Inside CITY HALL

Jennifer Kho

WHAT HAPPENED: The Planning Commission on Monday approved a Southern

California Edison Company plan to divide a 39,596-square-foot piece of

property into two lots.

WHAT IT MEANS: The property, at 373 Monte Vista Ave., is an Edison

substation that was constructed in 1956.

The company is proposing to divide the property to allow part of it, a

15,159-square-foot parcel, to be used for housing.

The company has not submitted a specific residential plan for the

parcel.

VOTE: 3-2 to approve, with Commissioners Walt Davenport and Bill

Perkins dissenting.

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission voted to postpone a decision on a

proposed subdivision at 1965 Church St. and 1970 Newport Blvd.

WHAT IT MEANS: The proposal by property owner Jerry Palanjian is to

divide a 50-foot by 280-foot lot into two 50-foot by 140-foot lots.

The proposed lots would be smaller than the size required by code.

The notification information did not include the variances from the

minimum lot area and city staff recommended that the issue be postponed

to allow proper notification.

VOTE: 5-0 to continue.

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission denied a proposal to replace a two-car

garage at 263 Costa Mesa St. with a four-car garage.

WHAT IT MEANS: The property owner, Jerry Palanjian, was requesting

variances from building setback requirements.

The proposal included a 1.5-foot side setback, a 1.5-foot rear setback

and 851 square feet of rear yard coverage.

The codes require a 5-foot side setback and a 10-foot rear setback and

permit up to 650 square feet of rear yard coverage.

VOTE: 3-2 to deny, with Davenport and Commissioner Bruce Garlich

dissenting.

WHAT HAPPENED: After months of postponements, the commission made a

decision to allow some amendments to the Lighthouse Coastal Community

Church’s master plan.

The commission decided to allow the church to use part of its parking

lot as a play yard on weekdays and to change the general plan to reflect

existing uses of the church properties, but did not approve a new early

childhood development center.

WHAT IT MEANS: Some conditions of approval include requiring that the

church provide handicapped accessibility, close two gutters, remove

weeds, resurface and re-stripe the parking lot, provide a trash bin,

designate a play yard, install planters, construct a wall and submit a

drop-off and pickup plan.

The commission requested that the church complete those requirements

and then reapply for the preschool.

VOTE: 4-1, with Davenport dissenting.

NEXT MEETING:

WHAT: Costa Mesa Planning Commission

WHERE: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. April 23

INFORMATION: (714) 754-5245