Rossmoor residents voice concerns over low income housing and traffic

This article was written by Emily Knell and submitted by the Rossmoor Predator Management Team.

The first half of the meeting Harvey M. Rose & Associates was giving their report for a Case Study they had done to determine ‘how much of a drain Rossmoor is on Orange County’, since what we were going off of during the time Rossmoor Cityhood was on the ballot, was a County Fiscal Analysis (CFA) done in 2008 telling us that we were a drain to the tune of $600K per year or more. The Case Study that was just concluded figured out that Rossmoor is NOT actually a drain on Orange County, but we are DONORS! So there! Take that Moorlach! The conclusion of this study & Henry Tabaoda agreed, is that we need to get Orange County to produce factual figures & explain their darnselves for what appears on our end to be, fudged numbers.

The Meat & Potatoes: The Shops at Rossmoor & Traffic Concerns, this is why so many residents showed up. Mark Nitikman (former RCSD member & current RHA member) & I sat together at last night’s RCSD meeting, the room was PACKED w/ about 100-125 people. Rossmoorians are extremely concerned & upset about the notion of low income housing going into the center, but more importantly they’re concerned with the 2 left turn lanes going in at Seal Beach Blvd onto St. Cloud, plus cars exiting from what will be the Rite Aid parking lot & turning left onto St. Cloud to exit back onto the boulevard. Plus the masses of shoppers headed to Toys R Us/Babies R Us, Staples, possibly a Petco (I’m not sure if these stores have signed leases yet or if these are just possible tenants they’re talking to). They’re highly concerned about increased traffic & crime element being brought into Rossmoor.

The RCSD thinks the RHA should do what they can to fight the fight with Orange County (they own the road) & Seal Beach (low income housing issue) & Shops at Rossmoor owner (or new owner since the whole thing is up for sale &/or are having talks with potential buyers).

Rossmoor residents, including myself, say that the RHA & RCSD should make joint efforts together. Neither organization can make laws, all they can do is send strongly worded letters, make noise & get media attention if need be. The RHA is only a volunteer community organization after all. However, in your Membership Mailing (Rossmoor residents only) you will see on pg. 3 a paper called “Some of the RHA’s Past & Ongoing Contributions to Rossmoor; it’s a long list & the RHA does have some weight.

What the residents want Orange County & Seal Beach to do is a new Traffic Study & Environmental Impact Study. The suggestion by residents at the meeting is to have the 2 left lanes going directly into the center at the light that is 1 north of St. Cloud that head more directly towards Kohl’s vs. onto St. Cloud. It is my opinion that the dip in the driveway entering the center should be flattened out a bit since everyone has to slow down considerably in order not to scratch the bottom of their cars.

Many residents will be attending the next RHA meeting. They’re off in December for holiday break. They meet again the 3rd Tuesday in January, which is the 17th, at 7pm normally at Rossmoor Park. I think the turnout is going to be greater than what the occupancy allows at the Rossmoor Park facility, I have suggested to them that they hold the meeting at the Rush Park Auditorium. Since this is such a hot topic, I am suggesting to them that they respond to the issues sooner rather than waiting until Jan. 17th.

If you are not currently a member of the RHA, we could really use your support & your contribution of just $20 / year, if you need a membership application, please let me know. My father (Everett) & I are the RHA Membership & Welcoming Committee Chairpersons. I was a director on the RHA from 2007-2008 & my Dad has been on the board for about 10yrs.

P.S.

The Low Income Housing project is not going to start construction at the moment, so don’t worry. Seal Beach just needed to state different sites in the city where one could go. And, if it did go in, it would be about 33-37 units. There are 16 other possible sites for it to go. Seal Beach cannot force any private owner of property to put a housing project in, unless it is by Eminent Domain. The owner of the shops at Rossmoor does not want low income housing to go in & any new owner would either accept it or the city would force it, again through eminent domain. (I am not an attorney, this is just what reliable sources have told me what would have to happen to force it into the Shops at Rossmoor).

Another possible place for low income housing in Seal Beach is somewhere on the grand Boeing parking lot, another location mentioned is somewhere along Westminster Blvd heading towards Studebaker Rd. So, the low income housing isn’t the biggest issue right now, it’s the traffic concerns.

If anyone would like to make any suggestions or share their thoughts, I’m happy to pass your insight & opinions along to the RHA.

Update from Eric Christiansen of the RPC (Rossmoor Preservation Committee, who was very active in fighting against Los Al from “taking the corner” businesses away from Rossmoor:

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• Video of Dec. 13 meeting of RCSD (oc-breeze.com)