Costa Mesa City Council preview

Jennifer Kho

CANYON DRIVE DEVELOPMENT

The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing for an 18-home

development proposed 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 the city’s planning

staff’s concerns in June.

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

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

The Planning Commission approved the project in August, but

Commissioners Chris Fewel and Katrina Foley voted to deny the proposal,

citing lot size and parking concerns.

What to expect: The Planning Commission approved the tract map for

two years and the housing proposal for one year.

The council passed a moratorium prohibiting “cookie cutter” homes in

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

PROPOSITION 35

The council will consider endorsing Proposition 35, which will allow

state and local governments to hire private companies for architectural

and engineering phases of public works projects if passed.

The city would be required to follow a competitive selection process

for awarding the architectural and engineering contracts.

What to expect: The city staff report does not include a

recommendation about whether the city should support the proposition.

WIDENING EAST 17TH STREET

The council will consider sponsoring a community forum to discuss the

proposed East 17th Street widening project.

The city is conducting an environmental analysis of plans to widen the

street to six lanes to accommodate traffic, but residents and business

owners oppose the plan, saying it would ruin the “mom and pop” atmosphere

on the historical street.

What to expect: The East 17th Street Merchants and Community Assn.

has requested permission to speak about the issue at a regular City

Council meeting this month.

In September, Mayor Gary Monahan suggested having a community forum

late this month, but other council members have suggested postponing the

forum until a later date when more information will be available.

FYI:

WHAT: Regular Costa Mesa City Council meeting

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. today

WHERE: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

WHO: Mayor: Gary Monahan; council members: Libby Cowan, Joe Erickson,

Heather Somers, Linda Dixon

INFORMATION: (949) 754-5223