Moves made on Westside rezoning
Lolita Harper
COSTA MESA -- The City Council took a step toward rezoning the
Westside bluffs late Monday night, saying prompt action was preferable to
postponing the issue again.
Council members voted 4 to 1 to have the industrial property west of
Monrovia Avenue examined for possible rezoning. Councilman Gary Monahan
dissented.
In September, the council discussed the option of rezoning the bluffs
for residential use, a suggestion that has been trumpeted by many
Westside residents. During that meeting, council members agreed to
revisit the issue when the general plan is up for adoption.
Planning staff has started rezoning efforts but has needed further
direction because of uncertainty about redevelopment on the Westside. The
city’s planning and development manager, Mike Robinson, said the creation
of the Westside Redevelopment Action Committee -- designed to gather
community input and develop a common goal for the future of the Westside
-- made it unclear if staff should pursue the change or wait until the
committee gives its recommendations.
“We need some direction,” Robinson said.
Monahan suggested council members postpone the decision until after an
upcoming Redevelopment Agency meeting, saying there may be helpful
information to consider. His suggestion was discounted, however, as the
rest of the council wanted to take action.
“I’m not sure that we will necessarily find anything more from the
conversations next week,” Cowan said.
It was best to take some concrete action that night, she said, and
allow the city’s newly formed Westside Redevelopment Action Committee the
chance to review the scope of the proposed rezoning.
“This could be their first assignment,” Cowan said. “We could have
them review it and then bring it back to us for review as quickly as it
can be turned around.”
Resident Chris Eric echoed a need for action as he pleaded with
council members to make a decisive change in his neighborhood.
“I have lived on Placentia Avenue -- ground zero of the Westside --
for many, many years,” Eric said. “I have watched the slow descent of the
Westside over those many years.”
Rezoning the bluffs would be a step in the right direction, he said.
Audience members agreed, as all who spoke supported a rezoning effort.
Council regular Martin Millard offered a few tweaks he would make to
the proposed action, saying the homes closest to the beach should be the
least dense. He also supported removing the present industrial area and
changing it into an arts district -- similar to Soho in New York.
His comment seemed to spark Mayor Linda Dixon’s interest. She is a
large supporter of the arts.
“Those are good ideas,” she said.
Dixon said she hoped the suggestions would be discussed by the
redevelopment committee.
Resident Tom Egan also supported Millard’s suggestions, saying Costa
Mesa is backward.
“Costa Mesa land gets more expensive the farther you are from the
ocean,” Egan said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)
574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .
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