Planners may opt to halt some West Side building

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- The Planning Commission on Monday will revisit the issue of

adopting a moratorium on certain types of development for the West Side.

The commission and City Council members wrestled with the issue earlier

this year after concern that developments potentially in conflict with

the West Side Specific Plan were being approved. The specific plan is

being drafted by consultant EIP Associates to revitalize the West Side,

which suffers from an awkward mix of businesses, homes and industrial

uses.

Commissioner Chris Fewel raised the issue of reconsidering the moratorium

last month because he said the process is nearer to completion.

Planning Commissioner Katrina Foley, who has attended many community

workshops, said she agrees.

“I do think that it is a better time because we do have a little bit

better direction,” she said.

The consultant has presented a picture for the West Side that has not

changed drastically over the months, she said.

A moratorium, which needs a four-fifths vote from the council to pass,

would prohibit certain types of building on the West Side until the

specific plan is adopted.

The council could not agree earlier this year what types of uses those

would be or even if the moratorium on building was necessary.

The planning commission has discussed possible alternatives in study

sessions for the last month.

“The plan is to target very specific areas, most specifically 19th

[Street] and Placentia [Avenue],” Foley said.

The commission also will try to define other areas and uses, such as

liquor stores or manufacturing, she said.

Discussions have included ways to keep the moratorium’s scope broad and

allow flexibility for businesses to perform remodeling or other changes

that would not affect zoning, she said.

“Our goal is not to eliminate business,” Foley said. “Our goal is to kind

of maintain the status quo so we can keep open the possibilities.”

The city is still collecting feedback from business owners who have said

the process has left them feeling slighted. A meeting is scheduled with

them for November.

If the commission recommends adopting a moratorium, the issue could go to

the council by Nov. 1.

The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 77

Fair Drive.