City Council meeting preview

Lolita Harper

LIGHTHOUSE COASTAL COMMUNITY CHURCH

The City Council will have a rehearing on the church’s master plan as

a result of the church’s objections that previous conditions placed on it

were a violation of its religious freedom.

Neighbors of the church have consistently complained about noise and

traffic problems caused by the church.

In June, the council approved a master plan for Lighthouse Coastal

Community Church that included restrictions on the hours the church could

conduct outdoor activities. It also required the church to apply for a

separate conditional use permit for any preschool or day-care facility.

Lighthouse Coastal Community Church was the site of the horrible

tragedy in which two toddlers were killed in May of 1999 when an

emotionally disturbed man intentionally drove through the playground of a

preschool.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Staff has recommended the council approve the master plan, including

the proposed childhood learning center.

VENDING TRUCKS

The council will consider numerous options regarding vending trucks,

including limiting the number of permits issued, rewording ordinances to

change the hours of the trucks’ legal operation and increasing the fines

for violating those rules.

Some residents have expressed problems stemming from the proliferation

of vending trucks in areas throughout the city. They contend the trucks

cause noise late into the night and contribute to the “blight” of the

Westside.

In August, several questions were raised about what could be done to

diminish residents’ complaints about the trucks without infringing on the

owners rights to conduct business.

Staff was advised to research the implications of changing the

existing curfew on operations to an earlier time. Council also asked

staff to look into a possible threshold criteria to be used to revoke

vending truck permits.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to approve a curfew change to 5 p.m. and

increase the fine for those who break it.

FYI

What: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

Where: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Information: (714) 754-5223

Compiled by Lolita Harper