Inside CITY HALL

-- Compiled by Jennifer Kho

WHAT HAPPENED: The Planning Commission voted Monday to recommend

preliminary zoning for about 278 acres of unincorporated land along the

eastern edge of the city. The areas -- county islands entirely or

partially surrounded by the city -- are under consideration for

incorporation into Costa Mesa.

The preliminary zoning, if passed by the council at a future meeting,

will become the official zoning for the areas if they are annexed into

the city.

Zoning establishes how land may be used, such as for housing,

business, industry or recreation.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Planning Commission recommended that most of the

areas south of Mesa Drive be used for low- and medium-density housing and

that one site at 2651 Irvine Ave. be designated as a neighborhood

commercial site.

North of Mesa Drive, the commission recommended that areas be zoned

for medium-density housing and that the Santa Ana Country Club be zoned

for institutional and recreational use.

WHAT THEY SAID: “It was made clear by a couple of comments at the

meeting that we could have had more input. I like to hear from everybody

as much as possible and . . . only four or five people spoke. I wish that

more people had spoken and that we would have had the opportunity to sit

down with people.”

-- Commissioner Bill Perkins

VOTE:4-0 to approve

WHAT HAPPENED: The commission approved a request for South Coast

Repertory to expand about 34,000 square feet to include a 301-seat

auditorium, a stage and ancillary support space.The preliminary master

plan for the theater was approved Feb. 5 as part of the Town Center

project.

The project, a collaboration between South Coast Plaza, the Orange

County Performing Arts Center and Commonwealth Partners LLC, includes a

pedestrian-oriented Theater Arts District bordered by Bristol Street,

Sunflower Avenue, Avenue of the Arts and the San Diego Freeway.

It also calls for a new symphony hall, expansion of South Coast

Repertory’s theater, an art museum or academy, restaurants, an improved

parking area and office space.

WHAT IT MEANS: The request includes minor changes from the preliminary

master plan because the proposal includes three stories instead of two,

but with a lower height of 55 feet, rather than 160 feet.

If passed by the City Council, the expansion will also add 301 seats,

not 336 as was originally proposed.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I’m really glad this went through. It’s a good

project. I was really concerned about traffic and we were provided with

an excellent traffic study, which made it really easy to put the motion

through and get it passed.”

-- Perkins

VOTE: 4-0 to approve

NEXT MEETING:

What: Regular Costa Mesa Planning Commission meeting

Where: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

When: 6:30 p.m. July 23