COSTA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

The Planning Commission on Monday night recommended the City Council

approve a city park at 2150 Maple St.

After hearing comments from two neighbors to the proposed Maple Street

Park and the architect who designed the plans for the 15,130-square-foot

lot, the commission adopted the tentative plans with a few modifications.

Commissioner Eleanor Egan insisted one of the park’s 8-foot-high sound

walls on the Victoria Street side be partially replaced with wrought-iron

fencing to improve visibility. Although police authorities gave their

stamp of approval to solid walls, both Egan and Commissioner Bruce

Garlich said the park would be safer if more people could see what was

happening on the grounds.

The budget for the park does not allow for the added expense, but most

of the commissioners felt it was an addition worth funding.

Commissioner Bill Perkins opposed the wrought-iron fencing, saying if

the police deemed the park safe, it was beyond the Planning Commission to

second guess them.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The plans for the small park will be given to the City Council for a

final decision.

VOTE: 4-0 in favor of the park and modified sound walls.

WHAT WAS SAID:

“I am a firm believer that parks are more safe when they have

increased visibility. If we wall off the entire park, we are just asking

for trouble.”

-- Eleanor Egan, Costa Mesa planning commissioner

WHAT HAPPENED:

A conditional-use permit to build a 20-unit addition to a senior

center at 2072 Newport Blvd. was recommended to the City Council for

approval by the Planning Commission.

The applicant asked to expand the existing 71-unit senior center,

which houses very low-income seniors, by demolishing an apartment complex

on the property and building more single-room units.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Tentative plans for the addition to the senior center were adopted by

the Planning Commission but will be passed to the City Council for the

final determination.

VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the additional 20 units.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The commission approved a resolution allowing applicant Ron Gray to

run a tutorial center out of an apartment at 1981 Maple Ave.

Gray asked for a conditional-use permit to run a tutoring center with

about 15 students and four staff members out of a two-bedroom apartment.

The commission approved tentative plans for the tutorial center but added

a few conditions.

First, Gray will be required to do background checks on any and all

staff at the center. Also, to not add more traffic in the neighborhood,

students of the center would be required to live in the neighborhood,

preferably within walking distance.

Because the center will be in a residential complex, it is prohibited

from displaying signs advertising the business. However, the Planning

Commission allowed for a small identification sign on the door, so

children would know which door to knock on.

Lastly, the commission allowed for some growth of the tutorial

business so that Gray could help as many students as possible in the

relatively small space. Any more than 15 children would need to be

cleared with the city Planning Department before kids could be added to

the program.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The commission unanimously recommended plans for the tutorial center

to the City Council, which will make the final decision.

VOTE: 5-0 in favor of the tutorial center.

WHAT WAS SAID

“We wish Mr. Gray good luck and hope to see more of his tutorial

centers in the community.”

-- Bruce Garlich, Costa Mesa planning commissioner

NEXT MEETING

What: Planning Commission meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24

Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa