No knockouts in Costa Mesa debate

Lolita Harper

Round two of the city’s political version of the tough man/woman

competition went down Thursday night in front of a crowd of hundreds

at the Neighborhood Community Center, as City Council contenders were

thrown pointed questions designed to topple weak competitors.

Mayor Linda Dixon, Councilman Gary Monahan, Planning Commission

Chairwoman Katrina Foley, Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins and

Human Relations Committee member Alan Mansoor, each did their share

of bobbing, weaving, attacking and defending during the forum hosted

by Mesa Verde Community Inc. homeowner’s assn. And each returned to

their respective corners to receive pats on the back from their

supporters.

Former Mayor Peter Buffa -- who is a Daily Pilot columnist --

moderated the forum, posing one question to each candidate for them

to answer in full and then giving the others a chance to add their

two cents if they chose to. About 10 issues were massaged into

question form, giving each contender roughly two chances to shine.

Popular issues such as the need for a skate park and

revitalization of the Westside were slam dunks for the candidates,

who all said they would work diligently for both. The contentious

19th Street and Gisler bridges, which are currently outlined on

regional maps to create major thoroughfares out of two city roads,

were equally abhorred by all five.

Because the forum was hosted by Mesa Verde homeowners, many of

whom largely opposed the Home Ranch development, many questions

touched on lingering topics from the development’s approval process,

such as affordable housing and the candidate’s resolve to stick to

the city’s general plan.

Those who tackled the affordable housing topic agreed it was a

difficult issue that required cooperation between the city, the

federal government and private developers to bring more reasonably

priced homes to the city -- if that’s what residents wanted.

Sitting council members were quick to point out that in numerous

occasions, including the Home Ranch development, the public was

largely opposed to any type of multi-family housing that is generally

more economically feasible than single family homes.

“The community asked for lower densities and the affordable factor

went right out the window,” said Monahan, while outlining the classic

relationship between higher densities and lower prices and lower

densities and higher prices.

Mansoor said the city was doing its part to provide affordable

housing and was setting “a good example” for the rest of the county.

It was time for neighboring cities to follow Costa Mesa’s lead to

build more apartments, condominiums and townhomes, he said.

Subjects like design review -- which is a relatively new city

procedure that mandates neighbors be notified of area remodel and

development projects and allows them to have a voice in their

approval -- and the battles over various airport issues prompted a

flurry of one-two combinations and fancier footwork.

Battle lines were clearly drawn between Monahan and Foley during

the design review discussion, in which the councilman painted the

chairwoman as someone who wants to turn Costa Mesa into a South

County replica by promoting a screening process for development that

uses subjective terms like harmony and compatibility.

Foley countered by bringing up the infamous Samoa Place home

remodel, which raised the ire of many Mesa Verde residents with its

massive plans for expansion. Had a design review process been in

place when that project was in the planning stages, the subsequent

legal battle and settlement could have been avoided, she said.

“I believe that property rights exist on both sides of the fence,”

Foley said.

Dixon jumped at the chance to respond on the noticeable increase

in flights over various parts of Costa Mesa. “As the mayor,” she said

she felt the need to address the people’s concerns and let them know

what their city government was doing to protect its residents.

She said she has invited former pilots to outline various

altitudes and flight patterns for city officials and said she would

continue to work diligently to find out more. While flight paths are

out of the jurisdiction of local politicians, Dixon said she was

looking into the problem and wanted to “get the facts straight before

going to the Federal Aviation Administration.”

Mansoor charged that Dixon did not fight aggressively enough to

get an airport at the former El Toro Marine Base and therefore opened

the floodgates to increased flights over all of Costa Mesa.

Dixon did not get a chance to answer back, as Buffa moved on.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.