Park Plaza Memory CareFrom: megan penn <mpennohg @g mail.com>
S ent: Monday, Augus t 31, 2020 8:54 PM
To : DRC publi ccomment
S u b ject: DRC #4973-19 Park Plaza Memory Care
Attac h men t s: C ity of Ora ng e DRC.pdf
I wanted to submit my public comments for this Wednesday's DRC hearing related to Agenda Item 3.1 DRC
#4973-19.
Mega n Penn
Co-Founde r
Exe c ut ive Direc t o r
Orange Home Gr own Foundat ion I nc.
Ora nge Home Grown (OHG) Farmers & Artisans Market
OHG & OPLF S eed Lending Lib ra ry
OHG E d ucation Farm
www.Or angehomegrown.org
ht tp://www.facebook .com/Or angeHomeGr ownI nc
I nst agr am: Orangehomegr own
1
City of Orange Design Review Committee August 31, 2020
City of Orange
300 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92866
RE: DRC #4973-19 Park Plaza Memory Care
Dear City of Orange Design Review Committee,
Thank you so much for all the time and energy you give each week to ensuring the aesthetic integrity of
our community. Your role as an unbiased reviewing body on the future of our built environment should
not be short changed. As a lifelong resident of this City, I cannot thank you enough for all that you do to
uphold design standards to make our City a place where people want to live, work, and play.
With that being said, I am concerned for the future wellbeing of the historic ficus tree located in front of
Holy Family Cathedral, directly adjacent to the property line of the proposed Park Plaza Memory Care
facility on Glassell St. I know City staff always goes above and beyond to direct applicants to design the
best projects feasible for our community. In reviewing the plans, it is clear the applicant has done a great
job, and I have no problem at all with the use, architecture/details of this proposal. My concern is
specifically the driveway entrance location and required load specifications as they relate to the location
of the root system of this tree.
As a member of the Holy Family parish for 42 years, and being an 8th grade graduate of Holy Family
Cathedral School, I cannot tell you how much this tree is beloved by so many in our community. As a kid I
remember celebrating its 100th birthday in class. It has become iconic, and to think it could possibly be
disrupted and potentially killed (unintentionally) due to this new construction is devastating. I feel we
should be doing everything in our power to preserve this historic giant beauty. If there are specific design
modifications such a relocating the entry drive, etc. I urge the applicant to seriously review additional
options.
Sincerely,
Megan Penn