Building Projects Raise Concerns

* At the June 2 San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting, we observed an appalling demonstration of government not representing the community.

Three controversial building projects were approved amid clear opposition.

One was a zone change to accommodate the building of a 92,000-square-foot storage facility on the edge of San Juan Creek, adjoining the golf course. Requests for a public hearing regarding the project were rejected. One was a 60,000-square-foot storage facility off Valle Road. One was additional car dealerships at Camino Capistrano and Stonehill, a project that destroys natural land features.

The evening’s agenda did not include any discussion of proposed residential projects or the proposed building moratorium. That is for another evening.

However, when that time comes, will the City Council hear our pleas to assure the proposed developments address the overcrowding of our schools, traffic congestion, insufficient public recreation facilities, preservation of topographic features such as ridgelines and canyons and inappropriate land use?

The destiny of San Juan Capistrano, if left unchecked, will be a city with great historical character lost. Where is the vision for our community?

We fully support Councilman Wyatt Hart’s proposal for a city-wide moratorium. With an outdated General Plan for the city, each builder’s proposal is being considered individually, with insufficient analysis of the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods or the community as a whole.

ED and ANITA RICHARDS

San Juan Capistrano