HomeMy WebLinkAboutConditional exception 71-26 - Leonard Wright - Apartment dev` Petition C�',.Aarning Conditional. Etoept''r.'h 210. 71--26 '0
May 1Q, 1971, Huntington Mach l
This petition i9 to request that Conditional Construe :ion Exception No.
71-26 on the south side of Palm Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets
not be allowed.
The undersigned strongly favor maintaining this area a Two Family
Residence District as zoned,
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606 - 15th street
Huntington Beach,
May 15, 1971
City Council
City of Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Dear City Courell :
Calif. 92648
This letter Is to support the City Council In enforcing zoning
regulations and In denying variances that increase the density.
The H.B. City Planning Commission has recognized the pitfalls of
too high a density. The trend is toward a "lower" density than was
previously authorized. Too high a rental unit density causes:
.higher city taxes for education and other city services.
.greater traffic congestion.
.parking problems.
.possibly a faster deterioration of living units resulting in:
.trend towards slum areas and a higher incidence of crime, more
taxes.
Apartments are an essential part of any city. But too high a
concentration is not in the best interests of the city or its
residents.
1. higher property taxes.
Increasing the density brings higher taxes to the individual
property owner. The cost of services to each individual is greater
than the Income derived from his living in the city. The difference
is made up by:
.an industrial tax
.city property tax
The mare building o-_f more apartments does
in Nuntington Beach. 'Therefore the services
population cause a greater city property tax
residents are tarred more because of greater
2. Deterioratlon of livinm units.
not creep ce more industry
vequired for n denser
proportionately. All
npart,nent density.
Overbuilding leads to vacancy. Apartment owners compete by
lowering the rent and cutting expenditures or. 4tpknep. This inevitably
brings deterioration of ilvin- unfits Along with sl ke oonditions�
Maher crime rate , resultant loss of revenue, then higher rir of erty
taxes.
A variance is not justified just because no (or few) people within
300 feet of the proposed, construction object. This is because:
1. if the immediate area is sparsely settled or conelots largely
of absentee owners, t':ey have leas conrer!! .r-jr the resldt�nta of fife
surrounding area. They may not care whet happens no lung as their
profit pots ntlal, is enhanced
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2. many developers are. concerned only with maximizing
Immediate profit without concern for the future consequences of
the area. After building, the promoter may never, live in the
building, may live in it a short while or may sell as quickly Pry
possiale. He's made his money and now looks to other opportun1,A;1es.
:3. Many people may not feel confident in how to protect their
neighborhood rights, may be too shy to speak up in public ne►st.mgs
or may be busy or tired or feel the proceedings are too tedious and
lengthy. Thus tre sentiment in some areas may not be voiced.
Additionally some feel the situation is so obvious that someone else
just naturally will take care of r t.
100% of the property owners that we were able to contact in our
immediate area strongly favor maintaining -the area as zoned. They
objected to granting variances to allow a higher densi.ty construction.
I feel this is the prevail!.ng opinion o'' p:roperty--owneru for their
inmedlate neighborhoods.
Even if no objections are raised to proposed varlances (because
of reasons covered above), variances that I.nc,� a the density
should not be ,grar ted,
Exceptions might be considered only for people who have lived
for sometime at the site of the proposed variance and viho bring
several resident property owners in the immediate neighborhooC. eho
voice their approval.
ApproTrlate zoning are unele3Q if they are circumvented.
through variances that allow construction to ci:Qnge the image as
zoned. This includes apartment -like building" in an R2 zone and
massive r.partment buildings in R.3 zone:z..
We rely on the City Council to look out for the beat interests
of Huntington Beach and itn citizens.
Sincerely,
AV-Ae"