Brand New Planning Commission Meets Monday

 FIRST MEETING FOR THE NEW CREW
Well, unless somebody decides to cancel the meeting to try to sort our Councilwoman Sandra Genis' big mistake last week, the brand new Costa Mesa Planning Commission will be sworn-in to their new gigs and begin work on Monday, February 13, 2017 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall.  You can read the agenda for that meeting HERE.

TAKING THE OATH, ELECTING LEADERS 
First up will be the swearing-in ceremony by City Clerk Brenda Green, then the Commissioners will select one of their own as Chairperson and then another as Vice Chairperson.  They also will select a liaison to the Housing and Public Service Grant Committee - one of those vacated last week by the City Council.  The new commissioners, in no particular order, are:

 Byron de Arakal

 Isabell Mayer Kerins

 Jeffrey Harlan

 Stephan Andranian

 Carla Navarro Woods

APPROVING THE MINUTES SHOULD BE INTERESTING
One of their first official duties will be to approve five (5) sets of minutes from previous meetings. Unfortunately, only returning commissioner Stephan Andranian was around for those meetings, so I'm not quite sure how this process is going to work.

ADDING A SMOG CHECK FACILITY AT 2059 HARBOR
The commission has a pretty light agenda for this first meeting.  Public Hearing #1, HERE, is an amendment to a Conditional Use Permit for a property at 2059 Harbor Blvd. Suite A, to add a smog check facility within 200 feet of a residentially-zoned property. 

 TIME EXTENSION FOR 2068 MAPLE
Public Hearing #2, HERE, is a request for a one year time extension for a planning application and tentative parcel map for four (4) detached units at 2068 Maple Avenue.

RE-PURPOSE AN INDUSTRIAL BLDG. AT 3101 REDHILL
Public Hearing #3, HERE, should take the most time for this new group.  This is a planning application for the renovation of an existing industrial building to a banquet facility located at 3101 Redhill Avenue, at the corner of Fischer Avenue.  The request involves two (2) Conditional Use Permits and two (2) Minor Conditional Use Permits.  This one will be interesting for this new commission - something to sink their teeth into.  It should be interesting to watch.

A GOOD GROUP, READY TO DO GOOD WORK
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing this new Planning Commission get to work.  Each brings a special blend of experience, education and training to this assignment, with enough diversity in all those areas that the discussions of some of the more pithy issues should be very interesting in the months to come.  I will be especially interested to see how they deal with Sober Living Homes once the City Council decides to turn them loose on the issue.  And then there's the rumored modification of the Harbor Boulevard and Newport Boulevard Residential Overlays that will likely be popping up on their agenda.  I wish each of them well and hope the Genis vote controversy doesn't distract them from their business Monday.