HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/13/2001 - City Council Special MeetingROLL CALL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF COSTA MESA
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
The City Council of ,the City of Costa Mesa, California, met in
special session November 13, '2001, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 77 Fair; Drive, Costa Mesa. The meeting
was called to order , by the Mayor, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag led by: Mayor Cowan, and a moment of
silence was observed, in honor of the people who lost their lives in
the'recent plane crash, in New York.
Council Members Present:
Council Members Absent:
Officials Present:
;Mayor Libby Cowan
Mayor Pro Tem Linda Dixon
;Council Member Karen Robinson
Council Member Chris Steel
Council Member Gary Monahan
;City Manager Allan Roeder
City Attorney Jerry Scheer
;Development Services Director
Donald Lamm
Planning & Redevelopment
Manager Mike Robinson
;Senior Planner Kim Brandt
Transportation Services Manager
Peter Naghavi
Deputy City Clerk Ruth Delaney
PUBLIC HEARING The Deputy City Clerk announced the public hearing, continued
Segerstrom Home from the meeting of November 5, 2001, to consider the Segerstrom
Ranch Home Ranch. The 93 -acre site is currently used for agricultural
purposes with a limited number of buildings, and the site is
bordered by Sunflower Avenue to the north, San Diego Freeway (1-
405) to the south, Fairview Road to the east, and Harbor Boulevard
to the west in the City,of Costa Mesa. The City Council will consider
the following items:
EIR No. 1048 Final Program Environmental Impact Report No. 1048 for
Segerstrom Home Ranch (SCH# 2000071050).
GP -00-05 General Plan Amendment, GP -00-05, to amend the 1990
General Plan text and figures; to change the land use designation
from Industrial Park and Medium Density Residential to High
Density Residential, Industrial Park, and Commercial Center on
93.34 acres; establish a site:specific floor area ratio of 0.41 for
the Commercial Center component; establish a site-specific
density of 29 dwelling units per acre for the High Density
Residential component; increase the trip budget; increase
maximum building ,area (961;,060 square feet of industrial uses
and 366 dwelling units allowed; 791,050 square feet of office
and office -related uses, 252,1648 square feet of industrial -.uses,
308,000 square feet of retail uses (IKEA_), and 464 dwelling units
proposed); amend' the Master Plan of bikeways to. delete the
proposed grade -separated bike trail undercrossing of the 1-40.5
Freeway and related links between Gisler Avenue and South
Coast Drive.
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SP -00-02 Specific Plan Amendment SP -00-02, to amend the North Costa
Mesa Specific Plan to increase the size of Area 1 (Home Ranch)
to include the 30.5 acres located north of South Coast Drive;
modify Area 1's land use designations, trip budget, maximum
allowable floor area ratio and building square footage, and
development standards.
R-00-02 Rezone Petition R-00-02, to rezone 93.34 acres from Planned
Development Industrial (PDI) and Planned Development
Residential -Medium Density (PDR -MD) to Planned Development
Industrial (PDI), Planned Development Commercial (PDC), and
Planned Development Residential -North Costa Mesa (PDR -
NCM).
PA-99-34/ZA-01-36 Master Plan PA-99-34/Minor Conditional Use Permit ZA-01-36,
for a final master plan to allow the construction of a 308,000
square -foot retail, 45 -foot tall building (IKEA) located at the
southeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and South Coast Drive,
with a minor conditional use permit to allow compact parking
spaces.
DA -00-01 Development Agreement DA -00-01, to establish a development
agreement for the Segerstrom Home Ranch project.
