Costa Mesa City Council Wrap-up
Here are some of the decisions the Costa Mesa City Council made at
Monday’s meeting.
LIQUOR LICENSE
WHAT HAPPENED:
The City Council denied a liquor license request for the drive-through
L&M; Dairy store on Santa Ana Avenue.
Owner Shailesh Patel applied for the license to sell hard alcohol at
his store. Patel sells beer and wine but said many of his customers have
requested that he sell hard liquor. In addition to his application, he
included a letter and 211 customer signatures supporting the approval of
the license.
Patel’s store is in an area that has been dubbed as over-concentrated
with liquor licenses, according to state law. The law requires the city
to declare it a “necessity” or a “public convenience” to issue the
license.
Council members asked Patel, who has owned the store for 12 years, to
demonstrate the need for a more lenient liquor license. The
small-business owner answered the council by saying many of his customers
are handicapped, or mothers pushing strollers, and it is easier for them
to patronize his drive-through store than others in the area.
WHAT IT MEANS:
Patel will be permitted to sell beer and wine at his store.
VOTE: 5-0 to deny the liquor license.
WHAT WAS SAID:
Resident Joel Faris said he did not think L&M; Dairy should be able to
sell hard alcohol.
“Call me old fashioned, but I think a dairy should sell milk,” he
said.
CANOPY CHANGES
The council postponed the canopy issue, saying it needed better
definitions of what constitutes a canopy, tarp or tent before making
changes to the existing ordinance.
Much of the discussion Monday revolved around the technical difference
between the three categories of covers and which would be allowed in
residential zones. Audience members were opposed to any covers being used
in residential neighborhoods, saying they looked bad.
The Planning Commission recommended that canopies be allowed at car
dealerships and carwashes but not in residential areas. Despite the
recommendation, code enforcement staff suggested the use of canopies on
residential property if they are being used to shade cars in driveways
leading to garages.
WHAT IT MEANS:
Code enforcement staff will clearly define the difference between a
canopy, a tarp and a tent, so council members may make a more informed
decision in two weeks.
VOTE: 5-0 to continue the item.
WILSON TRAFFIC LIGHT
WHAT HAPPENED:
Council members approved the first steps to install a light on Wilson
Street, between the driveway exits of the Harbor Center and the Kmart
shopping center.
Residents questioned the need for the light, saying it would only
serve to add more traffic to an already congested area. Speakers
suggested right-turn only lanes instead of the light.
Bill Morris, the director of public services, said the traffic
division has studied the proposed intersection and a light is the best
alternative. Morris said the city was looking for a way to make exiting
the centers safer. Many accidents and near-accidents have occurred on
that portion of Wilson, caused by those making left turns out of the
center or pedestrians.
WHAT IT MEANS:
The council approved a budget adjustment of $119,231 for the future construction of the signal. The Harbor Center has donated $50,000 for
detector loops to sense the cars waiting to exit the shopping center.
VOTE: 3-2 to approve the budget adjustment.
WHAT WAS SAID:
Councilwoman Karen Robinson said she was “struggling tremendously”
with a light so close to Harbor Boulevard and said she was worried about
traffic congestion.
“Is what we’re buying worse than what we are alleviating?” she asked.
* Compiled by Lolita Harper
NEXT MEETING
* WHAT: Costa Mesa City Council meeting
* WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19
* WHERE: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive
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