Keeping Tabs on Brookfield Homes and Democracy

Several weeks ago we reported that the changes proposed by Brookfield Homes to their tandem garages would not be sufficient to house 2 vehicles used by the target families to whom Brookfield planned to sell their homes. Brookfield’s figures were based on a small car and a small SUV along with small garbage cans. Any young family who can afford the Brookfield units will probably have a small SUV and a large SUV and will require 2 large garbage cans. Using self-serving math, Brookfield wanted to shrink their tandem garages from 41’ to 38’4”, but using the realistic figures listed above, the minimum length would be 39’. That means most of the people living in the 47 units with tandem garages will not have sufficient space to park their 2 cars, and with limited guest parking, that means Brookfield’s cars will overflow into the surrounding neighborhood.

The City Council members who owe their seats to the money Brookfield (and their co-conspirator Trumark) poured into the elections ignored the evidence and voted to give Brookfield just what they asked for. Such is democracy in the City of Lake Forest. City Council members Robinson and Voigts believe it is the right of Brookfield to give them thousands of dollars and it is their right to give Brookfield what they want, regardless of the evidence. That’s the American way, at least in Lake Forest 2014.

An enterprising Foothill Ranch resident drove by the construction, then went to City Hall and met with a planning manager and reviewed the architectural plans. Here are some excerpts from his report -

NOT LONG ENOUGH

“HOA requires the CR&R trash cans to be placed in the garage. They measure 25 inches. The gross length of the garage is 38 feet long. However, the entrance to the interior of the house requires a 3 foot opening. Your parking is now reduced to 35 feet. The typical parking space nearby at 45 Auto Center drive is 36 feet. Therefore the owner has 1 foot of space. The garage door will have another 6 inches of clearance, now you’re down to 6 inches.”

NOT WIDE ENOUGH

He went beyond the length and looked at the width. Here’s his analysis –

“Plans submitted only show the wall to wall dimension of 103 inches. However, the dimension which needs to be examined is the actual opening which is not on the plans. When measured, it is 92.0 inches. Furthermore the weatherproof flashing is not shown. This is 2 inches per side, 4 inches total. 92” minus 4” equals 88 inches. My Honda Accord from mirror to mirror is 84 inches. Which gives me only 2 inches on either side.

The width allows for only 18”-20” door opening. Impossible to get in or out of the vehicle. Try getting out of your car with this small opening.”

OTHER ISSUES

He went on to look at Storage and Access.

“The unit will have overhead mesh shelving. Problem, you need a ladder to access. Where do you store the ladder? No room in the garage.”

Of course, the chances are good that most people won’t be able to fit 2 cars in these truncated tandem garages, so there should be plenty of space to store the ladder and 1 car.

    “Not to mention, your entrance to your garage is not “straight-on” Rather you have to make 2 90 degree turns, or 180 degree turn. Neither can be done successfully without backing up 5 times. Can you imagine what the asphalt will look like in August when residents are doing this in 90+ temperatures?”

Of course that’s no problem for Brookfield. It will be a problem for the 140+ unit owners who will be paying for street re-surfacing far beyond what is normally required.

BOTTOM LINE

It looks like Brookfield is building a complex which will be badly suited for the young families who move in there. Ultimately they will wise up, and slowly move out, but they probably won’t be able to get their costs back because the people who look at these homes after they’re occupied will see the problems more clearly. That means prices will decrease, renters will move in, and a downward spiral will begin.

All of these problems could be foreseen years ago. It’s why the City staff and the Planning Commission and the previous City Council opposed the plan. But because it was worth MILLIONS of dollars in profits for Brookfield, they invested some pocket change (for them) and bought 3 seats on the Council. This bought them the votes they needed and here we are.

In an election year it’s worth considering the lesson to be learned. When you elect people because they put up more signs than any other candidate, you encourage candidates to go seek money to buy the signs. The kind of money needed to buy and put up 10,000 signs can’t be found among your friends and neighbors, but it can be found by people who want to control your vote on the Council. For them it’s simply the cost of doing business. Thus, people with a lower level of moral principle are advantaged, and there are plenty of special interests looking for that kind of person. You can blame the special interests, and you can even blame the morally bankrupt people who accept their money, but the reality is the system is maintained by the fact that most people don’t do their homework and vote based on the number of signs they see.