Kimberly Bottomley-Public Participationdrcpubliccomment@cityoforange.org
To the City of Orange Design and Review committee
My name is Kimberly Bottomley I have been a resident of the city of orange
since 1979.
The City of Orange has allowed developers to build 3 enormous apartment
buildings off of Town and County, one which is right next to the freeway. I saw
this and thought, “How can we make something good come from these
developments?”
I know we receive Park and Recreation fees as an allowance for these
developments.
I would like the Design and Review Committee to look at my idea on how to
create a great beautiful Healing Park around our Historical gas station on Main
Street, the main street of our City. It hosts our wonderful Hospitals and
Doctors, our Specialty Surgeons and we have the privilege of hosting Children’s
Hospital of Orange County CHOC right here in our city and also the new CHOC
Autism Center. Jenna Jensen, a representative of CHOC Hospital has contacted
me and expressed that CHOC Hospital is strongly supportive of this idea and
opportunity.
I do not think the Historical gas station should be moved. I have heard talk of
moving it to Collins and Glassell . That would put this historical Gas Station
right across the street from 2 strip malls and a drive thru Mexican fast food
restaurant.
I do not think that’s an appropriate place to host so much history. The Sisters
of Saint Joseph recommends their staff to take a walk to relieve stress. The
route they recommend is La Veta to Batavia to Palmira to Main Street. What a
nice spot it would be for them to eat, rest, ect . Also all of our city and other
people coming from all over to use our Specialty Surgeons would have a place
to wait for their loved outside in a beautiful peaceful space.
Surrounding business would also benefit by having this beautiful space where
they could take back something to eat or drink from the local business.
The City of Hope in Duarte Ca. has such parks. Outdoor spaces are therapeutic
for the mind and soul.
When I was researching the City of Hope, and in one of the parks it has a large
metal gate that reads;
“There is no profit in curing the body if in the process we destroy the soul”
Enclosed are my May 12th public comments to Mayor Murphy and City Council.
Also enclosed is a letter that I sent to the p roperty owners CPR Developing
Partners.
I appreciate your consideration of this opportunity, and thank you in advance
for your response.
Respectfully,
Kimberly Bottomley
(714) 532-1573
May 12, 2020
Honorable Mayor and Members of the Council,
My name is Kimberly Bottomley, I have been a resident of Orange since 1979, my
address is on file
I realize that we are all facing troubling times at the moment, but I still feel the need
to look out for my community. So I would ask in advance that you please not
suppress my opportunity to speak publicly, and given the current situation to please
read my comments out loud so that our community viewers can hear my concerns.
As you are aware, the City of Orange has 3 new apartment communities under
construction in the West section.
The first one is the Toll Brothers development at 1055 W Town and Country. The
City is receiving $2.6 million in developer fees for this development.
Fairfield “Building A” at 1000 W. Town and Country is another development and the
City is receiving $10.9 million in developer fees for this development.
Last is another Fairfield development at 850 W. Town and Country. The City is
receiving $3.5 million in developer fees for this development.
The total in developer fees for these 3 community developments is $17 million. Of
this total, $416,000 is for traffic mitigation, the balance of $16.6 million is intended
for Park Fees for the local community.
We already deal with a significant lack of Park space in the West section. While East
of the RxR tracks has a total of 7 park spaces to serve that portion of the community,
West of the RxR Tracks suffers an acute shortage with only 1 park available to serve
that entire portion of the community.
There is only 1 remaining undeveloped property that has remained undeveloped
since 1998. It is located at 305 Main Street, and hosts a Historical Gas Station
building, that is currently listed on the Historic Registry.
This would be an ideal location to develop a small Park space, similar to Pitcher
Park in Old Town. The Sisters of Saint Joseph recommends that their Nurses and
Doctors should relieve stress through walking. Their current walking path is La Veta
to Batavia to Palmyra to Main Street. This property location would be an ideal spot
to provide a resting point along this path, and a beautiful addition to our City.
It is also located across the street from the Orthopedic Specialty Medical facility, and
conveniently located to CHOC Hospital and Saint Joseph’s Hospital. It would provide
a wonderful location for visitors waiting for loved ones to have a place to go to, rest,
have lunch, and relax. In addition it would provide a nice little Park Space for
neighboring residents.
I will personally be reaching out to CPR Developing Partners who are currently
handling the property for the owners. Al Ricci is the current property manager, and
has been acting as such since 1998.
Please look into this opportunity, and utilize a portion of the $16.6 million in Park
Fees generated through the nearby developments to provide improvements to our
local community.
I would greatly appreciate a follow up from a Member of the City Council to further
discuss this matter.
Respectfully,
Kimberly Bottomley
(714) 532-1573
June 16, 2020
Mr. Al Ricci
606 E. Chapman Avenue Ste 100
Orange, CA 92866
Dear Mr Ricci,
Enclosed is the information that I sent to City Council for public comment. I was not
able to go in person to read my comments since the Council Meeting was done
remotely for the safety of the Community during the current Covid -19 pandemic.
Although I had requested in my submission that my comments please be read out
load, the Council chose not to.
Thank you for taking your time to talk with me about enhancing our Community
with a Beautiful Historical park.
This is something that is highly needed to improve our Main Street in Orange.
Within walking distance from your property are the Orthopedic Specialty Surgeons,
the UCI Eye Doctors, the new CHOC Autism Center, Saint Josephs Hospital, and CHOC
Hospital.
Your property is what you see when you’re Traveling on Main Street an it has been
vacant and Unkept for many years.
If this property was a small park as people travel to these facilities it would show
everyone that we care about our City, and we respect our local Hospitals and their
staff and patients.
The food and drink business’s in the area would benefit from this park. It would
provide a local open space where they could take their food and eat and relax. It
would make nice place to wait while waiting for your loved ones being treated in the
local medical facilities.
There are residential communities on both east and west sides of main that will be
able to enjoy the park
Lets show the hospitals how proud the City of Orange is of our hospitals by
maintaining and keeping a beautiful Historical park at 305 Main Street for all to see
and enjoy.
I have spoken with CHOC representative Jena Jensen regarding this potential park.
CHOC feels a historical park at this site would be an asset to the area and all of the
City of Orange.
I appreciate your time, and look forward to hearing back from you for further
discussion.
Kimberly Bottomley
1005 W. Arbor Way
Orange, CA 92868
(714) 532-1573