San Juan Group to Fight Hotel/Condo Development

The Following is submitted by the community group Save San Juan Capistrano. It does not reflect the views of Patch.com.

Hi everyone again---our protest has moved on to the next proposed development of what is called “Urban Village”. It’s proposed to be built smack dab in the middle of our historical village next to our park and Judge Egan’s house. It includes a 30 two story condominiums, a 136 room hotel, restaurant and shops on 3.17 acres of land. With a 140 space subterranean parking garage, a total 217 parking spaces. Average daily car trips estimate is 1,662.

The Urban Village proposal was rejected at a past council meeting by a split vote, two yeas and two nays. At the November 18 city council meeting, that went to approx 3 am the morning of November 19, the (former) mayor Allevato put the Urban Village on for a vote again, this time for a passing vote. We now have another development that will add to the same problems we protested about with the laguna glen project. Another layer of traffic problems and, a reminder of the fact, that we are in a drought that may very well turn into a disaster. In the October Metropolitan Water District report, salt water is intruding into our lower basin. And another dry winter for Calif. according to a National Weather Service report.

The City Attorney said, and the City Manager concurred, that Allevato’s actions in manipulating a no vote for the Urban Village at one council meeting, to a yes vote at another council meeting, was illegal. A lawsuit has been filed on December 5, against the City seeking to invalidate the vote, as it violates SJC’s General Plan which prohibits down town residential development.

We are now starting late, another signature gathering for a Referendum regarding the Urban Village. This petition can also be used to present to the new council to insure the residents’ voices are heard.

I know you signature gathering volunteers for the Speiker project are recovering, and Christmas planning is now, I believe Sam Allevato, Larry Kramer, John Taylor figured this was a good time to slip in the vote they preferred for the Urban Village. Their timing, I feel, was another cruel, selfish move against us, the people of San Juan.

Again right now, we ask that everyone that may have energy left, and those of you that feel strongly enough to try to stop this project, that you would accept a petition book to fill. If we can get 50 people to get signatures, getting 6 to 7 signatures per day for the next 10 to 12 days, we should have a safe amount of signatures to turn into the Voter Registrar.

Please volunteer your energy for one more push for the wellbeing of all of us!

And if you need to blame someone for having to do this again----it’s Allevato!!!!

For books contact: Pam – ppattersoneti@msn.com

For volunteering to obtain signatures at a store & scheduling: contact Barbara - sszemenyei@cox.net

Volunteers are needed daily at Vons and Ralph’s: December 9 - December 22

From 10am-7pm Please select an time slot that works for you.