ON THE AGENDA Here are some of...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some of the issues that the Planning Commission will

consider on Monday:

CHANGES TO THE CITY’S RESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES

In Spring 2001, the City Council adopted new zoning code

regulations for new residential construction and additions. These

changes included two new review procedures: minor design review and

design review. Minor design reviews were delegated to the zoning

administrator and the Planning Commission decided on design reviews.

In addition, the council adopted residential design guidelines, which

are used with the review of new residential construction and

additions and include the criteria of being “harmonious and

compatible” with the neighborhood.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expect changes to be made after months of debate about the

guidelines. “Some of the changes I think will go a long way toward

addressing the inefficiency with our current process as well as

trying to better address issues of massing and imposing structures,

while not focusing on architectural style, which I don’t think our

Planning Commission should be in the business of dictating

architectural style,” said Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina

Foley.

TOWN CENTER DRIVE MASTER PLAN

The master plan is a conceptual plan for the future improvement of

the portion of Town Center Drive between Park Center Drive and Avenue

of the Arts as a pedestrian-oriented public plaza linking the major

arts venues within the South Coast Plaza Town Center Theater Arts

District.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The commission is expected to approve the resolution with

conditions, including a roundabout at the current intersection of

Avenue of the Arts and Town Center Drive, ceasing the use of Town

Center Drive as a public street and creating left-turn access from

Avenue of the Arts into the Center Garage parking structure.

“I think it’s really exciting and I’m anxious for it all to get

underway,” Foley said.

MASTER PLAN REVIEW FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The Performing Arts Center is proposing a 296,500 square-foot

symphony hall to be located across Town Center Drive from the

existing facility. The five-story building includes as 2,000-seat

main auditorium with a secondary, 500-seat auditorium.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The commission is expected to approve the proposal with

conditions, including prohibiting weekday performances except when

the audience arrives and departs via bus or other mass

transportation.

“There’s still a lot of details to be worked out but I think it’s

very exciting for the future of Costa Mesa and the whole theater arts

district,” Foley said.

SUBDIVISION OF A COMMERCIAL PARCEL

A representative of the Irvine Ranch Water District is proposing

the subdivision of a 2.26-acre commercial property in the 1100 block

of Bristol Street into three lots with a permit for shared access

between them. The lot is currently vacant. The applicant proposes to

subdivide the property into three approximately 30,000 square-foot

lots for three office buildings, which have already been approved by

staff. Approval will allow each of the three lots to be sold

separately.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The commission is expected to approve the subdivision with

conditions, including requiring the establishment of a property owner

association and limiting the signage to one eight-foot high monument

sign to discourage sign clutter and help to tie the project together.

“I have a concern about taking a lot and dividing it up into

three,” Foley said. “Our general plan strives to make lot

combinations, not divide them, because we’ve had problems in the past

where lots have been divided and then when someone wants to come in

and develop or remodel, it’s difficult to get all the owners to

agree,” Foley said.

LOT SUBDIVISION

The property owner of an existing 27,800-square-foot residential

lot in the 200 block of Santa Isabel Avenue wants to subdivide it

into four lots with a permit to allow shared driveway access.

In October 2002, the commission approved the construction of a

detached, four-unit, two-story, single-family residential project for

the lot.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The commission is expected to approve the subdivision.

-- Compiled Deirdre Newman