Problems, concerns with Village 605
Problems, concerns with Village 605
Dear Editor,
Residents in Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Cypress, Seal Beach and Long Beach are seriously concerned with the numerous adverse impacts this proposed commercial project will have on the entire area. One of the issues is the proposed signage for this relatively small commercial center that is being promoted as a “community shopping center” and a “village.”
However, this sign is an outrageous 120 feet in height, with over 3,000 square feet of illuminated area, with a changing television display, with rotating displays day and night. Imagine a sign larger than the area of a four-bedroom house–120 feet over your home or school!
None of the other signs on the freeways in the area are located in residential areas, nor immediately adjacent to a public school (Oak Middle School), nor 720 feet from a Nature Preserve Center (El Dorado Regional Park) in Long Beach. (The Nature Preserve Center is a sanctuary to over 150 species of birds and part of the migratory bird corridor related to the Bolsa Chica Bird Conservancy, and are protected by Federal Law. What child has not visited this Nature Center?) Those other shorter signs are located in large regional shopping centers, next to a casino, at an airport or in an industrial zone. The building code for Los Alamitos limits the heights of commercial signs to a reasonable 20 feet, but this sign was granted another 100 feet through a variance to the code.
The CEQA guidelines require that any significant impact or changes that are not discussed in the original EIR require a subsequent EIR (CEQA section 15162 (a) 3A). This signage is without a doubt a significant impact to the entire area. This requires a subsequent EIR, so that all affected parties can be fairly heard.
Furthermore, traffic engineering studies of the proposed commercial site warn of very serious traffic flow degeneration at many intersections near the site. This will impact traffic flow near Oak Middle School and Los Alamitos High School. This is a regional negative impact that will effect not only students in Los Alamitos, but students attending those schools from Seal Beach, Cypress, Rossmoor and even Long Beach.
There has been filed a legal appeal to the project, that requires that a public hearing be held, to address the issue of this sign and the negative traffic flows, at the Los Alamitos City Hall on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 6 p.m. It is so important that everyone within this region attend and be given the chance to express their concerns that will have such a permanent impact on our communities and children.
J D Kouros
Rossmoor
Comments on Lowenthal’s inauguration absence
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the members of Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated, with members in northwest Orange County and greater Long Beach, we are appalled that Cong. Lowenthal did not attend the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump.
The 47th District includes numerous Trump supporters – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – who firmly believe in our American tradition of a peaceful transition of power. Congressman Lowenthal’s decision to boycott the inauguration solely represents a boisterous minority that has no desire to see our new president succeed.
Going forward, Congressman Lowenthal needs to remember that he represents the entire 47th District and not just a handful of its citizens.
Nancy Hathcock
President, Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated
Resident shares recent experience at a thrift shop
Dear Editor,
I recently witnessed what I believe to be hypocrisy on behalf of Cottonwood Church. On Jan. 22, I was at Grateful Hearts, Cottonwood’s subsidiary thrift store, when a woman with obvious mental disabilities was ejected from the store. I can understand Grateful Hearts not wanting her around merchandise after the incident, but given that it was raining heavily at the time, and that the individual in question’s ride had left her stranded there, I intervened, asking if there was anywhere she could wait on the premises until the rain let up.
I was informed that, no, she had to leave and that the police had already been summoned and were on their way to remove the individual. I then asked if Cottonwood could assist her, or if she could at least wait there until the rain subsided, and I was informed again that, no, despite Cottonwood’s abundant space and resources, they would send her back to Grateful Hearts, who would in turn call the police.
I helped the distraught woman carry her groceries to a separate awning while she cried that she was cold and waited for the police to arrive. It surprises me that neither Cottonwood nor Grateful Hearts, which prides itself in “Providing Hope for the Hurting,” could come up with a better solution than to hand over an obviously hurting individual to law enforcement agencies. It shocks me that Cottonwood, with its tremendous financial wealth, does not have the capacity to help a disabled woman seeking assistance on its property.
Cottonwood’s motto is “Bringing A Living Jesus To A Dying World.” Maybe the world wouldn’t be dying if the church showed greater compassion for the most vulnerable among us instead of pawning them off when they’re not highly publicized or fiscally convenient, especially as mental health services will very likely be defunded in the coming months.
“So His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.” (Matt. 4.24)
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20.35)
Brian McGinnis
Los Alamitos