"Mirabella Condominium Project" Original Comments

 


These were the original comments on the Mirabella Condominium Project.

Do to technical difficulties, the original posting was deleted but was able to be recovered from the archives file.



August 18, 2005 3:23 P.M.
Torrey Loomis said...

Patrick,

Thank you for creating this resource. I will try my best to be at the meeting this Saturday.

Torrey Loomis
Empire Ranch Resident

August 18, 2005 3:23 PM


Anonymous said...

There is already a Yahoo Group set up for all the Elliott & Parkway issues on yahoo at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elliot_parkway_community

I would suggest we stick to that one generic communication group. If we all start our own personally branded sites we will not be able to communicate effectively!

Thanks!

August 18, 2005 5:15 PM


James said...

I for one am personally thankful that Patrick has put together this succinct article. I have been over at the Yahoo area and there is no information there.

Additionally it seems as though he is on top of what is happening and has been speaking with the community leaders in general.

Thanks once again for keeping the community informed.

August 18, 2005 7:38 PM


Patrick said...

I just want to comment to the person that was talking about the Yahoo Group. I went to that site but there was no information at all on that site.

Besides, after checking it out, I felt that it was not as flexible in allowing unlimited comments from people who wanted to remain anonymous like this one does.

This site is a true blog where anyone can comment. You can elect to log in and be identified or you can remain completely anonymous. The main thing we all need to do at this point is to pull together in the same direction if we want something other than condos on this property.

Once again, I hope everyone can join me at Starbucks Broadstone on Saturday morning, 08/20 at 08:00.

Regards,
Patrick Warholic

August 18, 2005 9:14 PM


Anonymous said...

Patrick, my husband & I left Natomas Park after fighting with city council and various developers after they decided to do the exact SAME thing.
We lost because we only had 20 people who really cared & the show of support REALLY hurt us...and the property values of those that decided to wait and see what the condos looked like. In that regard I wish you luck and suggest that you pull studies regarding condos/apartments (even midscale to upscale) and the increase of drugs being sold to YOUNG school children and sexual predators...the facts are truly frightening and NO I do not meanthat those who buy a condo are drug pushing sex offenders, but the numbers stack that way.

On a side note. While I can appreciate your involvement with this project, I hope this is not just a large self marketing tool for yourself. I know realtors and have worked with some that are VERY high profile. We attended city council meetings, planning and community meetings, even meetings with the Mayor of Sacramento, several times.
You really need a seperate web site if those that are to be influenced can SEE your crediblity and not your self promotion of realtor services.
GOOD LUCK! We want Starbucks, not condos with parking lots, large trash dumpsters, large overhead street lights and an increase in crime!

August 19, 2005 7:42 AM


Anonymous said...

Its encouraging to see that parkway residents are caring and supporting to stand against a Empire ranch project which ofcourse Elloitt is developing. Its encouraging because even though Empire ranch blocked the Parkway II residents from Empire Oaks elementary and Empire ranch residents never really opposed the town homes or the new overhead powerlines.

Regarding this blog I personally dont care whether you get publicity out of this as long as its for genuine effort. The only problem is Patrick seem to be pushing for commercial site, even though its a so called neighbourhood coffee/restaurant has anyone thought that can we really close it to other residents of Folsom. Can the business survive with just residents around it, does a restaurant shut down in the evening because the residents want to go to sleep at 9 PM.

Blogger on this site or on the Yahoo community need to agree on the future of that piece of land before opposing it. I would really push for townhomes on that land. Not more then 2 stories with enough bedrooms for people with family to stay in it.

August 19, 2005 10:33 AM


Patrick said...

Regarding the comments made by the woman, who with her husband, left Natomas Park and offered her experiences with condos in that area, I can only say that we all appreciate input from anyone who might have experiences with this type of project. My thought on that particular subject is that I always like to give the benefit of doubt to anyone and would not want to suggest that we might have additional crime from a condo project in our neighborhood.

Regarding the fact that I happen to be a Realtor, I make no apologies. I have clients who live in both the Parkway and Empire Ranch and I happen to feel very passionately about the look and feel of our neighborhood. Being active in the community, I am blessed to have a profession where I am able to be flexible and attend things like a 07:30 A.M. Architectural Review meeting.

This community forum site is not about me. It just happens to be a very convenient, efficient, and effective way for me to communicate things that I have found out regarding this project that are of interest to many friends, neighbors, and interested citizens. It also gives each one of us the ability to ask and answer questions.

Yes, I happen to personally be in favor of an upscale, trendy, neighborhood retail center over a condo project that is going to stress an already over crowding situation at Empire Oaks Elementary School. Yes, this may add some additonal traffic to East Natoma and Golf Links, but in balance it appears to me to be a better solution than the overcrowding and additional traffic that would come from rezoning for high density housing.

Please join me at Starbucks Broadstone tomorrow morning at 08:00 to talk in person and to strategize. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.

Thank you and make it a good day.

Best regards,
Patrick Warholic

August 19, 2005 11:53 AM


Anonymous said...

Thanks Patrick for setting this up. This will be helpful instead of having e-mail's fly around.

My biggest concern is the increase of traffic around the school. The intersection has already become very congested with the opening of golf links to broadstone pkwy. I figure if we have retail there, people that are already going through this area will use it (it won't increase the traffic)

It makes me mad that Elliott is trying to add high density housing here. All of the high density housing projects were identified a few years back. At that time, Elliott did not include this location.

Unfortunately I can't meet you at Starbucks but I'll definitely be at the architectural review meeting to voice my opinion.

August 19, 2005 7:37 PM


Maureen said...

