COSTA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION WRAP-UP

Here are some of the decisions coming out of Monday’s Planning

Commission meeting.

CYBER CAFES

WHAT HAPPENED:

Planning commissioners unanimously endorsed a plan to classify cyber

cafes as amusement-based businesses instead of research facilities to

allow for more regulation.

Cyber cafes, previously regarded as research facilities by city

planners, garnered a second look after a gang-related murder in December

at a similar venue in Fountain Valley.

The Costa Mesa Police Department was concerned with the two existing

cyber cafes in the city: Cyber City at 3033 Bristol St. and 3rd Dimension

Online at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive East. Commissioner voted to change the

wording of the existing ordinance to classify cyber cafes as amusement,

therefore forcing the businesses to apply for a conditional-use permit,

which carries more stringent requirements.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The recommendation will go to the City Council for final approval.

Vote: 5-0, in favor of reclassification

TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

WHAT HAPPENED:

Commissioners took a step to ensure future funding from local traffic

authorities by imposing new transportation requirements on new

commercial, industrial or mixed-use developments.

The Orange County Traffic Authority is requiring cities that wish to

receive future funding to change existing transportation strategies for

businesses of 100 employees or more.

The existing strategy, adopted in 1991, encourages the use of

carpools, vanpools and park-and-ride facilities as ways to manage

traffic. It affects various businesses with 250 to 1,000 employees. New

standards would be for any commercial, industrial or mixed-use business

of 100 or more employees.

Costa Mesa must also offer the affected businesses two transportation

improvement options and provide them with information on how to implement

both.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The new transportation requirements will go to the City Council for

final approval.

Vote: 5-0, in favor of amended transportation requirements.

NEXT MEETING

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. May 27

WHERE: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

INFORMATION: (714)754-5245