Huge USPS Facility Slips Under the Radar
Letter to the editor

I realize that very few citizens who typically read this blog have much concern, if any, about what goes on in the southern part of the city or in San Juan Capistrano. But for those of us who live here in south Mission Viejo and those who ever use Avery Parkway, be concerned – very concerned. 

The United States Postal Service plans to build a 9-acre under-roof mega-postal facility just south of our city limits, and it is a major cause of concern. Shown below are some comments and links of interest. (The term "Dispatch" in the following text refers to the Capistrano Dispatch, a daily email bulletin of local [to San Juan Capistrano] news.) Consider subscribing to the daily email "The Capistrano Dispatch" [newsletter@thecapistranodispatch.com]. It's free, and it often provides information on developments that can affect our city. It usually contains more data on items that may affect our city than you will ever get from our own city. 

As it happened, the Schuler's church at Rancho Capistrano, owner of the parcel being sold to the USPS, and the USPS never advised the local communities of the pending sale until two weeks into the escrow proceedings. None of the adjacent cities were notified or even aware of this disastrous turn of events until just this week.

Don Wilder
Mission Viejo

1) The Dispatch has received numerous requests to provide contact information for legislators to contact regarding the proposed United States Postal Service center in San Juan. Go to

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/Index.aspx?page=200

http://www.sanclementetimes.com/newsletter/link.php?M=1344&N=19&L=6

or cut and paste the address and you will be linked directly to the city's (SJC) listing of all the appropriate contacts. For those wishing to copy a form letter that you can send to the USPS with your comments, go to the Open Space navigation bar on the home page, then see the left-side navigation for the link to the USPS letter. Also, a new Web site has been created by a local SJC resident with a poll on the subject. That URL is

http://www.nopostzone.com

http://www.sanclementetimes.com/newsletter/link.php?M=1344&N=19&L=7

2) Public Comments Invited
The USPS is inviting public comments to be mailed to the following address: Emmy Andrews, United States Postal Service, 395 Oyster Point Blvd., Ste. 225, South San Francisco, CA 94080-0300. Letters must be postmarked by August 25. The SJC City Council also is asking residents to reach out to their legislative representatives. They are listed on the city's Web site at

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/Index.aspx?page=200

3) OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SJC COUNCIL OPPOSE PROPOSED PLAN FOR POSSIBLE POSTAL FACILITY
The City's (San Juan Capistrano) Open Space Committee on Monday unanimously voted to recommend that the SJC City Council oppose a proposed plan by the United States Postal Service to build a mail facility processing center on the south portion of the Schuler Ministries property (also known as Rancho Capistrano) - an area targeted by the committee for possible open space acquisition. The committee said the proposed project would be inconsistent with the character of the Northwest Open Space and entryway to San Juan Capistrano. The move comes after the Open Space Committee, chaired by Councilman Mark Nielsen, and about 50 residents heard an update from city staffers about the U. S. Postal Service's interest in purchasing 75 acres from Schuler Ministries to build a 15-acre mail processing facility. The property, at 29343 Camino Capistrano, is about 200 feet west of Camino Capistrano and 2,500 feet south of Avery Parkway. The Postal Service wants to construct a 418,000-square foot facility (nine acres under roof) with a 375-stall parking lot. The proposed facility would operate around the clock with 300 employees. Large trucks would access the 40-plus loading dock area 24/7, with at least 200 daily truck deliveries. The intent would be to gain access to the site from the "old" grade crossing on the south side of the Schuler property.

On Monday, committee members and the public expressed environmental, aesthetic, traffic and other concerns. They said the proposed project is not a good fit for the pristine property, which is highly visible driving along the San Diego (I-5) Freeway.

"Constructing what is probably Orange County's largest industrial building at the entrance to our historic town will destroy the rural character that we have fought so long to preserve," said SJC Councilman Mark Nielsen. "We already bear the burden of regional truck traffic for the landfill. Adding hundreds of trucks and a 9-acre building for the region's postal needs in such a sensitive location is just not right.”

When the proposed project was recently unveiled to the City of San Juan Capistrano, representatives from Schuler Ministries and the Postal Service stated that they are willing to work with the City on major impacts such a project would generate. However, it is unclear what - if any - authority the City has over this project. The Postal Service is still working through an array of issues associated with the project, especially at the train crossing. Regardless, though, Nielsen said the impacts would be profound. "Of particular concern is the Post Offices' stated goal to begin construction within 8 months," he said. "That means their environmental impact analysis will be cursory at best."