INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some of...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some of the items the Planning Commission discussed

Monday.

AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL CODE

In 2002, an Assembly bill was signed into law that eliminates

local discretionary review of second-unit (accessory apartment)

applications. In July, the city has to accept these applications

without the discretionary review. If the city’s zoning code is not

changed to reflect the state law, state standards of accessory

apartments will prevail over the city’s standards.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission approved the change.

WHAT IT MEANS

It will now go to the City Council for review.

MASTER PLANS

The Town Center Drive Master Plan and a change to the North Costa

Mesa Specific Plan were on the agenda.

The Town Center Drive Master Plan is a conceptual plan for the

future improvement of the portion of Town Center Drive between Park

Center Drive and Avenue of the Arts as a pedestrian-oriented public

plaza linking the major arts venues within the South Coast Plaza Town

Center Theater Arts District.

The commission will consider incorporating the Theater Arts

District Plan for the South Coast Plaza Town Center into the North

Costa Mesa Specific Plan.

WHAT HAPPENED

Both items were continued because the Theater Arts District Plan

is not ready for commission consideration yet.

WHAT IT MEANS

The items will come before the commission at a later date.

APPEAL OF SECOND-STORY APPROVAL

On April 3, the zoning administrator approved a second-story

addition for John Rice. Mike Snyder, the property owner and resident

behind the Rice’s property, appealed the approval based on his

concerns with losing his family’s privacy.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission re-approved the addition with the provisions that

the Rices agree to install landscape screening along the rear wall to

a height of 9 to 10 feet and increase the wall height to 8 feet along

the rear property, under direction of staff.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I think we were trying to find some common ground between the two

to satisfy the desire of the applicant and the concerns of the rear

neighbor,” Chairman Bruce Garlich said.

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman