Zoning Changes and Their Impact

I live next to a vacant lot which is being considered for an apartment complex. I have been residing here for 28 years. My children are the fourth generation being reared in the same house in Placentia.

I am speaking on behalf of myself, my grandfather, Nickolas Rodriguez, who is a property owner, and, after canvassing the neighborhood, on behalf of the community. We want the zoning changed from R-3 (high density) to R-2 (medium density). Our main concerns are the problems of overcrowding, crime and traffic.

Another concern, for those of us who have small children in this school district, is the problem of overcrowding in our schools. Because apartments will be springing up everywhere, it will definitely have an impact on class size and quality education.

We were told by the Planning Commission and the Planning Department that apartments would beautify and upgrade our area. I have visited areas in La Jolla aNd Anaheim and have seen apartments mixed with single-family homes. It looks terrible.

Another statement that the Planning Department and Planning Commission repeats is that the area has been zoned R-3 for about 27 years. However, an in-depth study was conducted and the General Plan for our neighborhood was labeled “low density.” It seems unfair that areas on the north side of Placentia that also have conflicting zones and general plans have been down-zoned rather than up-zoned.

It would be an emotional hardship to sell our home. Our house is more than a shelter. It was built by my grandparents with love, pride, sacrifice and hard labor during hard times.

We are the only ones who can say what is in our best interest. After all, we are the ones who live in this area.

MELISSA ALBIDREZ

Placentia