Back Bay annexation not a big hit

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Residents living in the unincorporated area around the

former Back Bay High School did not warmly embrace the possibility of

joining the city of Costa Mesa at a meeting Thursday night.

“I don’t want any part of annexation to Costa Mesa,” said Mark Morris.

“I don’t think [Costa Mesa] has stood behind us. It didn’t help us fight

the John Wayne Airport and it dragged its feet and didn’t get our water

rights. I don’t think the consensus of the community is that most people

want to go to Costa Mesa.”

A number of people said they would rather become part of Newport

Beach.

“We’ve always been county,” said Kenneth Lindberg. “If we have to make

a change, we would want it to be Newport Beach.”

Not everyone at the meeting with city, county and Local Agency

Formation Commission representatives to discuss the possible annexation

was so set in their opinions.

Lisa Lawson, a neighborhood resident, was one of several who showed up

with an open mind.

“I think at this point we’re just here to find out what it’s all

about,” she said. “I want to know what changes we’ll have to get used

to.”

Officials were pleased with the turnout of about 50 residents.

“We feel we received a substantial amount of information relating to

the residents’ issues and concerns,” said Tamara Campbell, senior planner

for the city.

The neighborhood, covering about 65 acres between Del Mar Avenue and

Mesa Drive, is an unincorporated part of the county. The city has been

working on annexing it and other unincorporated areas since 1996.

The Back Bay High School neighborhood annexation was on the City

Council agenda in October 1999, but was withdrawn.

Both the county and city provide services for the neighborhood, which

is “inefficient government,” Campbell said.

The county has been encouraging cities to annex unincorporated

“islands” since its 1994 bankruptcy.

One benefit of the move for the city is that it would receive 70% of

the area’s property taxes -- about 20% more that it gets now.

Changes that would affect the neighborhood are tougher residential

development standards and a slight increase in property taxes -- about

$4.14 a year for a home valued at $100,000 -- for three years to pay for

a general obligation bond.

But if the neighborhood is incorporated, residents will see quicker

emergency response times and will no longer be required to pay

nonresident fees for services if they hurt themselves in town, police and

fire department officials said.

The neighborhood residents already bypass nonresident fees if they

receive fire services at their homes, but currently pay the fees if they

require help in Costa Mesa.

City officials said they will try to minimize zoning changes and work

with residents to maintain the area’s identity if the annexation is

approved.

The City Council is expected to vote on the issue early next year.