Fast food, poor neighbors
Regarding the Sun’s June 30 article “In-N- Out Burger to break ground this fall,” I would like to thank the Sun Newspaper for informing the public, especially we, residents of Rossmoor, of the planned fast food restaurant in the Shops at Rossmoor.
We have heard rumors and now it has been confirmed.
However I find it funny that College Park East (which does not border the Rossmoor shops) is concerned about future traffic!
Actually, Rossmoor will be most affected by this. Rossmoor not only borders Rossmoor Shops for all intents and purposes this location is in Rossmoor!
Again the residents of Rossmoor have no say in this. Seal Beach has jurisdiction.
Try and open a pizza place or any business on Main Street in Seal Beach and see the discussion/firestorm you will create from the SB City Council! It is typical. We get stuck with the traffic and all other nuisances connected with just such an adventure and Seal Beach gets the tax revenue.
After all, it will not affect Seal Beach it is on the other side of the 405.
And this is going to affect College Park East? This is laughable!
Great neighbors Seal Beach has been to us.
Gary Cunningham
Rossmoor
Specific plan for Bay City Partners’ property
After attending the June 20, 2011 Public Scoping Meeting we would like to submit the following comments regarding the proposed Ocean Place development plan:
• The proposed project is an obvious developer’s dream rather than a harmonious continuation of the character of Old Town. There’s no mistaking that the design concentrates on maximizing use of the land and not on complementing the city’s charm or blending in with the existing homes on 25’ lots.
• Parking is already a premium in Old Town, yet the existing plan doesn’t provide any off street guest parking for the proposed 48 households.
What little street parking may be available appears to be woefully lacking to accommodate even those residents who own more than two vehicles or use their garages as storage.
• Gifting a portion of publicly owned 1st Street to the developers would undoubtedly increase congestion and hinder traffic safety. While the absurd Marina Park development proposal would make a miserable situation even more untenable!
• The location of the Marina Drive entrance into the proposed project is an example of poor traffic engineering.
All 80 adjacent Riverbeach properties are accessed through the community’s only public entrance/exit located directly across Marina Drive. Therefore, the distance between First Street and the Marina Bridge is inadequate to accommodate the volume of north and southbound traffic turning into Ocean Place and Riverbeach from the existing single turn lane. Traffic flow and public safety would be seriously impacted by this plan.
• In today’s depressed real estate market it’s realistic to expect sales of lots and construction of homes to take years. Nearby residents would be subjected to the inconvenience and unpleasant effects of living in a perpetual construction zone. Due to the mature nature of the surrounding residents it’s very conceivable that many of them would not live to see their quality of life restored.
• Riverbeach has experienced years of frequent power outages due to its location at the end of the Long Beach power grid. While only the portion of Old Town east of First Street has access to FIOS. Infrastructure needs to be seriously studied and steps should be taken to ensure dependable utility access to the new homes as well as the surrounding neighborhood.
• Although the developers are long time residents with extensive business connections their plan should be subjected to the same level of scrutiny and they should not be extended exemptions or waivers that would not ordinarily be granted to outside developers.
Years ago Seal Beach shook off the perception of city corruption. Therefore, the decision makers should be careful to protect the city’s good reputation!
Development of the DWP property will occur and the developers should unquestionably profit from their efforts, but it should not be to the detriment of those who already own property and/or reside in Seal Beach.
Don and Becky Jenks
Seal Beach
Dallas has a better idea
Has Dallas, Texas got a good idea or what? Uninsured cars off the road.
Recently, the city of Dallas, Texas, passed an ordinance stating that if a driver is pulled over by law enforcement and is not able to provide proof of insurance, the car is towed. To retrieve the car after being impounded, they must show proof of insurance to have the car released.
This has made it easy for the city of Dallas to remove uninsured cars. Shortly after the “No Insurance” ordinance was passed, the Dallas impound lots began to fill up and were full after only nine days. 80-plus percent of the impounded cars were driven by illegals.
Not only must they provide proof of insurance to have their car released, they have to pay for the cost of the tow, a $350 fine, and $20 for every day their car is kept in the lot.
Accident rates are going down and … Dallas’ solution gets uninsured drivers off the road without making them show proof of nationality. Wonder how the ACLU or the Justice Department will get around this one. Call your city of Seal Beach councilperson.
Bob Thornburg
Seal Beach
