-- Compiled by Lolita Harper ON THE...

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper

ON THE AGENDA

NEWPORT SENIOR VILLAGE

The owner of Newport Senior Village tonight will ask the Planning

Commission to approve a one-year extension to finalize plans for

expansion and an attempt to offer more senior housing to area

residents.

Ronald Berggren, the owner of the senior center at 2072 Newport

Blvd., was given a conditional-use permit last year that allowed him

to demolish the apartments on a parcel to the south of his property

to expand his existing 71-unit building by 20 units.

Berggren was unable to close escrow on the adjacent apartment

complex where he had planned for construction and is subsequently

asking for an extension for his project.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Planning Commissioners are expected to approve the

requested extension because of the need for more senior housing in

the city. Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley and

Commissioner Bill Perkins are especially expected to support

Berggren’s efforts since both commissioners, who are also running for

the City Council, promised a group of 100 seniors during a recent

candidate forum that they would do all they could to ensure more

affordable senior housing.

TWO STORY ADDITION

An Eastside homeowner will ask the Planning Commission tonight not

only to approve a second story addition but bend the city’s general

height standards to allow for an additional two feet.

Homeowner Michael Kuhns is asking to build a 29-foot second story

addition, with a chimney that reaches two feet further into the

skyline, on one of his three units in the 1500 block of Riverside

Drive.

His project was approved by the city zoning administrator in

October of 2001 but the excessive heights were not discovered until

after construction began in April of this year.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Planning staff is recommending approval because

the project is considered an improvement and is already underway and

because surrounding structures also have heights that exceed current

building standards. However, the Planning Commission has been known

to ignore staff recommendations and in the case of two-story

additions, the anticipated vote is anyone’s guess.