Politics & Government

Measure B: A Violation of Property Owners' Rights

San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve writes a letter opposing Measure B.

On June 7, San Juan Capistrano residents will head to the polls to cast their votes on Measure B. If approved, Measure B will uphold the to change development standards for the property along each side of La Novia Avenue. This is a letter City Councilman Derek Reeve wrote opposing Measure B:

Vote NO and protect property rights

In violation of constitutionally protected property rights, the City Council approved developers [Advanced Real Estate Services'] request for a General Plan Amendment and a rezone of the property known as Distrito La Novia.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the expense of neighboring property rights, the developer will reap millions in increased property value as a result of these new entitlements.

The General Plan is supposed to protect property rights by providing residents with assurances of what will be built on vacant land. Instead, the City Council ignored your rights when they approved this project. You know have the opportunity to overturn the council's decision.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Vote NO to high-intensity development

San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission denied approval of the project because, "design of the Distrito site includes significant building massing and intensity and a 4-level parking structure that will be incompatible with the low-density character of the nearby neighborhoods."

As approved by the City Council, the Distrito La Noiva portion of the project will include 10 three-story buildings and a 4-level parking structure on the 18-acre parcel.

Vote NO on the City's scheme to increase debt

The City Council erroneously believes this project will further downtown redevelopment, but this project will in fact increase city debt.

This development will compete with downtown merchants for business, causing more vacant buildings and failed businesses.

Vote NO—ARES is not a "good neighbor!"

ARES was sued by residents of Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park for failure to maintain the park. An Orange County jury found that "ARES acted with oppression, malice or fraud" toward the mobile home park residents, awarding them punitive damages.

ARES is not the type of developer we want in San Juan Capistrano.

Save San Juan Capistrano's small town character. Vote no on Measure B.

Coming up tomorrow: A rebuttal to Reeve's argument opposing Measure B.

Read an argument in favor of Measure B:

Read Patch's news coverage of Distrito La Novia-San Juan Meadows:


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