INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some of...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some of the items the council considered Monday.

CHANGE TO THE GENERAL PLAN

The property owner of 330 and 340 W. Bay St. has submitted a

screening request to change the general plan designation from general

commercial to medium density residential. The 3.7-acre site has been

the site of The Daily Pilot for more than 50 years. The owner plans

to develop housing on the land. Staff members will also be studying

adjacent parcels at 2025-2037 Newport Blvd.

The county has not cleared the Bay Street property for residential

development, and two closed, underground tanks still exist on the

site. Staff members recommended resolving the soil contamination

issue before processing the change to the general plan.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council voted to approve the request.

WHAT IT MEANS

Further review and analysis of residential development will be

done on the study area.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I think looking at the option of single-family detached housing

is a very viable idea at that location,” Councilman Allan Mansoor

said.

COMMERCIAL RECREATION ZONE

On the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the council will

direct staff members to research changes to the general plan, the

zoning code or both to encourage development and retention of

commercial recreation uses.

In March, Commissioner Katrina Foley said she would be interested

in the adoption of general plan objectives or policies on indoor

recreation, including bowling, ice skating and skateboarding.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved setting up a community meeting with the

Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission to

establish a report for the council to consider changes to the general

plan.

WHAT IT MEANS

The commissions will meet and put together the report.

WHAT WAS SAID

“Staff is already burdened with plenty to do, and I don’t see

that’s accomplishing anything we don’t already have,” Mansoor said.

“It’s going to be a lot of work, and the end result is going to be a

report that we look at and say, ‘What do we do with this now?’ The

point is, everybody wants recreation, including me. I just don’t see

how this is going to get us that recreation.”

REQUEST FOR NEW HEARING

On July 7, the council made some changes in the field sizes and

outfield fence dimensions for the three softball fields at the

TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex. The actions would require the removal

or relocation of at least 36 mature trees, a picnic shelter and

concrete walkways.

On July 14, Councilman Chris Steel requested a new hearing on

behalf of the Mesa del Mar Homeowners Assn.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved the new hearing and scheduled it for Oct. 20.

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff members will provide notification of the October meeting to

residents within 500 feet as well as to the homeowners’ association,

provide full drawings of the potential field and fence expansions and

hold a community meeting at the park.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I think we did the right thing,” Mansoor said. “I want to hear

what the public has to say on it.”

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman