Inside CITY HALL

What happened: The Planning Commission approved an 18-home development

proposal for a 2.3-acre site on Canyon Drive.

Instant Jungle Properties, LLC, owner of the property at 2100 and 2130

Canyon Drive, had originally proposed a 22-home development for the site

but redesigned the plans after hearing neighbors’ and planning staff’s

concerns in June.

The new proposal includes 2,500-square-foot homes, modified grading

and a plan to retain the existing ficus tree at the site.

Commissioners Chris Fewel and Katrina Foley voted to deny the

proposal, citing lot size and parking concerns.

What it means: The commission approved the tract map for two years and

the housing proposal for one year. Instant Jungle, LLC, will have a year

to get building permits or renew the approval.

The City Council passed a moratorium prohibiting “cookie cutter” homes

in June, but the developer had submitted this project months before.

What they said: “I am a big proponent of the new development

standards, but I think it would be immoral and unethical to hold [Instant

Jungle, LLC] to them or to ask [the company] to yet again revise and lose

more lots,” said Commissioner Katie Wilson.

VOTE: 3-2 approved

What happened: The Planning Commission modified existing permits for

Q-Club Cafe, a restaurant at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive East, Suite 125.

The cafe will be allowed to have a small smoking area in back of the

restaurant but will not be allowed to serve food or alcohol there and

will supervise the area to minimize noise.

What it means: The commission will monitor the cafe after 90 days to

decide if it is a restaurant, as originally intended, or if it has become

more of a bar.

The cafe applied for permits to add an outdoor dining patio and for

permission to sell hard alcohol, but withdrew the application after

hearing residents’ concerns in June.

George Jabra, manager of the cafe, said he is considering hiring a

security guard to help supervise, in addition to cameras that were

installed three weeks ago.

What they said: “With George’s supervision and George’s presence here,

I think it’s going to be a family oriented business there,” said Greg

Dean, husband of the owner of Dancers in Motion, an adjoining dance

studio. “I say give him a try with the 90 days.”

VOTE: 5-0 approved

What happened: The Planning Commission approved a new location for

glider takeoff and landing areas at Fairview Park.

The Harbor Soaring Society uses a location next to the park’s Canyon

Drive parking lot, which conflicts with a planned multipurpose trail that

will run from the end of Pacific Avenue to the park entrance at Canyon

Drive.The proposed location is north of the trail.

What it means: The takeoff and landing zone proposed in the Fairview

Park master plan is next to the restrooms, but staff and society members

agree that the new location would be more beneficial.

The current location was moved in the master plan because the glider

launch lines would cross a proposed pedestrian trail and because the

glider activity would be incompatible with a California Native Grassland

habitat planned there. The society objected to the master plan location,

however, because the launching and landing areas would be in separate

locations and the aircraft would fly over the picnic area and restrooms.

What they said: “This is great,” said Roger MacGregor, president of

Harbor Soaring Society. “We’ll sign off on this.”

VOTE: 5-0 approved