ORANGE : College’s Plan for 2 Driveways Upheld

The Planning Commission this week refused to overturn a Chapman College construction plan, despite neighbors’ complaints that the plan violated a city ordinance by including unannounced changes.

The dispute was the latest in a series of disagreements between Chapman College and area residents who believe the college has been a bad neighbor.

On Monday, the Planning Commission decided that the college’s plan to locate two driveways on a public road, instead of on Chapman property as previously agreed, was proper. Neighbors argued that they were not notified of any changes to the plan until after work on the driveways started.

In August, the college received permission from the city to install two driveways flowing into a public road on Grand Street, but as late as November, residents were still being shown plans that indicated the entrances would be on Center Street, said M.J. Martini, a community spokesman and Chapman alumnus. Residents said they were not notified of the change in plan until concrete was poured in January.

Although the commission believed the relocation of the driveways was allowed, Commissioner Randy Bosch said that inconsistent information received from residents, staff and Chapman suggest that the college may not be in full compliance with the traffic, parking and safety aspects of the construction plan. The commission requested that the college work with city staff to review residents’ complaints.

Frank Battaile, an attorney for Chapman, said after the meeting Tuesday that “the citizens sounded like they believe they had legitimate concerns, and we will certainly consider the concerns they have raised and see if we’ve missed something.”

However, residents said they believe Chapman will fail to act on their concerns.

“They’ve shown a blatant disregard for the neighbors. We’ve been lied to on three separate occasions,” said Chapman neighbor Amy Zanaboni during the hearing.

Neighbors also contended that the newly installed entrances constituted gateways instead of driveways, which would have violated the plan, approved by the City Council as an ordinance in March, 1989, but the commission rejected that argument.

Chapman officials had missed an earlier hearing in March, causing it to be delayed until Monday to allow their input. Several residents and Planning Commissioner Bill Cathcart said they were furious that Chapman College did not send officials who could address the residents’ concerns.

Battaile, who said he was unfamiliar with the specifics of the plan, could not answer most of the questions directed to him.

Pine Street resident Robert Boice said that “Chapman is making this a travesty. They’ve sent a representative (who) cannot answer one specific plan question.”