Home Ranch offramp not a sealed deal yet

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A new Susan Street offramp, an integralyet unofficial

part of the Home Ranch project, awaits an endorsement from federal

transportation authorities on its way to becoming a reality, officials

said.

A new Susan Street offramp -- which would exit the northbound San

Diego Freeway -- is being sought by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons as part of the

Home Ranch project, though it was not included as part of the development

agreement. Although it is not in the contract, the Segerstroms have

committed to foot the $3-million bill for the freeway connection.

An initial proposal for the offramp was endorsed by the California

Department of Transportation in September, said Peter Naghavi,

transportation services manager for Costa Mesa. The Susan Street offramp

request was forwarded to Federal Highway Transportation authorities, who

will make the final decision, he said.

A slightly different version of the project’s status was reported by

Caltrans spokeswoman Sandra Freidman. She could not confirm any approval

or endorsement of the project but said, “The request is currently being

reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration.”

Because the proposal involves a connection from an interstate freeway,

it requires a mutual agreement between state and federal transportation

authorities, Freeman said.

Naghavi said he expects a decision from transportation officials in

the next six weeks.

While the new offramp was not officially part of the developer’s

application to the city, the offramp was touted as a community benefit,

as it is designed to move traffic off Fairview Road and Harbor Boulevard.

“It certainly helps our city, and we support it because itgreatly

reduces traffic at surrounding intersections,” Naghavi said.

Traffic improvements are not the only reason the developer is offering

to foot the hefty bill to construct the offramp. The new Susan Street

connection is primarily designed to bring a direct flow of traffic to the

93-acre Home Ranch site, which will include a flagship Ikea furniture

store, 192 homes and a mix of commercial and industrial land use.

Paul Freeman, spokesman for C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, said changes to

major roadways are always challenging but that he is confident the

offramp will be approved. The Segerstroms have been through the same

process on numerous projects, most recently with the Avenue of the Arts

offramp, he said.

Opponents of the Home Ranch development said the project approval

should not be taken lightly. Robin Leffler, vice president of Costa Mesa

Citizens for Responsible Growth -- the group leading the main charge

against Home Ranch -- said the developers are acting as though the

offramp is a done deal when it still has numerous steps to get through.

“It’s a major part of this project that still has a question mark next

to it,” Leffler said.

Freidman of Caltrans echoed Leffler’s concerns, saying the pending

decision is just the first step of the approval process.

“If this portion is approved, it doesn’t mean it is going to get

built,” Freidman said.

Future hurdles include a series of reports -- both environmental and

project study analysis -- followed by design and construction, Freidman

said.