Thank you very much for the information! I feel one of the best ways to get this information out to the neighborhoods in Empire Ranch is to make up fliers and post them on the mailboxes throughout the communities. It is definitely a high traffic area where most people would be able to get information on what is going on. When I first found out about this project several weeks ago, not a single neighbor of mine was aware of the situation. Thanks again for helping get the info out to everyone!

August 19, 2005 7:41 PM


Anonymous said...

Aren't there any laws onthe books in where residents have to be legally notified in they live within 300-1000 foot radius that changes in building plans have changed...it IS that way in MANY areas!
Traffic from condos peaks at school times...everyone leaving for work in the morning, when children cross the street at either corner. In the evening, children are coming home from soccer, school functions and the danger this poses is substantial.

A starbucks for example does have traffic peak times also, but the influence a community has over its design parking structure, hours of operation and the fact that it would be a gathering point for parents, community members, and that it would contribute to the local school (or whatever business) would be fabulous.
The school board is meetingto redraw the boundaries in November.
Empire oaks can not sustain more growth. they denied us a school of our own in the parkway and we can't go to empire for school....
where are they sending these children?
If they say their studies show condos are bought by singles or young couples or older ones without children, those are antiquated.California families buy these and they provide more affordable housing.
Natomas Park went ahead with their project, but we had them add:CC&R's and dues(because if you do not pay dues, legally nothing can be enforced and you need a board)they installed different parking, widened the sidewalks, created lanscaping that was comprable to a model home and chose low voltage, lower style parking lot lights. We were able to pick out designs that we liked, but the # of bedrooms 4-5(1700sq ft!!!) we could not touch. 1 car garage we could not touch. They parked everywhere...Empire Oaks can not handle this impact!!
I will be there at the meeting !

August 20, 2005 9:17 AM


Peter said...

I think we need to show large numbers at these meetings. i am pleased that there seems to be a chance to have a commercial development there. I worry however that the occupancy rates for commercial properties at Broadstone Marketplace and the new projects at Blue Ravine and East Natoma may be prohibitive to another commercial property at East Natoma and Golflinks. However the overall neighborhood feel and sense of community would be greatly enhanced by a retail center as Patrick describes.

I have reviewed the plans for "Mirabella" and it is VERY box-like. If they do rezone and go forward with condos we need to get them to limit it to 2 story's. At least the condo's at the Esplanade have some character. We need to go for that same feel in keeping with the neighborhood. One avenue might be to mention the multi family housing guidelines:

Design Guidelines for Multifamily Developments City Council resolution Number 5734. It states:

Section E,Number 1:

Scale-The scale of multifamily projects will be considered in the context of existing surrounding development.

Section E, Number 3

Design Compatability- The design of multifamily residencies shall complement surrounding development but shall not replicate adjacent residential designs.Designs within specific project area need to be consistent in scale and character but not to the point of being repetitious.The residential design will respect the predominant characteristics of height, massing, setbacks and materials of the existing development in the project area.Windows or openings will not provide for visual intrusion to adjacent residential properties.

In all of Folsom it seems that there are very few 3 story condos and apartments. Where there are 3 story units they are not next to existing housing houses and they are broken up by 2 story sections.
The Madrone which is going up at the corner of Iron Point and Empire ranch I believe is planned for 3 strory's but there are no existing homes there yet. Maybe Elliott knew that it would be easier to get 3 story condos in before single family homes, as they are running into a lot of opposition to the project at East Natmoa and Golflinks.

I have an old map of Empire Ranch that was given to me when we were first looking at homes here. The plot of land at Golflinks and East Natoma is clearly labeled as commercial. It really could function as neighborhood hub for all of us. Many of us in the Parkway paid lot premiums based on this information. we need to stand together on this and attend these meetings.

August 20, 2005 10:58 AM


Patrick Warholic said...

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Our informal coffee meeting at Starbucks this morning turned into a number of great discussions among 11 different people between 08:00 and 09:30 or so. There were some very good ideas that were discussed on how we can best make an impact with City officials to get our views heard.

One immediate idea that can be implemented for this coming Thursday's meeting of the Architectural Review Commission at 07:30 is for those people who are unable to physically attend the meeting who want their views heard is to write a letter to the Architectural Review Commission as a Word document and then attach it to an e-mail to me. I will print all the letters out and then try to get permission to read them publically at the meeting.

If you don't want to write a letter to attach to your e-mail to me, just send me an e-mail with your thoughts and request that I print it out and read it to the Commissioners. I will also leave them copies of all e-mails and letters that are addressed to them and e-mailed to me for publically reading them at the meeting.

Another good idea that came up at coffee this morning is to start circulating petitions door to door throughout all of Empire Ranch and the Parkway clearly stating our objections to condos and our desire for a trendy, friendly local neighborhood retail center as originally promised to all of us when we bought our homes. Does anyone have any experience with the legal wording requirements that are involved before circulating petitions?

Remember NUMBERS TALK LOUDER THAN MONEY! We can make a difference if we can just rally enough troops.

Please inform as many Empire Ranch and Parkway residents as possible about reading this Community Forum to stay current with the latest information and developments. Also, please urge them to attend the Architectural Review Commission meeting at 07:30 this Thursday morning, August 25, 2005.

Best regards,
Patrick

August 20, 2005 10:31 PM


Anonymous said...

Starting a petition is a really good idea, there will probably be more people willing to sign the petition opposing the condo peoject than being able to attend and speak at various mettings. This is one good way to get the NUMBERS. The sooner this can start, the better.

August 21, 2005 10:19 AM


Anonymous said...

I am a very happy Parkway resident. My husband and I fell in Love with the Parkway when we first started looking at homes in Folsom. We are strongly against the 3 story condos. Because we are unable to attend the meetings we would love to sign any petition against the condos. I want to thank Patrick for the well informed website!!!
Thanks!

August 21, 2005 8:54 PM

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