FOUNTAIN VALLEY : College Scuttles Plan for Auto Exchange

Coastline Community College has withdrawn a request to set up a weekend auto exchange, in which cars for sale or trade would have been parked on college property.

The exchange was opposed by a group of neighbors. At this week’s City Council meeting, they spoke angrily against Beverly Miklich, assistant dean of community services at Coastline, who had referred to them as “illogical and uninformed.”

“I object to the way you addressed the taxpayers, and I will continue to oppose this, even if it comes back again,” resident Don Owen said, echoing similar statements made by his neighbors.

“It’s a used car lot and can have an impact on property values,” resident Gary Briggs said. “We just don’t want this in our community.”

The exchange would have allowed cars to be parked weekends on Coastline property at Warner Avenue and Newhope Street. The permit fee charged to auto owners would have been a fund-raising source for the college’s educational programs and scholarships.

The city’s Planning Commission had unanimously denied approval for the exchange in July, saying it could create traffic problems and harm the surrounding community.

And in October, the city prohibited vehicles for sale from being left without authorization on any private property, such as shopping centers, to keep parking areas from becoming weekend used car lots.