Inside CITY HALL

WHAT HAPPENED: The council unanimously voted to impose a 45-day

moratorium on new single-family houses and remodels.

In June, the council placed a moratorium on multifamily dwellings

while city officials considered new residential development standards for

them.

The Planning Commission approved the standards last week, and the

council is scheduled to consider them at a future meeting. WHAT IT MEANS:

City staff is now working on new standards for single-family houses. City

staffers have promised to have proposed standards ready for review in

March.

Councilman Gary Monahan said he wants to be sure that every homeowner

in the city is notified of the new standards that are in the works.

WHAT THEY SAID: Monahan, who previously opposed the moratorium, said

he doesn’t think the short-term moratorium will have a significant effect

on the city.

“It only applies to new developments and very large remodels, so I

don’t expect it to affect too many people,” he said. “But I expect to

keep it short, and it will be very difficult to get me to support

extending it longer than 45 days. The main thing I’m concerned about is

notification. People need to know that the rules are being changed.”

VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the moratorium

WHAT HAPPENED: The council decided to make recommendations to the

Orange County Transportation Authority board about the proposed

Centerline rail transit project.

The 28-mile countywide rail system is expected to eventually shuttle

commuters between transportation centers in Fullerton and Irvine.

WHAT IT MEANS: The council recommended a rail system with an elevated

station at Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard. It also recommended that

the Costa Mesa portion of the system be designed to match the overall

architecture of the surrounding area, as approved by the council.

VOTE: 5-0 approved

NEXT MEETING:

WHAT: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

WHERE: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5

For more information, call (714) 754-5223.