Costa Mesa City Council OKs Town Center changes

Deirdre Newman

Monday the City Council unanimously approved changes to the

preliminary blueprints of South Coast Plaza Town Center that will

enable its uses to be shuffled while the density remains within city

guidelines.

The Town Center area, owned by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, is north of

Anton Boulevard, with the exception of the two Orange County

Performing Arts facilities, South Coast Repertory and the museum

site.

The changes to the area’s plans will not cause the allowable

building area, floor area ratio and morning and evening peak-hour

traffic to be exceeded. In fact, the morning peak-hour traffic would

be reduced by 14 trips and the evening peak-hour traffic would be

reduced by 480 trips, according to a traffic study commissioned by

the Segerstroms and confirmed by the city.

“[The Segerstroms] are well within their rights to make these

changes and it reduces traffic,” said Councilman Allan Mansoor.

On Feb. 5, 2001, the City Council approved a preliminary master

plan change to allow for the area’s expansion. At that time, the

24.59-acre project called for 1,522,815 square feet of office space;

5,145 square feet of retail space; 516,000 square feet of hotel

space, which includes the existing Westin; 43,090 square feet of

restaurants; a health club; and a plaza tower.

But due to the bankruptcy of Edwards Cinemas, Segerstrom officials

took the opportunity to reconfigure the project, noting that it made

more sense to demolish an empty building than an established

restaurant. The demolition of the movie theater will be responsible

for the 480-trip reduction in the evening peak-commuter hours.

Scott’s Seafood Restaurant will stay, the proposed hotel will move

to 3400 Bristol St. and the existing office buildings will get

revamped, losing 3,000 square feet. The loss in office space means

more rooms will be added to the new hotel.

The council approved the changes 4-0 with Mayor Gary Monahan

absent. The council will also need to approve a final master plan for

this area.