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