Communications were received in favor of the project from the
following Costa Mesa residents: H.R. Nyholm, (no street address
given); Mike Dunn, 2755 Gannett Drive; David and Teri Neumann,
907 Hyde Court; Rod Savely, 365 West Wilson Street; Ron
Sprague, 3000-D Royal Palm Drive; Jeanne Moody, 3315 Nevada
Avenue; James J. Barney, (no street address given); Dana and
Norma Laine, 3440 Santa Clara Circle; Robert and Bernie Keehn,
275 Nassau Road; Martin and Roxanne Christiansen, 625 Plumer
Street; Robert M. Wilson, 2425 Plumeria Place; Thomas and
Barbara Schworer, 1816 Kinglet Court; Robert C. Pfeiler, 687
Victoria Street, No. 2; Sherise Tetrault, 120 Albert Place, No. 9;
Rikki Stewart -Lazenby, Cashier, Vanguard University; Andrew
Smith, 1978 Tustin Avenue; Tammy Bartel, 241 West Wilson Street,
No. 12; David Nestor, 1993 Church Street, Apt. G; Jack and Laura
Feliciano, 2300 Fairview Road, No. R103; Heidi Hubbs, 1555 Mesa
Verde Drive East, Apt. 34-D; Randall Conley, 1741 Tustin Avenue,
No. 1713; Marlo Carr, 260 Victoria Street, No. E1; and John Stevens,
(no street address given).
Communications opposed to the project were received from the
following Costa Mesa residents: Duncan Griffiths, (no street
address given); B.J. Goddard, P.O. Box 11941; Alexis Taylor, (no
street address given); Arlene Jones, 2995 Ceylon Drive; Card J.
Lang, 2989 Ceylon Drive; two from Gene Hutchins, 1808 Kinglet
Court; Tim Cromwell, 2029 Swan Drive; Sandy Huber, (no street
address given); Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Green, (no street address given);
Wayne Leffler, 3025 Samoa Place; Barry Samuels, 3074 Fernheath
Lane; Kim L. Whites, 3046 Ceylon Road; Jean Neumeyer, 1360
Garlingford; and Lawrence and Joan Taylor, 3387 Marigold Circle.
Additional communications were received from: Edward Bonnett,
3126 Cork Lane, Costa Mesa, opposing change in the Costa Mesa
General Plan proposed by C.J. Segerstrom and Sons; two from
Doug Sutton, 2739 Canary Drive, Costa Mesa, supporting the
project and providing a proposal to direct Home Ranch net
revenues to specific City needs; Richard Dayton, 2900 Silver Lane,
Newport Beach, proposing that a part of the property be developed
into public playing fields for baseball and soccer; Robin Leffler,
3025 Samoa Place, Costa Mesa, proposing that the IKEA store be
eliminated from the, Home Ranch project; Mark Korando, 592 Park
Drive, Costa Mesa, suggesting; that the developer be allowed to
build anything he, wants as ,long as additional trips are not
generated; and William A. Huston, City Manager, City of Tustin,
asking to be advised when they can negotiate with the City of Costa
Mesa for the sales tax sharing contract required by Government
Code Section 53084.
Mayor Pro Tem Dixon reported that she toured the L.A. Times
building to better understand the operation. She discovered a
significant noise impact caused by several mechanical devices at
the Times facility which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, and listed the most significant. She believed that the noise
impacts cannot be fully eliminated, and also addressed hazardous
materials stored in tanks next to the building and lighting problems.
Mayor Pro Tem Dixon' believed that homes adjacent to an industrial
facility will have a lower property value and the housing/industrial
mix does not support the goals, objectives, and policies of the City's
General Plan. Based upon her investigation on the impact of the
noise generated by the L.A. Tires facility adjacent to the Home
Ranch project she believed that; noise will be incompatible with the
residential uses on the adjoining; parcel, and wished to withdraw any
consideration of Alternative E.
MOTION/Withdrew On motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dixon, seconded by Council Member
Alternative E Steel, and carried ; 4-0, Council Member Monahan absent,
Alternative E was withdrawn from consideration for the Home
Ranch Project.
In response to a question from Council Member Robinson, Mayor
Pro Tem Dixon clarified that she has suggested that members of
the public visit the site prior to raking recommendations to Council
regarding housing.
Council Member Steel supported the motion, stating that he hopes
there will be room for quality low-density housing in the City, as it is
in demand at this time. Council Member Robinson supported the
motion, and concurred with Council Member Steel's comments
regarding the importance of quality low-density residential housing.
Mayor Cowan supported the motion, stating that she has also
visited the L.A. Times: building, ;and commented on the impact the
noise would have on the residential housing.
