|
 |
||
|
Sunrise Promotes Happy Talk About a Park Two council members have items on the Nov. 5 council agenda regarding Sunrise’s senior housing proposal for the Casta del Sol golf course. Why do Council Members Gail Reavis and Frank Ury have separate items on the agenda about the same topic? Will any council member support the Sunrise project with happy talk about a Great Park for Mission Viejo? The last time residents rallied against a housing project, approximately 3,000 signatures were gathered in opposition to rezoning the 23-acre parcel at Los Alisos and Jeronimo. The council responded by ignoring all those who spoke against the housing project, including residents who presented a four-inch-high stack of signed petitions. After all five council members gave their reasons for supporting the project – as if they were employees or agents for the developer – they voted 5-0 to approve Steadfast’s high-density condo plan. One big difference between Steadfast’s project and Sunrise’s proposal should be noted. Steadfast’s project at Los Alisos and Jeronimo is surrounded on three sides by commercial properties. Residential developments are within a stone’s throw, but nearby homeowners didn’t unite or mount much opposition. Instead, several highly confused renters and condo owners fell for Steadfast’s “free lunch” sales pitch that an affordable-housing project was beneficial to their neighborhood. Sunrise Senior Living has made the mistake of planning its high-density housing next to three gated communities: Casta del Sol, Cypress Point and Finisterra. The homeowners comprise senior citizens who will put up a fierce battle against such an intrusion. As another difference, the residents of Casta del Sol, Cypress Point and Finisterra can win by uniting against the developer. Following is a copy of the letter some residents received from Sunrise, which was forwarded to the blog. One letter recipient added the comment, “What a bunch of lies!” (On Sunrise Senior Living letterhead; all letters forwarded to the blog were dated October 10, 2007) Sunrise would like to thank the hundreds of individuals who contacted us or attended the open house for our proposed retirement community and park. The feedback you provided gave us a better understanding of the needs and concerns of the surrounding community. For instance, many residents indicated an interest in living in our proposed senior community and others found the proposed park and its walking and jogging trails appealing. We also received feedback from a number of residents who shared concerns about issues like traffic impacts, safety and privacy concerns and park maintenance issues. Sunrise respects and appreciates the feedback we have received thus far and will be reviewing our plan in the coming weeks and months to determine how best to move forward and to respond to these comments. We would also like to reiterate the point that if the plan moves forward, the public planning and approval process will likely take two to three years. This ensures there will be a number of opportunities for the community to provide input. It also means the golf course will remain playable for quite some time. If you have any additional questions or suggestions, please visit our Web site at www.NewCommunityPark.com or call our information line at 595-0097. Again, we appreciate your interest and pledge to keep you updated throughout our planning process. Sincerely, Wayne Sant, Sunrise Senior Living |
||