Commission looking to hold on to Home Ranch

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- With numerous questions and suggestions still floating

about the Home Ranch development, the Planning Commission is not expected

to make a decision on the project tonight.

Staff has recommended for all items on the agenda, including the

Environmental Impact Report, development agreement, general plan

amendments and rezone applications, to be continued to the Sept. 24

meeting.

“There’s so much material and so much to think about here that I feel

a sense of relief at putting the vote off for a while,” said Planning

Commissioner Eleanor Egan.

Although a decision is being postponed, officials are still seeking

public input on the project. Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley

said it is important to have a balance in opinion before coming to a

conclusion.

In part, it is the large amount of public input the commission has

already received that is causing a longer review process. Commissioners

want to make sure the residents’ comments and developer C.J. Segerstrom &

Sons’ proposal are weighed in the proper context, Foley said. In

addition, suggestions from other planning commissioners are still

floating.

Egan recently suggested a “living wage” requirement for the site. Her

suggestion would require all commercial rental agreements on the site

provide that any employee -- including employees of contractors and

subcontractors -- be paid a living wage. The actual wage would be later

defined in the agreement, she said.

Chairwoman Foley has also suggested the Segerstroms’ offer of $2

million to Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools and TeWinkle Middle

school be upped to the $10 million range, she said.

Of course, Home Ranch is not the only project the Planning Commission

is dealing with. Also set for tonight’s agenda are the following:

A rezone application for a conditional use permit to build a 20-unit

senior, single-room residential project at 2072 Newport Blvd.;

A master plan review requested by the city of Costa Mesa for the

proposed Maple Street park at 2150 Maple St.; and

An application for a conditional use permit to operate a tutoring

center for a maximum of 15 elementary school children at 1981 Maple Ave.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

FYI:

What: Planning Commission Meeting

Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 6:30 p.m. tonight

Information: (714) 754-5245