Council upholds CPU for Maharajah House; divided neighbors speak, some with racial undertones

CITY HALL — A home in the Floral Park neighborhood was the center of attention Tuesday after divided residents voiced their opinions, some with racial undertones, on whether or not to uphold the Planning Commission's decision in approving a conditional use permit for the Maharajah House.

The Maharajah House is a landmark and holds its special status because it was the 18th home of Sir Yeshwant Holkar, Maharajah of Indore, once the world's richest man. He fled India and moved to Santa Ana with his 4-year-old daughter, Usha, to avoid a Lindbergh baby situation, according to historians and city records.

The applicants, Dr. Chan Quang and Dr. Quynh Kieu, plans to build a pavilion in the side-backyard of the property facing Heliotrope Drive, of which is surrounded by trees.

The home is currently owned by Quang and Kieu according to records and has ties and artifacts from the era of Emperor Bảo Đại, the last emperor of Vietnam. Many museums and schools have exhibited or visited the home, to which some neighbors feel it is getting out of hand with a proposed pavilion.

The Planning Commission held two public meetings on this specific conditional use permit in the spring and voted to continue the item indefinitely. During this time, planning staff evaluated options in hopes to address community concerns.

In August, the commission voted to authorize the CPU to which an appeal was filed days later by neighbor and Floral Park Neighborhood Association Treasurer Peter Christofferson.

According to Kieu, the home has hosted events and is a significant tour spot within the historic neighborhood. She added that 32 others had signed her petition along with her adjacent neighbors, including former Mayor Miguel Pulido.

Christofferson, the appellate, says Kieu hasn't been truthful in her endeavors regarding her property and wants to preserve the historic nature of the neighborhood in the event the home becomes a 'cultural center' and disrupts the consistency.

Most commenters were concerned about excess traffic, added noise, and pattern of field trips to the home.

But a small few expressed themselves passionately.

"We absolutely do not need a cultural center on our street, in our neighborhood... Just about everybody takes quite of ownership in their house, yeah it's bothered me, I've seen it for years and years. It was an art deco house and then.. Asian things started being built. And they don't go together." said Louise Hoffman, resident on Heliotrope.

Two others mentioned specifically property values and how the project would cause financial ruin for the properties in the neighborhood.

Tracy Nguyen is volunteer for the homeowner's Project Vietnam Foundation and spoke in favor of the CPU, as well as putting racial undertoned remarks to rest.

"I also want to acknowledge that we live in a county that houses the largest Vietnamese enclave outside of Vietnam," "I'm hearing things 'Oh, Asian-ness started coming in.' Am I not accepted? Are we not accepted? Our country, Orange County, Santa Ana is a melting pot." said Nguyen.

Councilmember Phan called out the Floral Park Neighborhood Association for conducting several unpermitted fundraising events that have led to increased traffic for years and is suggesting that the home in question will cause further disruption.

According to Christofferson, he was acting as a neighbor, not as his role in the association.

"It's a little disappointing at some of the racial undertone that were made with the various speakers," said Councilmember Penaloza. "I will say that if today was 1938, and the Maharajah of Indore was here was trying to get approvals to build his home, I can probably guarantee you that some of you would be here speaking against it."

Councilmember Phil Bacerra acknowledged the home's history and significance, but attempted to motion that a condition be added for the pavilion to be "shielded" on the Heliotrope side of the street.

Despite the neighbor's positions, the appeal was denied and the commissions' decision in approving the conditional use permit with the assurance that the property will be following all codes and provisions, was upheld in a 6-1 vote, Councilmember Bacerra dissenting.