Board of Supervisors OKs Shelter for Pregnant Teens

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved plans to build a shelter in North Tustin that will house up to 18 pregnant teenagers, despite objections from some residents who complained that the project is too large.

Plans for the nonprofit Mary’s Shelter call for the construction of a one-story structure in the 18200 block of 17th Street. A smaller shelter is now on the site.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, more than 20 homeowners from the North Tustin unincorporated community spoke against the proposal, which they said would “overwhelm” the area and result in traffic and parking problems.

But shelter officials and supporters argued that the project would have no adverse effect on neighbors, noting that the ranch-house style of the main structure was designed to blend in with the surrounding homes.

Supervisor Don Saltarelli, who represents the area, did attach 10 conditions to the board’s approval, including a reduction in the size of the main building from 5,640 square feet to from 4,500 to 4,799 square feet.

In addition, Saltarelli asked that the landscaping, color scheme and wall design of the shelter be approved by the North Tustin Advisory Committee, a neighborhood planning group. The number of parking spaces on the site will be increased from nine to 11 as well.

Some residents expressed satisfaction with Saltarelli’s modifications, but others said they didn’t go far enough.

The Orange County Planning Commission approved the project several months ago, but homeowners appealed the decision to the Board of Supervisors.