Large Planning Commission Agenda Tonight

BIG AGENDA TONIGHT
The agenda for the Costa Mesa Planning Commission meeting this evening - 6:00 in City Council Chambers - is especially large, with ten (10) public hearing items to be handled by the commission.  This is the largest agenda, HERE, I can recall in recent months.

SEVERAL ITEMS MAY BE SHOVED OUT...
I'll cover each item briefly, but want to note up front that several of them will probably be shoved off until the meeting on January 13, 2014 because there is not sufficient staff time to properly deal with all the issues involved by tonight's deadline.  Those are items 6, 7, 8 and 9.

CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Right off the top the council has one Consent Calendar item - the Code Enforcement Update, HERE.  I don't know if they'll pull it from the Consent Calendar to discuss items on it, but the staff report makes for interesting reading.

TWO MORE BARS - REALLY?
Public Hearing #1, HERE, is a request for an alcohol license at the Shell Station on the corner of Bristol and Santa Ana Avenue.

#2 is a similar request for a bar at 1562 Newport Blvd, HERE.  Do we REALLY need more alcohol dispensaries in our city?  One reason our police lead the county in DUI arrests each year is because we have so many places selling booze!

SIGNS AND BANNERS ON SOUTH COAST DRIVE
#3 is a request for new signs and banners along South Coast Drive, HERE.  Staff is recommending approval of new monument signs and the denial of electronic reader boards and banners.

VICTORIA STREET DEVELOPMENT
#4 is an 11-unit, 2-story detached residential development at 687 Victoria Street, HERE.  It has seven (7) deviations, variances or administrative adjustments for the commission to consider.

WHOPPER APARTMENT PROJECT ON BAKER STREET
#5 is for a five-story, 240-unit residential apartment building with a six-level parking structure for 465 parking spaces at 125 East Baker Street.  The staff is hoping for public input on this project.  In a city with a lop-sided ratio of homeowners vs. renters, this one stands out is so many ways.  It's HUGE by any current standards.  For those of you who live and/or shop in that general part of the city, this will have a very big impact on your quality of life.  Tonight's the time to step up and speak out. The Juaneno Band of Mission Indians has already signed in, indicating that the site may be culturally sensitive.

THREE ITEMS INVOLVING "MOTELS"
Public Hearing #6 is a review of the Conditional Use Permit for the Sandpiper Inn, HERE.  The staff is asking to continue this item until January 13, 2014 because they need more time for the review preparations.

#7, HERE,  is a similar issue involving the review of the Conditional Use Permit for the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.  The staff has also asked for this to be shoved out until January 13, 2014.

#8, HERE, is related to the above two items.  It is a new ordinance regarding extended stay occupancy in motels.  The staff is also recommending this be shoved out to that January 13, 2014 meeting.

SMALL LOT SUBDIVISIONS
Public Hearing #9, HERE, is a biggie.  It's an amendment to the Municipal Code adding new regulations for small lot subdivisions in multiple family residential zones.  The staff requests the commission to either recommend to the City Council approval and first reading of the ordinance OR continue it to the January 13, 2014 meeting.

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
The final item on the agenda, Public Hearing #10, HERE,  MUST be handled tonight.  It is the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the 2008- 2014 Housing Element.  There's a significant time constraint on this process, so the Planning Commission MUST get it to the City Council post haste.