Planning commissioner resigns

Deirdre Newman

Planning Commissioner Joel Faris announced his resignation from the

commission Monday.

Faris is resigning because he and his family are moving to

Fountain Valley, starting an odyssey that may take them back East.

Faris expressed regret at leaving the city he has lived in for

five years and served as a planning commissioner since February.

“My wife and I have decided to move,” Faris said Monday from the

dais. “It’s not a move I want to make. I love Costa Mesa.”

Councilman Allan Mansoor, who appointed Faris to the commission,

said he would announce a replacement soon. He commended Faris for his

contribution to the city.

“I am very appreciative of the time Joel Faris has put into the

Planning Commission and wish him the best,” Mansoor said. “He was an

asset to the community and will be missed.”

Faris’ colleagues on the commission lauded his thorough effort in

getting to know the issues the commission considered.

“Nobody works harder than this guy,” said Chairman Bruce Garlich.

“He comes here with a suitcase every [meeting] with all his homework

done.”

Faris said he and his wife, Suzanne, started contemplating moving

out of California about a year ago because they feel it’s too

crowded. They got an offer as soon as they listed their house last

summer, but got cold feet and pulled out of the deal, Faris said.

So Faris, 35, began doing more intensive searches of potential

places to live and honed in on the Carolinas and Virginia. At this

time, there’s about a 75% chance that they will take the plunge and

move back East eventually, Faris said.

“I’m going to go out there this summer and touch it and feel it,”

Faris said. “Then if it feels right, I’ll take Suzanne out there.”

The couple decided to put their house back on the market -- it

closed escrow Tuesday -- and first looked at renting a house in Costa

Mesa. But it turned out to be more expensive than they expected and

Faris decided to buy a house in Fountain Valley.

“We bought it with the hope that prices will either go up or my

wife will change her mind again [about moving],” Faris said. “She’s

from Garden Grove.”

Leaving Costa Mesa will also be tough because Faris was thinking

about running for City Council next year, he said.

“I really think I’m going to miss Costa Mesa,” Faris said. “I’ve

only been there for five years, but it feels like home.”

Faris said he and his family will return often to Costa Mesa since

“Fountain Valley doesn’t have a lot to do.”

It would also be tough to leave Orange County, since he has a job

he loves in Garden Grove teaching sixth grade, Faris said. The family

would also have a difficult time leaving their church, Newport-Mesa

Christian Center in Costa Mesa, which they will continue going to

after they move, Faris said.

The couple, who have three adopted children and are planning on

adopting a fourth, are staying with their in-laws in Garden Grove for

a month before they move into their new home.