Mayor Cowan confirmed that Alternative E has been withdrawn,
verifying for Council Members Robinson and Steel that housing is
being proposed for this project on the parcel behind the Automobile
Club, across Susan ,Street.
The Planning and Redevelopment Manager and the Senior Planner
gave a presentation and summarized the Agenda Reports dated
November 7, and November 8, 2001. In reply to Mayor Cowan, the
City Attorney confirmed that there is no obligation to negotiate with
the City of Tustin regarding the sharing of sales tax revenue.
The following Costa Mesa residents supported the Home Ranch
project: Kellie Bieber, 3028 Royce Lane, stated that financial
security is much needed at this time; Chuck Cassity, 2866 Boa Vista
Drive, is in favor of landowner ,development; Charles Trom, 3033
Madeira Avenue, stated that the; revenue brought into the City from
this project is very important; Liz McCormack, 2695 Canary Drive,
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approved of the assistance to the schools; Rachel Perez -Hamilton,
266 Brentwood Street, agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Dixon on the
housing adjacent to the L.A. Times Building; Craig Smith, 220 Knox
Street, No. B, felt the Segerstroms have answered every negative
issue regarding the project; Susan Lubbock, 2134 Sabot Cove,
talked about the positive aspects of the project; Matthew Makin,
2855 Pinecreek Drive No. F207, Robert Wilson's grandson, read a
letter from his grandfather on the positive relationship between the
City of Costa Mesa and the Segerstroms; Jessica McLeish, 2134
Sabot Cove, stated that the project will help the City move forward;
Julie Kramer, 329 Magnolia Street, looks forward to the positive
financial benefit to the City, and read a letter from Lynn Gates,
General Manager of Residence Inn by Marriott, 881 Baker Street,
who believes that this project will bring a strong and vibrant financial
future to the City; Mary Ellen Goddard, 2901 Palau Place, indicated
that the Segerstrom projects are always quality, and discussed how
carpooling could assist with the traffic issue; Scott Granger, 408
East 18th Street, felt that Home Ranch is good for Costa Mesa as it
will bring jobs and revenue to the City; Marc DiDomenico, 381 La
Perle Lane, objected to the IKEA store but supported the balance of
the project; Julie Myers, 1806 Samar Drive, addressed the tax
revenues this project will provide; Mark Shenouda, 2481 Elden
Avenue, stated IKEA is a fabulous retailer, and the plan for the site
is the best use of this land; Ted Baker, 3468 Wimbledon Way,
believes that Costa Mesa is one of the best cities to live in; John
Moorlach, 3169 Madeira Avenue, complimented the Planning
Commission and Council on their hard work on this project, stating
that it is balanced and reasonable; Robert Love, 2713 Starbird
Drive, stated that the positive factors outweigh the negative factors
of this project; Donn Hall, 3080 Johnson Avenue, representing
Costa Mesa United, stated the Segerstroms are only involved in the
highest quality projects; Lisa Reedy, 2747 San Carlos Lane, read a
letter of support from Diane Biellen, 2773 Bluebird Circle; Mike
Dunn, 2755 Gannet Drive, considered the land not being developed
for years as a large part of the problem; Bill Turpit, 1772 Kenwood
Place, appreciates the revenue'this project will bring to the City for
parks and street maintenance; Doug Sutton, 2739 Canary Drive,
stated this General Plan Amendment will bring the greatest fiscal
benefit of any project in Costa Mesa since South Coast Plaza, will
benefit everyone, and disputed the traffic issues; and Robert
Graham, 3260 Dakota Avenue, reiterated the positive aspects of the
project.
