-- Compiled by Lolita Harper ON THE...

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper

ON THE AGENDA

HOMES ON THE RANCH

City Council members will get their chance tonight to weigh in on

designs for the homes planned for Home Ranch that have been

overwhelmingly applauded by other city leaders and residents.

Planning commissioners easily endorsed designs proposed by

Standard Pacific, whom the Segerstroms chose to design and construct

60 single-family homes and 83 townhomes on the northeast portion of

the 93-acre Home Ranch site. Although some portions of the proposed

housing tract call for the bending of city rules, commissioners said

the accommodations were painless to grant because they made for a

better overall project.

Major aspects of the project fall in line with existing city

building codes, but the builders asked for exceptions in parking

requirements and in building heights for the free-standing homes.

Designs for the townhomes fall in line with city standards.

The proposed single-family homes exceed general height

requirements by 3 feet. Pacific Standard officials asked to build

30-foot homes -- just over the 27-foot maximum -- with chimneys that

would reach heights of 33 feet, which also exceeds the city’s usual

maximum of 29 feet.

The Pacific Standard project site is on the northeast portion of

the Home Ranch site, on the corner of Sunflower Avenue and Susan

Street. It lies alongside the administrative offices of the Auto Club

of Southern California. The gated community would consist of a mix in

townhomes and single-family homes, as well as two community parks, a

pool and a recreation center.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to approve the housing design.

TWO TOWN CENTER

The City Council will consider a proposal for an 18-story building

and accompanying five-story parking structure as part of the Two Town

Center master plan, the latest version of what has been a

controversial city development.

The 18.23-acre center is bounded by Anton Boulevard, the San Diego

Freeway, Bristol Street and Avenue of the Arts and houses a host of

office buildings, restaurants, a movie theater, retail and the

outdoor Isamu Noguchi California Scenario garden.

Officials said the proposed development will not affect the

esteemed gardens, which were once the center of debate.

Representatives from Commonwealth LLC, the company that bought the

center from the Segerstroms, have called the proposed development

“the highest quality office space on the market,” pointing out the

dramatic, clean glass paneled exterior.

Planning commissioners endorsed plans for the multistoried

building and accompanying parking structure, saying the towering

building would not have a negative affect on the surrounding area as

it sits in the middle of a busy business district.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members are expected to approve the plans.

STREET SWEEPING

Residents have warmed to the idea of prohibited parking for a

citywide street sweeping program, the results of a test program show,

and council members will decide tonight whether to enforce such a

program.

In January, the City Council authorized street sweeping for

specific parts of the city to serve as a test for a possible citywide

program.

Council members chose streets that Public Services Department

staff recommended, including the streets surrounding College Park

School -- Pomona Avenue, between 17th and 18th streets, and Darrell

Street, between Pomona and Meyer Place. Mayor Linda Dixon also added

Plumer Street to the test run.

According to a staff report, residents in the survey area were

more supportive of an “alternate side” parking prohibition, instead

of barring cars from both sides of the street at the same time for

sweeping. Residents also said they would be more supportive of a

citywide program instead of specific targeted areas, test results

show.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council has been divided on this issue. While it supports

clean streets, a balance between that and the increased parking

demand in the city makes this a delicate issue. Expect the council to

narrowly approve a citywide program.

ART IN PUBLIC PLACES

The City Council is poised to approve a program that bolsters

Costa Mesa’s nickname as the City of the Arts.

Council members will review a proposed program that would require

developers of commercial or industrial projects valued at $750,000 or

more, not including the land, to spend or donate at least 1% of the

worth for some sort of permanent outdoor artwork, City Planner Claire

Flynn has said. In addition, any exterior improvements or remodeling,

repair or reconstruction projects costing more than $750,000 would

also be applicable, she said.

Planning commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the public

art program, saying it was extremely important to promote visual art,

especially in a city that touts its dedication to such endeavors on

the official city seal.

Commissioners also suggested that city buildings not be considered

for the program, saying their exclusion would garner a more favorable

public response.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to approve the arts program.