BMSV Jan 4, 2007

In the event you missed the article or do not Receive the Sun Telegram here is an article cogent to the upcoming Blue Mt. Senior Villas “Scoping Meeting”

I am concerned about two things. First of all as a Citizen, I am concerned that the Court Ordered Report has not been provided to the public or approved by the Court of John P. Wade to test his Approval of the Revisions and the report.

Secondly, the Public nor the Council has seen the Revised Plans that the City Manager Tom Schwab Speaks of.

Thirdly, without sufficient disclosure to make an informed decision or input by the citizens at the upcoming meeting, or the Court one must be suspect of the reason for the meeting and the outcome of the data gathered.

My fear is that the meeting is an attempt by the Corporation for Better Housing and the City Management to tell the court that the “People” have been included in the revisions and that the “Concerns” were addressed, and a “Meeting was Held and Consensus Achieved”. Consensus on What?

Putting of 120 units on 2 acres of land is a density problem regardless of the height of the buildings. A park with no additional Parking or a Public Restroom is a Traffic Problem and a Sanitation Problem, some would say not a park, and not public.

If there is a real intent on having the public informed, the City and or the Corporation for Better Housing could put forth the Documents and Designs and proof that they have addressed the Issues of the Court and Citizens. Roads, and Traffic, and Parking, what is new?

This being said: IT IS IMPORTANT that the Citizens Concerns are represented and voiced at the Jan 4 Meeting, so that the City nor the Corporation For Better Housing can claim to the Court that All is Fine and Dandy, and there are no further concerns and then have justification for the Appeal of the Court Decision, rather than Compliance with Judge Wade’s Requirements.

Yes, the Corporation for Better Housing has file an Appeal of the Wade Decision. None of this was disclosed to the Public.

Just as it is fiction to say that “Some of the 120 units” will be available for Low and Moderate Income Seniors. When it is known that 110 of the Units will be for Low and Very Low Income Seniors and that the likelihood that any of the “Interested Senior Grand Terrace Senior Citizens” would qualify or be interested in residing in the building or use the Park and Senior Center as planned, is now in question. So the Number of Seniors expressing “Interest” being 180 seniors (of nearly 1000 in GT), adds to the friction and fiction of the intended development. Yes this is a housing development. The opinions of 180 seniors is not a majority of GT Seniors, nor are the GT Seniors the guaranteed target market to be served.

It is also a bit of fiction when the City discloses it spent $45,000.00 to do a revised EIR Study and Report. Payments to Corporation for Better Housing have now reached close to 4 Million Dollars. The City Manager has not provided the details of what that 4 Million has paid for, or if it has been consumed by legal fees defending a non-defendable project. The City has essentially gifted the use of the property for a 60 years, and commited a Debt of 9 Million for the Development. That 9 Million will cost citizens about 40 Million to pay it off. The City will not be receiving any income from the operations of the Development to offset the Debt.

Do attend the Jan 4 Meeting. Revisit the site, and the issues, and evaluate your opinions and state the. I suggest strongly that you do so, and put it into writing and send it to the City, CFBH, and the Hornsby’s and to Ray Johnson.

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Opinions invited, report awaited on senior-housing project
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Article Launched:12/23/2006 12:00:00 AM PST

GRAND TERRACE - Despite approval by the City Council more than a year ago, plans for a 120-unit senior-apartment project continue to provoke debate.
Residents will have another chance to sound off on the proposal, known as the Blue Mountain Senior Villas, at a special meeting Jan. 4.

A group of residents opposed to the project filed a lawsuit late last year, claiming the city did not perform an adequate environmental study when it approved the plans in September 2005.

San Bernardino Superior Court Judge John P. Wade in August ordered the city to do a full environmental-impact report before proceeding.

Wade directed the city to study noise, traffic, parking and other potential environmental problems.

The city spent about $45,000 to hire an environmental consultant to produce the report. The new approval process is expected to take six to eight months.

If there are no further delays, the apartments should be available for rent in the summer of 2008, City Manager Tom Schwab said.

The Corporation for Better Housing, a nonprofit developer based in Sherman Oaks, has made several changes to appease residents.

One of the primary objections, the three-story building height, should no longer be an issue, Schwab said.

The developer has agreed to reduce the size of the entire structure to two stories in response to concerns about blocked views.

The latest proposal calls for 103 one-bedroom apartments and 17 two-bedroom units on about six acres on the south side of Grand Terrace Road just east of Mount Vernon Avenue. The developer also plans to build a 7,000-square-foot senior center to replace the smaller senior center on the property.

Four acres of the site would be set aside for nonactive park use.

Despite the changes, some residents still don't like the project.

Charles Hornsby, who lives just south of the site, said a high-density project isn't appropriate in the area.

"It's so far out of compliance with city zoning (codes) that it's beyond belief," Hornsby said.

Schwab said the project complies with all city codes and is desperately needed. About 180 people have expressed interest in living in the apartments, which would be reserved for mostly low- and moderate-income people age 65 and older, he said.

"It's been an extreme disappointment to have to have this delay," said JoAnn Johnson, the senior center's 75-year-old volunteer director. "It's meant a lot of unnecessary hardship on us. We are very, very anxious to get things started."

Contact writer Stephen Wall at (909) 386-3916 or via e-mail at stephen.wall@sbsun.com. ---------

IF YOU GO

Residents can voice opinions about the planned senior apartments and senior center at 6 p.m. Jan. 4 in Grand Terrace Council Chambers, City Hall, 22795 Barton Road.

Information: (909) 430-2247