Coming to Portola Hills - The Great Monolith

It was an incredible meeting last week at the Planning Commission. The developers proposed to build a 45 foot high building with a 61 foot tower at the intersection of Saddleback Ranch Rd and Glenn Ranch Rd. While the building would sit some 20 feet below grade level, it would still stick out 30 feet above the street and even more if you consider the tower, which is there merely for architectural purposes because the architect thinks it looks nice.

Housed therein would be 57 “senior affordable units” with about 500 square feet of space. That’s a 20 x 25 foot area which will have a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room, and whatever else. The building is devoid of balconies because the architect thought they didn’t look good, and perhaps cost was another consideration.

According to the plans, the building would be hidden from view by a row of 30 foot high trees, although for the next few years these trees would be much smaller. Though this might partially hide the view of the building if you are driving along Saddleback Ranch Rd immediately in front of the building, it certainly won’t hide it as you come up the hill, nor will it hide it as you come down Glenn Ranch Rd. The monolith will command virtually the entire area.

Every Portola Hills resident who appeared at the Commission meeting opposed the building calling it a “monolith”, “motel look”, “obscene”, “ugly”, “out of proportion”, “a monster”, “just doesn’t fit”, etc. Their pleas were to no avail. Commission Chairperson Jolene Fuente cheerfully said “I like it.”

In a first of its kind, three former Planning Commission members gave testimony opposing the new building – Tim Hughes, Terry Anderson, and Dave Carter. Each asked the new Commissioners to send it back to the drawing boards for a new plan. “You have the power to fix it” they said.

Here are some of the comments from others in attendance –

Gail Mona complained “We live here! Please represent your constituency.” She worried about the availability of parking since there are only 61 spaces for 58 units.

Kimberley Alford disliked the height and size, the small windows and the lack of balconies.

Dave Herzberg asked for them to consider a 2-story building that wouldn’t stick out so much. “It’s not compatible with anything else” he noted, comparing it to a bland hotel. He too worried about parking and the lack of balconies especially since the units are so small.

Apparently, while some aspects of the plan were permitted (e.g., 45 foot tall building), others were not (61 foot tower). This made no difference to the friends and contributors of the Gang of 3 who were appointed to the Commission and passed the project, 3 to 1.

Why is it that no matter what a developer asks for, they get? Can it be the enormous amount of money that developers give to the Gang of 3? Or to the fact that the Gang of 3 puts people on City Commission who are “friends” and, more often, “campaign contributors” to the Gang?

Here we have a building that every resident opposed and three former Planning Commissioners took the time to testify against, yet the building passes by 3:1 with no alterations.

Out of concern for the residents’ opinions and their heartfelt opposition, I took the unusual step of requesting a de novo hearing by the City Council. Councilman Nick was gracious enough to second my request. The issue will now come before the City Council and residents will get the chance to make their case anew. Stay tuned.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be on August 13 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.