Costa Mesa library project given go-ahead

Alicia Robinson

Within 10 years, a vast new library could rise next to the Costa Mesa

City Hall, the City Council decided Tuesday.

The Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries in April asked the council

to set aside the 2.5-acre Civic Center Park through 2015 as a future

library site, and the council has agreed.

The city’s three existing libraries are scattered around the city

and comprise only 16,300 square feet of space, library advocates have

said.

They’d like to create a 50,000-square foot central library for the

land adjacent to city hall, but the plans may have to be tweaked

because 27,225 square feet is the maximum building area allowed on

the park site.

Library supporters asked for 10 years to build the library because

they’ll need to raise an estimated $50 million for the facility. The

group will apply for $20 million in grant funds from a $600 million

state library bond issue that voters will decide in 2006.

The library building would be owned by the city, but the county

library system -- which runs Costa Mesa’s three libraries -- would

operate the new facility.

Few residents spoke against the library plan Tuesday. One critic

was Tim Gilles, who said he uses the existing park regularly. He also

fears library patrons would park in nearby neighborhoods.

“You can’t tell me if you put that thing up people aren’t going to

park in the housing,” he said. “Available parking is already scarce.”

The council did stipulate that the library Friends must raise 30%

of the funding by the third year, 50% by the fifth year and 70% by

the seventh year. They’ll report back to the council, which could

decide to nix the land agreement if fundraising efforts flop.

Library friends spokesman Dan Worthington said he’s not worried

about raising the money now that the land has been promised.

“To give us goals is very reasonable,” he said. “They don’t want

us to just sit on our hands because they’ve given their approval.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson

@latimes.com.