An Ontario neighborhood staple is set for a major change in the near future, after city leaders okayed a plan that would replace a longtime church with a condominium development.
Currently, the neighborhood is lined with single-story homes and the former Sunrise Church property, located on Fifth Street.
That specific place sits just behind Greg Gomez’s backyard, and he’s far from happy about losing his view of the San Gabriel Mountains,
“Ugly. No privacy. My view of the mountains will be gone,” he said.
Gomez appealed the city’s approval for the project, citing a number of reasons that included traffic safety concerns near schools, a rushed approval process and insufficient notice to residents in the affected area.
“We asked them why weren’t we notified? The planning department says, ‘We did. We notified you on the city website and the newspaper.'” he said. “But who looks at it?”
Gomez’s appeal was rejected, despite finding an ally in Ontario Mayor Paul Leon.
He said that he agrees with residents in the area, and that the project doesn’t fit in the neighborhood where it’s been designated for construction.