19-0716_SMYTH, JOHN & GERUTTO, AGATHA_E6_Correspondence_17/16/2019
Christy JAI
From: Alana McKeag a)cox.net> E6
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2019 4:47 PM
To: City Clerk Scanstation; Laura Stokes
Subject: License agreement w/City to build a Private Equestrian Barn at 27281 Viewpoint Circle,
Item E.6.
RE: License agreement w/City of San Juan Capistrano to build a Private Equestrian Barn at 27281 Viewpoint Circle, Item E.6.
Dear City Council Members,
We are the owners directly adjacent to the subject property located at 27281 Viewpoint Circle, Lot 25 of Tract 6381. Our names are
Steve and Alana McKeag and we live at iewpoint Circle, Lot
We appreciate that Lisa Stokes called us back to explain the situation and what the implications of this license agreement are.
However, we do want you to know that the lack of notice from the City was problematic. We received notice on Saturday, July 13,
2019 that the hearing on July 16, 2019 was to occur. City offices were closed for the weekend. Written comment was due by 5pm on
Monday, July 15, 2019. Therefore, we as impacted neighbors had approximately 10 hours to gather information on what this
courtesy notification was regarding. To a novice, what was posted on the Agenda section as far as location of the barn and the
driveway to the barn is unintelligible. At no time did our new neighbors come over to share information with us prior to this notice.
We find this a very serious situation because from what Lisa explained, we understand this license agreement gives entitlement to
the new owners to build both the barn and the driveway in the locations noted on the architectural site plan exhibit ... It is not just
the concept of a barn being built somewhere on the property.
We have no argument against a barn. Our neighborhood was created as an equestrian neighborhood and we believe that our new
neighbors should have the right to place a barn on their property. When we bought our property 20+ years ago we bought it with
the knowledge that we had the right to build a barn, as do the houses that surrounded us.
We do have some objections:
1. The location of the driveway to the barn - We invite, and would appreciate, members of the Council to visit our property to see
the impact we will feel if a driveway is located as per the plans. If motorized vehicles are allowed to go up and down that driveway
we will experience light flashes at night into our home and backyard. During the day there will be the additional noise of motorized
vehicles bouncing into the back of our yard and home. That really impacts the quiet enjoyment of our yard and home.
We feel there is a much more direct route to the barn from the end of the cul-de-sac that will not have any impact to our home or to
anyone In our neighborhood. That seems like a logical and practical approach that we could all agree upon.
We have not seen any proposed landscaping plans to mitigate the situation.
We have not seen any prohibition about commercial boarding of horses or any commercial activity at the barn or any future riding
ring which could add a significant amount of traffic using that driveway.
2. The surface used for a future path/driveway - This proposed driveway is up a hill that is very visible while looking out of the rear
windows of our home and from our view lines from our yard. In the documents posted on the City website we could not find any
specifics as to the type of material that would be used. In such a beautiful setting, we would consider concrete or asphalt to be an
eyesore. We would ask that if you did approve this, that the surface would be limited to the standard equestrian trail path that runs
throughout San Juan Capistrano.
Several years ago, a previous owner of the subject property wished to construct a driveway in generally the same location. At that
time the City denied the variance. We are not asking you to deny the current owner the right to build a barn. We are asking you to
ask the current land owner to modify the location of the proposed driveway to the barn in order to protect the quiet enjoyment of
our property.
3. The location of the barn - Because we are not professionals, we would like to be educated as to the location of the proposed
barn. We would like to have the barn pushed back as far into the said Area (closest to the ridgeline as permissible) so that the
possibility odors, pests, or any potential hillside stability and water drainage are mitigated.
Again, landscaping is not addressed in the documents. So we have no understanding of how this would look from the street.
Sincerely,
Steve and Alana McKeag