Inside CITY HALL

Jennifer Kho

WHAT HAPPENED: The Planning Commission postponed a decision Monday on

changing the city’s sign ordinance, originally adopted in 1974.

WHAT IT MEANS: The commission directed the city’s staff to determine

whether the changes are allowed by California’s business code.

The proposed changes would prohibit new signs with animation or moving

messages, require street addresses to be posted on free-standing signs or

on the building, and limit the number of signs allowed on businesses.

The ordinance was last revised in 1995 after a two-year process

involving a committee that reviewed the sign ordinance, the Planning

Commission, City Council and city staff.

The commission will discuss the ordinance again May 14.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I think we made the right decision by continuing the

sign ordinance to the next meeting to make sure we comply with all of

California’s business regulations.”

-- Commissioner Bill Perkins.

VOTE: 4-0 to continue

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission gave Arco Product Co. a one-year

extension for a permit to replace a 54-square-foot cashier kiosk at 1450

Baker St. with a 432-square-foot kiosk with a sales counter for

convenience foods and beverages.

WHAT IT MEANS: The permit had been approved in May but contractual

differences between the company and the project consultants delayed the

plans, according to a staff report.

VOTE: 4-0 to approve

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission approved a 22-foot-high,

99-square-foot free-standing sign for the Sea Lark Motel, 2274 Newport

Blvd.

WHAT IT MEANS: The sign was approved by the zoning administrator in

March, but it was appealed by Councilwoman Linda Dixon and Planning

Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley.

The sign will be within 200 feet of property zoned for housing, but

the property does not include any homes. Instead, it has a restaurant and

a motel.

The sign will not be visible from homes, according to a staff report.

VOTE: 4-0 to approve

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission approved a plan to divide a

50-by-280-foot lot into two 50-by-140-foot lots at 1965 Church St. and

1970 Newport Blvd.

WHAT IT MEANS: The commission in 1998 approved a permit allowing

Marrakesh, a new restaurant at the time, to use 1970 Newport Blvd. for

parking in the evening.

The back half of the lot, 1965 Church St., is zoned for housing and

was not allowed to be used as parking.

Jerry Palanjian, who owns the land at 1965 Church St., received

approval for a four-unit housing project at 1965 and 1967 Church St., but

was unable to buy the property at 1967 Church St.

The approval Monday will allow Palanjian to build up to two homes at

1965 Church St.

VOTE: 4-0 to approve

NEXT MEETING:

WHAT: Costa Mesa Planning Commission

WHERE: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. May 14

INFO: (714) 754-5245