INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the items the council discussed Monday.

1901 NEWPORT CONDOMINIUMS

On April 14, the City Council approved the project, which calls

for 161 upscale condos to be housed in four four-story buildings that

are about 50 feet in height.

Since the project is in the Downtown Redevelopment Zone, the

Redevelopment Agency approved an affordable housing plan for the

project. The council considered rehearing applications from

Councilman Allan Mansoor and Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible

Growth on three occasions and approved the request on June 2.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council unanimously voted to reconsider the issue on Aug. 4. A

subsequent motion to allow residents to comment on the issue failed.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council will reconsider the issue on Aug. 4. The delay will

allow staff and the environmental consultants time to prepare the

final environmental report to reflect the revisions to the site plan

by the applicant, Rutter Development. This revision consists of

increasing the building setback by about 2 to 3 1/2 feet from Bernard

Street. It will also give them more time to prepare a report to

evaluate alternatives for providing affordable housing on-site.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I don’t believe there is a need for public comment,” Councilwoman

Libby Cowan said. “If we continue it, we will have the final

[environmental report] and more information on inclusionary housing

and the final master plan. I think comment tonight is premature.”

Robin Leffler, one of the spokespeople for the citizens group,

expressed surprise at the council’s decision not to take comment.

“This is the first time in four years that public comment has not

been taken on an item that has been continued,” Leffler said.

DOG DAY CARE APPLICATION

On June 9, the Planning Commission approved a permit for a dog day

care to be conducted inside and outside an existing industrial

building. The owners of the properties on the north and south sides

of the property being considered, at 1629 Superior Ave., appealed the

decision. They had concerns about harmful effects the use could have

on their properties.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council upheld the Planning Commission’s decision. Cowan tried

to cap the number of dogs the day care could serve, but that idea did

not garner any council support.

WHAT IT MEANS

The dog day care can be established at this location.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I would hate to start putting a cap on how many clients [the

business] can have,” Monahan said. “I like the use and would like to

see it go forward.”

MOBILE HOME PARK CONVERSION/CLOSURE DISCUSSION

On June 2, Cowan requested that the council review the city’s

zoning code regulations for mobile home park conversions. There has

been a lot of public comment at council meetings over the last few

months from some residents of the El Nido and Snug Harbor Village

trailer parks, which are slated to be closed so Brown can build a

medical office building.

Several residents have expressed their desire to see the city

adopt a mobile home park conversion ordinance like those enacted by

Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach. Under the city’s rules and state

law, the city’s authority in reviewing an application for a mobile

home park conversion is limited.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council voted to move forward with a possible change to the

city’s rules to include mobile home park closures. It also approved

continuing the exploration of an interim amendment and council review

of the relocation package for Snug Harbor and El Nido to give

residents of those two parks as much certainty as fast as possible.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN

The council will consider changing its rules to require reports

done by the property owners of mobile home parks on conversions and

closures to be more detailed on the effects it will have on

residents.

WHAT WAS SAID

“It is sad, and I can see the heartstrings being tugged, but on

the other side of the coin, a) there is not much the city can do, and

b) if we copy Huntington Beach, there’s still not much we can do for

them,” Councilman Gary Monahan said Tuesday of the residents of Snug

Harbor and El Nido, since Brown has already set the wheels in motion

to close the parks.

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman