
to develop, requiring the company and property owner to meet development deadlines or pay exorbitant fees,
the kind that also benefit the city and make outside companies who could care less about our overall community
care just that much more.
I implore you to take action and ensure the decisions you make today go on record to support the community
and why you are a leader of this community. I ask you to create conditions that really make it not worthwhile to
ignore this project if the development company cannot complete what they begin.
Additionally, I think it would be an amazing opportunity if the city required the development company to create
a community park directly across the street from Rembrandt so the neighboring community can have the
opportunity to come together with our new neighbors. Being someone who grew up in the bay area and I
personally am incredibly grateful for the diversity I was exposed to. Being a first time soon to be father of a
young girl, I would love the opportunity for her to be exposed to more than her immediate community at the
gallery and what better way than to do so with community members directly across the street from her soon to
be new home.
Lastly, if there's any intention for the communities to intermingle and enjoy the neighborhood together the
speed in which cars come barreling down Gerald Ford would need to be addressed. Given the elevation as you
approach Rembrandt from Monterey I would be concerned people might not see an intersection if it were not lit
up well and clear from a distance away.
To wrap up this email, the three things that I have asked for or as follows:
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1. Conditions, including severe penalties, on the use permit that will be issued to the development company that
make it difficult for them to ignore the project if they cannot complete it.
2. A planned community park adjacent to Gerald Ford for all community members to enjoy. This is especially
important if both communities are to coexist.
3. A way to ensure traffic slows down prior to whatever traffic signal ends up being installed at the intersection
in front of Rembrandt Parkway.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Mitchell Wichter
Lic. 02019160
M: 925-497-8644
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Ruiz -Serrano, Sandra
From: Ortega, Niamh
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 5:10 PM
Subject: FW: Rembrandt project
From: neal victor [mailto:victorbike@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 5:10 PM
To: CityhallMail
Subject: Rembrandt project
Live at the gallery I am against the project traffic will be horrible
Neal victor
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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Ruiz -Serrano, Sandra
From:
Subject:
CouncilMeeting Comments
FW: Proposal PP?CUP 21-0004
From: bcb459245@aol.com fmailto:bcb459245@aol.comj
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 12:46 PM
To: CityhallMail
Subject: Proposal PP?CUP 21-0004
RE: Case No. PP/CUP 21-0004
Dear Mayor Kelly,
I am writing to you regarding the proposal to build 269 low income apartment dwelling units on Gerald Ford
Dr. next to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
I am one hundred percent against this proposal. Why must the city build yet another low income complex in the
city? As a retired law enforcement officer, I know exactly what element this will bring to the area. I reside in
the community across the street and have been here for nine years. Low income units will bring gang members
and undesirable subjects to an area that as of now, have no interest in visiting.
With all this desert, can't you find a suitable plot of land near other apartment units? You are probably going to
answer you need to spread out the low income apartments. Without seeing your plans, you are going to put a
traffic signal at Rembrandt for the soon to be heavy traffic. Straight across the street they can drive into my
community, which by the way has fewer homes than your proposed low income units. While my community is
gated, two to three cars can drive through the gate at one time.
Not any of you council members would want this project near your homes. This project will also lower the
home values. I can promise you, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department doesn't want this project next to
them. A two story unit for safety reasons gives residents a direct view into the back lot of their station. Every
day. at the beginning of their shifts, the deputies test their patrol sirens. You don't think the citizens are going to
complain about this noise a few days after moving in? For liability reasons, It is necessary the sirens are tested
every shift.
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You have NOT completely thought this through. PLEASE find another piece of property that will not have such
a big impact on the neighboring homes and sheriffs department. There is plenty of open land in this city. The
city owns the land at Portolo. Frank Sinatra, build the apailiuents at that location.
Thank you,
Brian Bell
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Ruiz -Serrano, Sandra
From: Ortega, Niamh
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 4:28 PM
Subject: FW: New development. Attn: Karina Quintanilla, Gina Nestande, Sabby Jonathan, Jan
Harnik, Kathleen Kelly
Attachments: image0 jpeg; ATT00001.txt
Original Message
From: caryn pastorius [mailto:caryn.pastorius@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 20214:18 PM
To: CityhallMail <Cityhall@cityofpalmdesert.org>
Subject: New development. Attn: Karina Quintanilla, Gina Nestande, Sabby Jonathan, Jan Harnik, Kathleen Kelly
Please take the time to read my letter.
Sincerely, Darrel & Caryn Pastorius
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residence. In addition, your blue print proposes a club house, as well as a community pool that will be
right next to our homes which will inflict unwarranted noise and undue disturbances to our peace and
our right to live peacefully and undisturbed in our homes. Another reason that will impact us greatly is
the extra vehicle traffic This is a relatively small area and if condos were built, it would overload
Sheppard lane. When we purchased our home, we were advised by the representing real estate agent of
the zoning laws governing this area that very clearly stated that only one story housing could be built so
as to maintain our privacy rights and to preserve our mountain vista views.
These reasons amongst others were reason we purchased our homes. Our neighborhood residents are
comprised of a lot of retired and hard working people. Our community is very quiet and tranquil and we
want it to stay that way. I call on the planning commission to put themselves in our positions and to
keep the original zoning restrictions in place.
Please be advised that we strongly oppose anything other than the one story single family homes
required by the original zoning laws governing our neighborhood . In addition and maybe more
importantly is the fact that all our homes will drastically lose value. Our homes are just now beginning
to gain value and that will go away. The building of two story condominiums instead of single
family/single story homes will significantly and negatively impact the value of our homes. Please
strongly reconsider sticking to the initial zoning laws so we do not have to escalate our concerns and
grievances to the city. Thank you for your time.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We stand with others in the neighborhood who
also strongly oppose your proposal. Thanks again
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