Another City of Irvine Parking Disaster

Irvine city planners have smashed a 10-pound project into a 5-pound box (“Roller Hockey Firm May Seek Appeal,” Aug. 3).

World Roller Hockey at Civic Center Park will include three rinks, three shooting cages, a retail store, an arcade, a McDonald’s (described as a “snack bar”), 300 spectator seats and more. City code requires 400 parking spaces for this project and it was approved with only 117.

Planning Commissioner Dave Christensen appealed the approval and gave up his opportunity to vote on the project. Christensen recommended at least 186 spaces.

The voting commissioners spoke of insufficient parking and referred to other “parking nightmares” in Irvine. They were quick to point out that other parking problems were approved by previous commissions and they took no responsibility for them. The commission then voted to allow off-site parking.

After dropping off their children, parents will be forced to leave the hockey park, turn right on Barranca and drive to Harvard. There, make a U-turn and drive back past the project to Corporate Park. After waiting at a second light, turn left into Corporate Park, then two more left turns into Friendly Hills Medical parking lot. Finally, walk hundreds of feet to reclaim their children.

This approval of off-site parking is an admission that the project is too large for its site. It’s time to stop passing the buck and require developers to comply with the parking standards.

JOHN KLEINPETER

Irvine