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 .