Mesa Verde home project delayed

Andrew Glazer

MESA VERDE -- The Planning Commission voted Monday to wait 30 days for a

traffic study before approving a 90-home development in this

neighborhood.

More than 10 residents told the commission the Standard Pacific project

on Mesa Verde Drive would flood the neighborhood with cars and restrict

foot access to the neighboring shopping center.

The land for the home development is owned by the Segerstrom family, the

developers of South Coast Plaza.

The project would conform with area standards, according to a report

prepared by city planners.

But neighbors said it seemed to come out of nowhere when it appeared on

the commission’s agenda.

Robin Leffler, who is on the Mesa Verde homeowners’ board, said the

project was very different than one a Segerstrom official pitched to

residents six months ago.

“The continuance gives us time to digest the news,” said Leffler. “I

doubt it will be a unanimous neighborhood decision.”

Residents told the council that cars waiting to enter the gated community

after work would spill onto small residential streets. One speaker asked

the city to buy the land and convert it to a park.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to review traffic reports and

consider approving the project next month.