New Planning Commission Handles Light Load

EASY GOING FOR THE SHORT-STAFFED GROUP
Monday night the new, Jim Fitzpatrick-less, Costa Mesa Planning Commission managed to make it through the agenda without officers being elected just fine, thank you very much.

A LEADERLESS CREW
The new group, operating without Vice Chair Rob Dickson, whose wife just delivered a brand new baby girl that afternoon, chose to NOT select new leadership until Dickson is available at the next meeting.  Congrats to the parents and big brother on the new little Dickson.  They put off the election of Chairman and Vice Chairman until that time and recently re-appointed commissioner Jeff Mathews conducted the meeting as Acting Chairman.  He did just fine.  In fact, he probably said more words at this meeting than all his previous meetings combined.

ANDRANIAN AND MATHEWS SWORN-IN
New commissioner Stephan Andranian was sworn-in with the returning Mathews.  He's a local fella - a Newport Harbor High School graduate, where he played water polo.  His parents attended to see him sworn-in.  He seems like a nice fella.  He did his homework for this agenda and made a few tentative comments during the proceedings.  His presence adds yet another lawyer to the commission.  Bring on those lawyer jokes!

MORE "OWNERSHIP" OPPORTUNITIES
The first item on the agenda, the conversion of rental condominiums at the corner of Orange Avenue and Mesa Drive by applicant Temir Sacury was handled swiftly - 20 minutes, flat.  One speaker was concerned about them being converted into rehab homes, but there really was no response that could be given to that concern.  The item passed on a 4-0 vote.

"RAISING CANE'S" COMING TO TOWN
The second item, the replacement of the Burger King restaurant at 3150 Harbor Blvd, where it had operated for 37 years, with a brand new to California chain restaurant, Raising Cane's - a chicken-only store with more than 100 stores elsewhere in the southeast.  Their representative, Robert Montgomery, made an excellent presentation and had a large contingent of staffers and consultants available, too.  Here's his summary of why this is a good move for Costa Mesa: (click image to enlarge)

WALL-PHOBIA
The commission passed it on a 4-0 vote after a 30 minute discussion.  The only real bone of contention was a wall along the back property line that actually is completely off the property and is owned in total by the neighboring residential development.  Colin McCarthy was concerned about "something" happening to the wall and the applicant not being responsible.  Well, of course, he's NOT responsible.  Anyhow, McCarthy instructed the applicant to seek out the owner of the wall after the approval.  Strange bit of unnecessary drama on this one.

CONVENIENCE STORE, SANS BOOZE, APPROVED
The final item was the creation of a 1,200 square foot convenience store at the 76 gasoline station at the intersection of Newport Boulevard and Fairview Drive.  The only real issue here was the possible future request to sell liquor at the store.  Again, McCarthy made a big issue of this subject - correctly so, since it seemed apparent that the applicant intended to try to sell liquor at this site in the future.  There is language within the conditions of approval that will make it problematic for him to do so.  The commission approved the application, 4-0 just after 8 p.m.

MORE PAVING SCHEDULED
After City Engineer Fariba Faseli announced an extensive schedule of paving on the north and west sides of the city which will begin within a couple weeks and be completed by April, the meeting was adjourned until the next one on February 23rd.