INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some of...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some of the issues the Planning Commission will consider

tonight.

AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL CODE

In 2002, an assembly bill was signed into law that eliminates

local discretionary review of second unit (accessory apartment)

applications. In July, the city has to accept these applications

without the discretionary review. If the city’s zoning code is not

changed to reflect the state law, state standards of accessory

apartments will prevail over the city’s standards.

WHAT TO EXPECT

“The change is not to the criteria that are used to allow access

units, but to replace discretionary review with ministerial review,

which means staff just makes sure all criteria is satisfied and

allows them to be built without any kind of hearing or notice,” Chair

Bruce Garlich said.

MASTER PLANS

The Town Center Drive Master Plan and a change to the North Costa

Mesa Specific Plan go before the commission.

The Town Center Drive 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.

The commission will consider incorporating the Theater Arts

District Plan for the South Coast Plaza Town Center into the North

Costa Mesa Specific Plan.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Staff recommends continuing both these items to its May 27

meeting.

“They are being continued because the Theater Arts District Plan

is not ready for commission consideration yet,” Zoning Administrator

Perry Valantine said. “[The applicants] still have a little work to

do on that. So we’ll be bringing it back when we have something for

them to look at.”

-- Deirdre Newman