There are a couple of statements in the news article about the BMSV that I find interesting:
"Barring any unforeseen delays, the 120-unit apartment complex called the Blue Mountain Senior Villas is expected to open in fall 2008. "
UNFORESEEN? COME ON IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE DELAYS ARE YOU BLIND?
Let's look at the facts:
The Plan Approved was not available for Public Comment during the EIR Process. So the Public Input to the EIR was flawed at best.
The number of Parking Spaces and lack of covered parking or garages is in violation of the City's Own Code on Parking. Will all other applicants be able to benefit from this "waiver" of the "Code"?
Will other builders be allowed to make small apartments, with no parking structures, and get zone changes pushed through?
Will the City of Grand Terrace and Corporation For Better Housing, provide proof of compliance or Satisfy Judge Wade's Court, or continue with the Appeal of the Wade Court Decision? The City had a choice, to comply or appeal, it has chosen to act like it wants to comply while it went forward with an appeal.
Schwab said the city is "absolutely 100 percent confident" it will prevail if opponents file another legal challenge.
Mr. Schwab also said, "saw a signed Stater Brother's contract". Mr. Schwab also said he never used Eminent Domain.. YET his signature and office used the Threat of Eminent Domain to Intimidate Property Owners into negotiations with Doug Jacobsen. We also know he was so sure of the Power Plant not being restarted or redeveloped as a power plant that he encouraged the CJUSD to purchase land directly across from the proposed AES Power Plant. We know that the legal challenge comes from more than the residents near the proposed BMSV.
The General Plan and the EIR findings suggest the original location in mid town in front of "The Terrace" would be a better more practical and more environmentally efficient place to locate the proposed Senior Housing, and Senior Center. YET, we know Mr. Schwab only uses the General Plan or the Barton Road Plan to stop or harass people who he has not personally selected as contractors or developers or political friendlies.
IF the Senior Center and Senior Housing was planned to be where it is in the GENERAL PLAN there would be fewer problems and most likely it would have been built and OCCUPIED by NOW. The Delay is a Schwab Creation, not the result of the "Few Residents" on Brentwood.
IF the Concerned Citizens had not raised objection the few improvements to the plan that have been made would not have been done. UNFORTUNATELY the changes are not sufficient, and Yes it Will end up in COURT again... Mr. Schwab could put the Senior Housing where it should be and the "Problems" would be diminished significantly.
"Although opposition has diminished in recent months, a few vocal critics spoke Tuesday night against the project."
The opposition has not diminished.... what the opposition has learned one voice or 1000 the City Council does what the Schwab puts in front of them... It only takes one voice to bring an objection and open the door to the Courts. This is in part the game the City Attorney and The Schwab were trying to play by not allowing public comment, or public response to the 5 page letter of objections chronicled by Ray Johnson's Letter to the Council. IF the Johnson Letter had not been included in the "PUBLIC HEARING" the objections may not open the door to the legal process.
One could or should also note that Joann Johnson and Tony Petta were the only ones speaking "For" the Senior Housing and Park. Has Support for the Project Diminished?
Tony Petta donated a portion of the property to the City for the Explicit Purpose of building a Memorial Park for Susan Petta his daughter who died at a young age from Leukemia. Susan never reached the age of a Senior, and was in life an active member of sports and activities. She loved her animals and playing volleyball and basket ball. So a "Passive Park" where a toddler visiting Grandma and Grandpa can't run around and kick a small ball or play catch may not be respectful, or functional for the family and friends, and citizens using the park as a "Back Yard" to the Senior Housing.
Ms. Ferre a Park is more than a Beautification Project. A park is needed in that quarter of town, a real park, with perhaps a restroom facility, a community farm, and perhaps even a few animal stables for 4H projects. Perhaps a swingers park where the park is full of swing sets that generate electricity and are in all sizes from child to adult. Ms. Ferre your need to control the use of the park, to the extent of posting a sign no ball play in the park is oppressive and overstepping reason. No one elected you thinking that you would be so controlling and hateful toward children and the citizens in general.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_6755587
First GT senior housing project OK'd
Officials expect 120-unit complex
to open fall 2008
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/29/2007
11:44:16 PM PDT
GRAND TERRACE - The long road to the city's first senior housing project is finally nearing an end. Barring any unforeseen delays, the 120-unit apartment complex called the Blue Mountain Senior Villas is expected to open in fall 2008.
On Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously approved revised plans for the project on Grand Terrace Road just east of Mount Vernon Avenue.
In addition to the apartments, the project will include a 7,000-square-foot senior center and 2.6-acre park on 6 acres of city-owned land.
"I have never changed my original belief that this is so much needed here in Grand Terrace," said JoAnn Johnson, Grand Terrace Senior Center volunteer director. "Never does a week go by that I don't get at least one inquiry about senior housing."
The council initially approved the proposal nearly two years ago.
But a small group of neighbors filed a lawsuit, claiming the project was inappropriate for the area and that potential environmental impacts weren't adequately addressed.
Shortly after the council's approval in September 2005, San Bernardino Superior Court Judge John Wade ruled there was a "fair argument" that the original project did not comply with California Environmental Quality Act requirements.In response to Wade's ruling, the city spent nearly $100,000 to perform a detailed environmental study to analyze the potential impacts of the project.
The study showed that any possible negative impacts - such as noise, traffic and air quality - could be reduced to less than significant levels.
The Corporation for Better Housing, the nonprofit developer, filed a new proposal in response to the judge's decision.
The revised plan reduces the height of the entire building from three to two stories and incorporates a new design to address neighbors' concerns.
The new proposal also includes enhanced landscaping to provide additional shade around park benches.
Although opposition has diminished in recent months, a few vocal critics spoke Tuesday night against the project.
"I'll have 19 cars parked within 10 feet of my property line," said Barbara Berliner, who lives on Brentwood Street across from the project site. "I will be hearing slamming doors. I will be hearing idling cars. I will be hearing people talking."
Residents also said the project is inconsistent with the city's General Plan, claiming it violates density and zoning requirements.
City Manager Tom Schwab responded that the council amended the General Plan on Tuesday night to create a special residential zone that allows higher density for a senior housing project.
Schwab said the $19 million project will be paid for with city redevelopment funds, federal housing tax credits and loans.
Ninety percent of the one- and two-bedroom units will be reserved for low- and middle-income people.
Rents will be in the $500 to $600 range for those subsidized units. The remaining 10 percent of the apartments will be rented at market rates.
The apartments will be available to people 65 and older.
Schwab said the city is "absolutely 100 percent confident" it will prevail if opponents file another legal challenge.
Johnson said the delays in the project have caused "a real hardship" on seniors desperate to find affordable housing.
"I don't think I need to say I hope we will see earth moving in the very near future," Johnson told to the council.
