Inside CITY HALL

SMALL-LOT MORATORIUM

The City Council will today consider ending the moratorium on

small-lot single-family housing developments.

The council in June approved the moratorium on new, two-story

additions in all residential areas in the city while it worked on the new

housing development codes.

The moratorium was extended in December until June 4, 2002, but

according to the staff report, the moratorium is no longer needed since

the council on June 18 adopted new codes that will go into affect July

18.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The council is expected to end the moratorium,

allowing new developments that comply with the new codes.

CHURCH REHEARING

The Lighthouse Coastal Community Church has requested a rehearing of

its application to allow Kline School to use part of the church’s parking

lot as a play area.

The City Council approved the request June 18, but added conditions

reducing the hours the church may conduct outdoor nonreligious

activities, and a requirement that the church doesn’t open a preschool

unless it gets a separate permit for it.

Church representatives want a rehearing because they believe the City

Council’s action violated the church’s Constitutional rights, according

to the staff report.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The council is expected to approve the rehearing and

schedule it for a future date.

According to the City Attorney’s office, sufficient grounds exist to

justify the requested rehearing because the church is raising legal

arguments that it did not bring up at the previous meeting.

FAIRVIEW PARK

The council will review a Parks, Recreation Facilities and Parkways

Commission and city staff recommendation for a decorative retaining wall

and stairway.

The wall and stairway, estimated at $75,000, would be constructed at

the Fairview Park entrance at the Canary Drive cul-de-sac using materials

and designs to deter skateboarders.

The commission also recommends that the council delete a bike route on

Tanager Drive, from Golf Course Drive to Canary Drive, from the master

plan of bikeways, and deny another bike trail behind the Tanager Drive

residences between Golf Course Drive and Canary Drive.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The council is expected to approve the commission

recommendations.

OIL STOP

City Councilwoman Linda Dixon is appealing a Planning Commission

decision to permit an oil-change business to open on the southwest corner

of Bristol Street and Paularino Avenue.

The property was formerly a Shell service station.

Dixon said she does not believe that Oil Stop, represented by Newport

Beach City Councilman John Heffernan, is consistent with the “destination

commercial” area that the council has envisioned for Bristol Street.

“You have to look at the big picture,” Dixon said. “We just approved

an arts district and we’re going to have a performing arts center on the

other side. Hilton just went through a remodeling, Holiday Inn just did a

major [renovation] and I just don’t envision an Oil Stop on Bristol

Street. I would like to see it become a destination, like a Starbucks or

commercial retail. It should be something that fits in with where the

street is going.”

But Councilman Gary Monahan said he doesn’t believe the Oil Stop would

be incompatible with the surrounding area.

“You’ve got four corners and two are gas stations, so what’s

incompatible about an oil and lube place?” he said.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The council could decide to approve or deny the

project.

Dixon is opposed to it, Monahan seems to be in favor of it and the

other council members were not available to comment on the issue by press

time.