INSIDE CITY HALL

VOTE in favor of the limited development: 5 in favor / 0 against

WHAT HAPPENED:

A group of residents and business owners spoke to the Costa Mesa City

Council on Monday to oppose the widening of East 17th Street.

WHAT IT MEANS:

There was no item on the council agenda regarding 17th Street, but the

council is considering plans to widen the street from four lanes to six.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“The question is, by widening 17th Street, is that going to solve the

problem [of traffic]?” asked Dan Perlmutter, a member of the East 17th

Street Merchants and Communities Assn. “The people that are here tonight

don’t think so.”

No vote taken

WHAT HAPPENED:

A developer was granted the right to build a 16-unit project of

single-family homes on a lot at 2100 Canyon Drive. The developer had

asked for 18 units.

WHAT IT MEANS:

This item proved controversial, with the developer arguing that the

plans were well within the city’s building codes and some members of the

council contending that the city needs to emphasize lower-density

developments.

When the developer said that the project might not be able to make a

profit with 16 units, the council noted that his plans showed him making

more than $7 million.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“It’s not my duty, if a problem exists in this city, to continue

creating that problem,” said Councilwoman Linda Dixon, explaining her

support for a more limited project.

SOUNDING OFF

“It turns out I am a media expert” -- Costa Mesa activist Douglas

Bader, explaining to the council why he felt he could help efforts to

find alternatives to widening 17th Street.

NEXT MEETING

The Costa Mesa City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at City

Hall, 77 Fair Drive.