Costa Mesa to swear in new council

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- With the controversial South Coast Plaza Town Center and

El Camino Shopping Center projects on tonight’s agenda, the City

Council’s two newly elected members say they are eager to jump right into

the action.

“I am looking forward to putting [doubts about my candidacy] aside and

addressing the real issues,” said Chris Steel, who will be sworn in

tonight along with Karen Robinson. “People need to calm down about me and

let me get to work.”

Councilwoman Libby Cowan, who was reelected Nov. 7, said she also is

“pleased [the election is] over and excited to go forward with serving

the people of Costa Mesa for the next four years.”

The first order of business after the three take their oaths will be

to choose a mayor and vice mayor.

Cowan, vice mayor for the last two years, is a likely candidate for

mayor, said Mayor Gary Monahan.

“Of course, with this election, I’d better not take anything for

granted,” he said, laughing.

This year’s City Council election was unusual, with Robinson beating

incumbent Heather Somers by a mere 32 votes out of 73,889 total votes and

Steel, who was defeated in nine previous elections, racking up the most

votes.

After the election, a resident alleged that Steel filed invalid

nomination documentation and should not have been allowed to run for

council. The city attorney’s office, however, concluded that Steel should

not be barred from taking office.

As part of his platform, Steel said he is in favor of direct election

of the mayor by residents. The council now appoints the mayor.

The council’s second big decision will be on the proposed expansion of

South Coast Town Center.

Robinson, who advocated lower density and “responsible growth” during

her campaign, said she has not yet formed an opinion on the plan.

The city Planning Commission approved the project in a series of

conflicted -- mostly 3 to 2 -- votes Nov. 13.

The 54-acre plan includes a new concert hall, expansion of South Coast

Repertory Theater, three office buildings and two parking structures in a

pedestrian-oriented cultural arts district bordered by Bristol Street,

Sunflower Avenue, Avenue of the Arts and the San Diego Freeway.

Steel did not comment on the Town Center project, and neither Steel

nor Robinson were available for comment on the proposed El Camino

Shopping Center redevelopment.

That proposal would convert an approximately 2.5-acre Mesa del Mar

retail center -- bordered by single-family homes, an office building and

multiple-family apartments -- into a medium-density housing area.

If approved, the proposal by El Camino Partners LLC would lower the

density of the development and decrease the traffic compared with what is

now generated by the shopping center.

Company officials said they intended to improve the shopping center

when they bought it in March, but neighbors resisted the improvements,

saying the center did not belong in middle of the primarily residential

community.

“The neighbors were up in arms,” Monahan said. “I expected a couple of

people to come to the meetings and 150 showed up.

“I’m sure whatever project they come up with, some people will think

it’s too many houses. That seems to be the standard procedure nowadays.

But, dang, it’s about time.”