COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council on Monday decided not to rehear its June decision

rejecting a plan to build five homes on an East Side lot. Councilwoman

Heather Somers abstained because the project is near her home.

Developer Jim Cefalia has submitted revised plans to address the

council’s concerns about the project. The new proposal includes more

parking, more private open space and architectural enhancements. The

council asked Cefalia to submit the new plans to the city’s planning

division for review.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council will consider the new proposal after the Planning

Commission reviews it. The original proposed development, at 2087 Garden

Lane, was submitted before the council put a temporary freeze on new

single-lot, multi-home developments on the East Side. The new plans will

still be exempt from the freeze, the council decided. The council also

granted Cefalia a fee waiver for his second try through the planning

process.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Because it was the council’s concerns we were addressing, we thought

a rehearing was the best way to go about it,” Cefalia said.

VOTE: DENIED, 4-0

WHAT HAPPENED: The council voted to hire S. Parker Engineering,

Inc. to do parkway concrete repair and sidewalk work at 54 locations

throughout the city. Mayor Gary Monahan was late to the meeting and did

not vote.

WHAT IT MEANS: The city will pay $404,455 for the reconstruction of

curbs, gutters, sidewalks and driveways, as well as new grass and trees.

S. Parker Engineering, Inc. was the lowest bidder for the work.

VOTE: APPROVED, 4-0

NEXT MEETING:

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at City Hall, 77 Fair

Drive.