New planning commissioner appointed

Deirdre Newman

Westside advocate Eric Bever will soon have a more powerful voice at

City Hall.

Councilman Allan Mansoor appointed Bever to the Planning

Commission on Friday to replace Joel Faris, who resigned with plans

to move to Fountain Valley.

Bever, a determined proponent for improvement on the Westside for

the past decade, will begin his appointment on Monday.

Mansoor expects Bever to thrive on the commission.

“I think he’s the kind of person that will really do his homework

and put the time and energy and commitment that’s required into

something like this,” Mansoor said.

Bever, who withdrew a bid to replace former Mayor Karen Robinson

last spring, said he is considering a run for the council next year.

He and his wife, Tammy, have lived in Costa Mesa for 16 years, 13

of those in the Marina Highlands area. He owns two businesses --

Modern Artifact, which buys, sells and trades antiques and art, and

Mad Man Design, which handles graphic design.

Bever was a founding member of the Westside Improvement Assn., he

worked with the defunct Westside Specific Plan, and he did a stint on

the Community Redevelopment Action Committee, which he resigned from

in March. He resigned because he felt the consultants were leading

the committee rather than letting the group reach its own

conclusions.

In May, Bever withdrew his application to replace Robinson after

the council deadlocked on the decision between him and Mike Scheafer,

who was subsequently appointed.

As a commissioner, Bever said, one of his goals will be to

exercise a judicious approach to reviewing planning issues. One he

would like to see considered is creating some mixed-use developments.

“I’ve heard a lot out in the public that there is some desire for

some zoning that doesn’t currently exist -- specifically live/work

zoning,” Bever said. “I’m hearing a lot of clamor for that.”

He also expressed an interest in the rezoning of the Westside

bluffs to residential with an overlay zone, meaning property owners

would have a choice to develop either the current industrial zoning,

or residential. Rezoning the bluffs was one of the final

recommendations of the redevelopment committee.

Bever said he supports the city’s general plan and hopes to ensure

that any project approved will benefit all residents. He is also an

adamant proponent of property rights, as long as the property owners

adhere to the general plan and city codes.

Planning Commission Chair Bruce Garlich said Bever will make a

good addition to the commission.

“I think he’s been involved with city activities. He’s not a

newcomer by any means,” Garlich said. “I think that he has big shoes

to fill. I think Joel did a good job. I think [Bever’s] up to it.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].