COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL MEETING PREVIEW

U-HAUL STORAGE

The City Council will rehear a request from a local business owner to

store U-Haul rentals on his property.

Eugene Chan, the owner of a storage facility on Newport Avenue, will,

again, present his case to store up to six trucks on his property.

On Oct. 15, council members upheld the Planning Commission’s decision

to deny Chan a permit to store six trucks at his storage facility at 2458

Newport Blvd. Council members said they felt the large rental trucks were

not appropriate for the site, which runs along an alley. Councilwoman

Karen Robinson was concerned about room for emergency vehicles if up to

six trucks were parked behind the storage units.

Chan’s authorized agent, Rhonda McClune, said it would be more

convenient for his customers to be able to store the trucks near the

storage unit. Council members then questioned whether trucks would be

rented from that location, or just parked there.

Chan was not at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting because he said he

was misinformed about the starting time. McClune was present. Chan was

granted a rehearing by the council so he could be present.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Chan will get one last chance to present a solid argument for why

U-Haul rental trucks should be permitted on his property.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Planning staff has recommended the City Council deny the request.

JIM’S TOWING

Mayor Linda Dixon wants to revisit and rehear the arguments for the

Planning Commission’s approval of conditional use permit that would allow

an impound yard for a towing company.

This is the second time a city official has questioned the approval of

the additional lot at Jim’s Towing on 18th Street.

In August, the city zoning staff approved an additional vehicle

storage lot at 917 W. 18th St. Planning Commissioner Eleanor Egan

appealed the decision and took it to the Planning Commission for a vote.

The lot was narrowly approved by the commission, with Egan and Commission

Chairwoman Katrina Foley voting against it.

Dixon said she is concerned with the neighbors in nearby homes and

what she calls an inconsistency with the council’s intent to revitalize

the Westside. She also said an auto storage lot is not a desirable use

for the land and thought it might depress the land value in the area.

James Lewis, the owner of Jim’s Towing, said the storage area is

intended for long-term vehicle storage. He estimated that two or three

vehicles may need to be picked up at night, in response to calls from the

California Highway Patrol but most business would take place during the

day.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Planners have no formal recommendation but remind the council in a

staff report that redevelopment of the Westside would be more easily

accomplished if there were no building on that piece of land. Therefore,

a storage lot, and the subsequent rezone, might be preferred.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Council members are expected to narrowly approve the storage lot.

VICTORIA STREET PARKING

Councilwoman Karen Robinson is asking for the council to review a

change that was granted for parking requirements at 248 Victoria St.

The Planning Commission approved a reduction in parking because the

lot is unusually shaped and could not accommodate more spaces. In her

appeal, Robinson said the variance lacked factual basis.

The property was formerly a 10-unit apartment building that was cited

for substandard housing conditions and ultimately abandoned. The owners,

South Coast R.E. Investments, bought the land with the intention of

improving the apartment building. However, city codes did not allow for

residential use on the property, so the builder submitted plans to

convert the building into a commercial use.

In order to run a business out of the building, the owner was

confronted with citywide minimum parking space requirements. Because of

the odd shape of the lot -- a deep and rectangular space -- the required

24 spaces are impossible to build, the owner said.

The applicant applied to build 16 spaces and an additional three

compact spaces.

Planning Commissioners Eleanor Egan and Bill Perkins were concerned

about changing the parking space requirements when parking is such a

problem in the city.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council will examine the shape and size of the lot, as well as the

need for parking in the surrounding area. In her appeal, Robinson said

“the applicant did not demonstrate an ability to comply with parking

requirements.” After reviewing the plan, a staff report states the

“current parking requirements cannot be met due to the size and location

of existing buildings.”

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Council members are expected to approve the changes in parking

requirements.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Councilman Chris Steel has filed an appeal of the Planning

Commission’s decision to approve affordable housing on Pomona Avenue.

The apartments at 1925 Pomona Ave. are owned by Habitat for Humanity.

The organization has requested a conversion of the apartments to

ownership condominiums, which would be sold to Habitat for Humanity

clients as affordable housing. Plans for the site also include more open

space and parkway landscape.

The Planning Division and the City Attorney are still working on a

response to Steel’s appeal and have requested the hearing be continued.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Once city staff has the appropriate time to review and respond to

Steel’s appeal, the item will be brought back to the council’s attention,

at which time, the public can comment on it.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The council is expected to continue the issue to the Jan. 22 meeting.

FYI

What: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Information: (714) 754-5221