HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental - Emails from Steve RoweRobin Roberts
From:
Steve Rowe <roweboat29@hotmail.com>
Sent
Monday, March 26, 201810:26 AM
To:
Robin Roberts
subject:
Surfside Amendment 1
Honorable Council Members,
I am writing hopes of delaying the passage of the Surfside Amendment 1 until it can be more fully understood
by the property owners and registered voters in Surfside.
The registered renter voters in Surfside are just as important to notification as the property owners. Surfside
is primarily funded by two special districts, the Surfside Community Services District and Surfside Storm Water
Protection District. The directors and trustees that manage the districts are elected seats by not only the
registered property owner voters but also the renters that are registered voters some of whom become
property owners.
The renters and property owners would be effected by this Amendment due to the fact of increased
community density (zero lot line section) and multiple units allowed within a single structure with no on-site
parking provisions. I realize there is only so much beach front property, but to jamb it with a bunch
of packed -in homes and mother-in-law units (potential vacation short term rentals) seems to be the wrong
way to go in an already congested neighborhood. lust ask the Orange County Fire Authority and they will
inform you of the multiple violations to the fire code that already exist.
As a long term full time resident of Surfside since 1950, 1 also would like to point out that Surfside is NOT a
HOA community. Surfside Colony LTD. is not on our deeds. They own the roads, parking lot, several lots and
100 feet of the beach and that is it. The homes are basically surrounded by corporate held property and we
pay what is called an assessment to partially support some of the services.
Again, please delay the passing of this Amendment 1 until more community input can be made. Thank you
for you attention to this matter.
Sincerely, Stephen C. Rowe
A40 Surfside Ave. POB 244
Surfside, CA 90743
Robin Roberts
From:
Steve Rowe <roweboat29@hotmai1.com>
Sent:
Saturday, March 24, 2018 4:24 PM
To:
Robin Roberts
Subject:
Seal Beach Council meeting, March 26, Agenda item- Surfside Amendment 1
To the Seal Beach Council Members, to protest some of the changes to the decks in Surfside. The City in
making these changes assume the liability for our decks or patios.
The City of Seal Beach takes full responsibility of these new front decks or patios, should the beach wash out
or we flood.
11.20.015 Development Permits
d, ii,"Second floor-5feet or 10 feet if first deck is restricted to 5 feet in depth with a 5 -foot high glass
enclosure or first floor on -grade patio extension no enclosure."
WHAT IS ON -GRADE?
Over 30 years ago the City of Seal Beach established the on -grade for Surfside as the crown of the street. Now,
the Surfside Board and the city's building department uses grade for the new decks or patios as the height of
the sand. (The Drifting Sand or Blowing Sand method.) In the early 1960's you could walk under Surfside A -
row homes. So on -grade was 8 feet below the crown of the street. Today our lower step to the beach is buried
in sand. The sand is about 12 in. to 20 in. above the crown of the street. On -grade needs to be set for the
decks or patios that is stationary. We believed on -grade was the crown of the street. When the City of Seal
Beach established on -grade for the height of Surfside homes, it also established grade for the patios and
decks. We can not take measurements from the moving sand.
During Surfside's ancient history, 1950-1960, the beach and wet sand was up to B -row. At high tide the waves
and water were under the A -row homes. Because the A -row homes and decks were on pilings or cantilevered
the houses could take the waves. We all know with Global Warming or extreme weather changes this could
happen again. I have seen Surfside flood many times in 50 years. History repeats itself. If it does flood or the
beach washes -out, the City of Seal Beach will be responsible for Surfside's decks or patios and resulting debris
smashing against neighboring homes and pilings.
Our older deck were cantilevered or on pilings. Today they are building these decks or patios on sand grade
with concrete slabs. Two new homes have a 10 foot patio with a massive slab for the first floor, holding up
a second story 10 foot deck. The first floor slab sets on the sand, not on piling or cantilevered as the older
home did. The City of Seal Beach is now responsible for the safety of A -row homes by passing slabs on the
beach that hold up to a 10 foot second story deck. If we flood or the beach washes out the City of Seal Beach
is fully responsible for the safety of these slabs on the sand and the neighbors. The proposed amendments
allow for 8 foot high 1/2 in. glass enclosures, very heavy and dangerous should they fall.
The City needs to establish the grade for our decks, not drifting sand. Surfside needs to talk about the safety
of slabs on the beach. There was a reason decks were on pilings or cantilevered in Surfside. Seal Beach should
not allow slab on the beach holding up second story decks.. Many people move every 10 to 7 years, most
people in Surfside have never seen it flood or the beach washed out.
This amendment should be tabled so all the property owners have a reasonable time to discuss the pros and
cons at the annual meeting in July of changes that affect every owner in Surfside even though the board of
directors state that reasonable time was given.
Steve and Ella Rowe
A-40, Surfside,Ca.
rowe bo at29 @hotma il.co m