Mailbag: Here’s how Ganahl can continue to be a good neighbor

Re. “Nearby businesses appeal proposed Ganahl Lumber,” March 14:

While the lawyers for the businesses were smart to use the zoning laws to protest the project, their issue seems to be traffic. On this subject, I feel that I can speak with credibility. I work from home and spend quite a bit of time on my balcony directly across the street from the Ganahl truck entrance.

The businesses in question are about 1,000 feet from the stoplight. Newport Boulevard ends at this light, forcing traffic to go right or left. Ganahl could use this light as an entrance, solving many of the issues, because if a vehicle were to go straight, it would enter the property at its furthest northwest point.

This light also could be utilized as the business’ exit. Customers could also use a secondary entrance.

I believe these businesses are conflating matters. The congestion they speak of during peak traffic times only prevents them from being able to make a left turn easily from their locations. Ganahl would not have a direct effect on this traffic because most of its traffic occurs in the mornings.

Its trucks leave in the opposite direction toward the San Joaquin Hills (73) toll road , with just a few heading northwest on Bristol Street. Patrons and staff of these businesses do not need to make a left turn out of their locations until the evening.

If their issue is noise, the business functions that would create the most noise would be located closer to the highway than the street side. The noise from the highway is loud to begin with, but that was not raised in the neighbors’ complaint, and if they can hear traffic now, that is because of cheap windows, which they need to take up with the building owners.

I understand why Ganahl would want to move. The success of the businesses in the strip mall is causing customers to take the spaces in Ganahl’s lot, which is small to begin with.

Ganahl has been an amazing neighbor. Employees try their hardest to accommodate us. Sure the trucks are loud, but not as loud as the cars that use Bristol as their quarter-mile mile drag strip because of the luxury car businesses on Red Hill Avenue.

Leo S. Delati

Costa Mesa