Home Ranch moves on to City Council

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- This year’s Home Ranch reincarnate cleared all of its

initial hurdles at the Planning Commission meeting Monday, gaining a

recommendation to the City Council -- again.

At a meeting that lasted until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the commission gave

the first approval to the project that seeks to develop the former

Segerstrom lima bean farm off the San Diego Freeway.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the environmental report,

a rezone petition, an amendment to the city’s master plan and a specific

plan amendment. The lone item without unanimous support was the amendment

to the general plan, which Commissioner Bruce Garlich opposed.

“I believe the project is a quality project, representative of

responsible growth,” Chairwoman Katrina Foley said. “The developer and

commission and staff were responsive to community input and, when all is

said and done, provided a really solid project for the city.”

After nearly two decades of pitching various proposals to the city

regarding Home Ranch, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons found itself in a familiar

position Monday night. Plans for previous Home Ranch designs have

garnered the approval of the Planning Commission but found themselves

stalled because of an outcry of public opposition.

Sandi Genis, a former city mayor and a member of the opposition for

nearly 20 years, said she is not worried about the decision.

“I almost tell myself it’s not important to go to the Planning

Commission meetings because it’s really the council who makes the final

decisions,” Genis said.

Nonetheless, Genis and her colleagues from Costa Mesa Citizens for

Responsible Growth stayed at the meeting past midnight in a final attempt

to influence the commission’s decision. If anything, participating in the

initial approval process will help Genis get ready for the real fight,

she said.

“We’ll see what the council has to say. Hopefully, we can make our

case stronger,” Genis said.

Paul Freeman, spokesman for C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, also applauded the

opposition, saying it helped refine the project.

“I really have to tip my hat to their hard work and their diligence,”

Freeman said. “They may feel some frustration right now, but they should

really be proud of their contribution.”

Sensing it was their last chance to give input, more than 300 people

packed City Hall to comment on the project. Opinions seemed to have been

split on the merits of Home Ranch. Of about 50 public speakers, only half

opposed the project, saying it would cause too much traffic and

pollution. Both Freeman and Foley said they were surprised at the

outpouring of support for approval of the project.

“We need to follow the lead of the Segerstroms,” resident Doug Sutton

said of the dynasty family that has been successful in developing much of

Costa Mesa, including South Coast Plaza. “They’ve never gained at the

expense of Costa Mesa citizens, and we’ve never lost either. This is by

far the best land use the city has the right to ask for.”

The commission agreed. Each commissioner reiterated that his or her

decision to approve the project was made independent of proposed

community benefits. It was simply the best land use for the area, Foley

said.

The commission did get C.J. Segerstrom & Sons to agree to give the $2

million for the schools in a lump sum, instead of a series of payments.

Plans for a 17-acre Ikea furniture store, 791,050 square feet of

office space, 252,648 square feet of industrial use and 192 homes will

now move to the City Council for the final vote.

Home Ranch is scheduled to be on the City Council agenda Oct. 15 and a

study session will be held Oct. 4.

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

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