Planning now for Westside future

BRUCE GARLICH

With regard to Martin Millard’s commentary on my City Council

candidacy, I can think of no greater endorsement than Millard’s

opposition (“Council candidates can’t possibly represent everyone,”

Thursday). I eagerly await the announcement by any Costa Mesa City

Council candidate who does not consider the rights and concerns of

homeowners/residents, business owners or property owners to each be

legitimate considerations in how they would govern.

Better yet, which of them shares Mr. Millard’s view of our

society? If you don’t know what that view is, go to

www.newnation.org/Millard/ and decide for yourself. I have. I suppose

if you don’t agree with the ideology you find there then that makes

you a “liberal.” That’s just plain nonsense. For the record, I’m a

fiscal conservative and social moderate.

With regard to the Westside, I believe that it is anti-property

rights positions like Millard’s that have stymied progress on the

Westside. It is my opinion that the failure of both the old Westside

Specific Plan and attempts to use redevelopment as a tool for

Westside progress can be traced to an inability to find common ground

on which the stakeholders could agree. The Westside Revitalization

Oversight Committee, on which all stakeholders are represented, is on

the verge of finding that common ground, thanks to the good work of

the group’s “re-zone” subcommittee, among others. I wish them well.

Based on the work the committee is doing and my own independent

assessment, here’s where I stand on Westside revitalization:

* Do the environmental assessment that will support the “bluffs”

overlay zone change to medium density residential from its current

low density designation.

* Consider the possible expansion of the overlay territory as an

option to be pursued later after evaluating lessons learned from the

initial overlay development results.

* Do not “re-zone;” i.e., do not create legal nonconforming

properties.

* Rely on private sector proposals to activate the overlay.

* Incorporate the West 19th Street territory into the existing

redevelopment area.

* Adopt a specific plan for the area to guide redevelopment.

* Adopt an eminent domain policy that is limited to ensuring

necessary lot combinations at fair market prices; i.e., discourage

“holdouts” that unfairly prevent redevelopment.

* Rely on private sector redevelopment to fund property

acquisition, not tax increment revenue.

* Review and make decisions regarding all recommendations of the

committee; hold “Town Hall” meetings throughout the City to

accomplish this.

I apologize if the foregoing is a little too detailed for some but

I believe those who follow this issue understand my position and I

believe it is an issue that requires candidates to be specific.

It won’t happen overnight but if we do the kinds of things I’ve

outlined, we can jump-start the renewal of the Westside. For example,

according to estimates from homebuilding companies, the residential

overlay can result in about 300 or more single-family homeownership

opportunities and hopefully encourage existing homeowners to upgrade

their properties. West 19th Street redevelopment can and should

result in much needed affordable senior housing opportunities and a

new super market/retail center. Mixed-use and other “infill”

innovations can stimulate economic growth and make West 19th Street a

retail/dining/entertainment destination for area shoppers. I believe

a majority of stakeholders have a mutual interest in this outcome and

will support it or something close to it.

You see, I have been paying attention. Thanks for validating my

candidacy.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Bruce Garlich is the chairman of the Costa Mesa

Planning Commission and has announced his candidacy for City Council.