COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Here are some of the actions taken at the Costa Mesa City Council

meeting on Monday.

RV ORDINANCE

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members postponed any decision on a recreational vehicle

ordinance until the entire council can be present.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan was not at the meeting, and her colleagues

decided the issue was too important to pursue without her vote.

The council was scheduled to consider a simple ban -- with certain

exceptions, a placard system and tougher rules for the existing 72-hour

law. The council also may explore the possibility of letting residents

decide the fate of RVs by way of the ballot, a move that would cost the

city at least $5,500, a staff report shows.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Council members will revisit the issue at the May 6 meeting.

Vote: 4-0, in favor of postponing the issue.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

WHAT HAPPENED:

To bring some horticulture to the Westside, council members authorized

a grant application to fund a community garden on Charle and Hamilton

streets.

The same, small Westside plot was rejected as a site for a skate park

last year. Now, instead of promoting the adrenaline rushes of skaters,

the property may serve as a calming sanctuary for gardeners.

Staff in the Public Service Department will apply for the funding from

the Murray-Hayden Urban Parks and Youth Service grant program, which is

accepting applications for the development of recreation facilities in

“highly urbanized and underserved communities.”

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city will seek a grant for the Westside community garden.

Vote: 4-0 in favor of applying for the grant

TWO-STORY REQUEST

WHAT HAPPENED:

An Eastside man got the go-ahead to demolish his one-story house and

replace it with a two-story home after the City Council unanimously

upheld a previous decision allowing him to do so.

Councilman Chris Steel appealed a Planning Commission decision to

grant Jeffrey Hutter, the owner of a home in the 200 block of Esther

Street, permission to demolish the existing structure and build a new

3,339-square-foot home. Steel appealed the decision on behalf of Lori

McDonald, a neighbor who lives a street away on Walnut Street.

McDonald said she is concerned that two two-story structures would be

on the same lot, as an accessory apartment is built on top of a garage

and is not scheduled for demolition. She also said the project is

incompatible with the neighborhood.

In a report, planning staff say that while the two neighboring homes

are one-story, the Eastside is “an eclectic mix of residences.” It is

difficult to deny a request for a two-story home on the grounds that

surrounding houses are single-story homes, the report states.

A handful of Hutter’s neighbors were present to support his remodeling

project. They said it would enhance the neighborhood and increase

property values.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Hutter may go ahead with his remodeling project.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Neighbor Jeff Kirst spoke in favor of Hutter’s project while

interjecting some humor.

“The only problem I have is now my wife wants me to build her a

two-story house,” he said.

Vote: 4-0 to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision.

NEXT MEETING

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. May 6

WHERE: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

INFORMATION: (714) 754-5225