The following Costa Mesa residents opposed the Home Ranch
project: Janice Davidson, 1982 Arnold Avenue, Chairwoman of
Citizens for Improvement of Costa Mesa (CICM), refuted the
material concerning the Home Ranch project; Brent Neumeyer,
3158 Kerry,Lane, asked Council to adhere to the current General
Plan; John Rice, 3027 Warren Lane, complained about the amount
of traffic; Bus Cornelius, 925 Tanana Place, objected to the
increase in traffic the project will cause; Lori Hoskins, 1799 Tanager
Drive, does not like the General Plan Amendment being proposed;
Laura Rakunas, 1781 Tanager Drive, expressed concern regarding
the amount of asphalt being used in this project; Ed Keane, 2777
Lorenzo Lane, felt the staff report on traffic is not complete, and
does not want the IKEA store; Wayne Kastner, 2240 Jeanette
Place, felt that the density of the project is too high, noting the
impact on the community from congestion and pollution; Joann
Kanimakos, (no street address given), objected to the size of this
project and a potential bridge on Gisler Street; Dave Adera, 3253
Oregon Avenue; Martha O'Meara, 1980 Lemnos Drive, discussed
the traffic issues on Harbor Boulevard and the 1-405 Freeway; Glen
Holland, 3461 Wimbledon Way„objected to the traffic and pollution
the project will generate; Chris ;Otto, 1417 Shamrock Lane, stated
that IKEA will bring extreme traffic which the City does not need;
Cindy Brenneman, 1856 Elba Circle, clarified that it is not a question
of the people opposed to the project versus the Segerstroms, but
wanting to ensure this; is the best project for the City; Bill O'Rourke,
2546 Oxford Lane, opposes any development on this land; Phyllis
Atkinson, 2871 Alanzo Lane, complained of the traffic on Harbor
Boulevard and Fairview Road when trying to exit the 1-405 Freeway;
Joel Faris, 1863 Parkglen Circle, felt that the Segerstroms are
offering money to the schools in, order to get people to support the
project; David Anast, 3237 Idaho Place, indicated that the increase
in traffic due to this project needs to be addressed; and Matthew
Rodriguez, (no address given), has put his home up for sale and is
moving due to the traffic problems in the City being unbearable.
Tom Egan, 1893 Parkview Circle, offered a compromise plan he
called the "Golden Goose” program where the side effects of
excessive urbanization can be cured. Mr. Egan proposed a line
item in the budget ;for anti -urbanization projects, which would
improve traffic flow and reduce the wait at intersections. He
indicated that if Home Ranch is; not approved, IKEA may go to the
City of Santa Ana, they will receive the benefits, and Costa Mesa
traffic could still be impacted.
Paul Flanagan, 3090 Bali Circle; President of Costa Mesa Citizen's
for Responsible Growth, thanked Mayor Pro Tem Dixon for her visit
to the L.A. Times Building and learning of the flammable products
stored on the premises. He discussed the traffic impact fees, and
that he had not received the information on the wages earned at
IKEA.
Addressing concern expressed by Mayor Pro Tem Dixon regarding
the number of Council items continued due to the Home Ranch
project, Mayor Cowan -indicated that an extra Council meeting could
be held, possibly on, December 110, 2001.
Council Member Robinson agreed that Council should be able to
get caught up in December, :but felt that if matters from the
November 19, 2001, meeting are not resolved, deferring them to the
meeting of December 3, 2001, is a long delay.
Mayor Cowan stated :that since: the Home Ranch project and the
appeal of 257 Cecil Place public hearings have already received
public comments, an hour to an hour and a half could be designated
for each of these public hearings 'at the meeting of November 19,
2001.
Council Member Robinson stated that she would like to hear each
and every person who came to speak on each of these items,
regardless of the time. Mayor Pro Tem Dixon agreed with Mayor
Cowan that the public has had. plenty of opportunity to speak on
these two items, and felt that an hour and a half would be sufficient.
MOTION/Continued to On motion by Mayor Cowan, seconded by Council Member Steel,
November 19, 2001 and carried 4-0, the Public Hearing on Home Ranch was continued
to the meeting of ,November 1;9, 2001, at 5:30 p.m., ending at
midnight, with items :not concluded deferred to the meeting of
December 3, 2001, meeting, placing the Segerstrom Home Ranch
Project as the first public hearing on the agenda, 257 Cecil Place as
the second public hearing, and 268 Flower Street as the third,
limiting public testimony to an hour and a half.
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The City Manager confirmed with the Mayor that speakers on the
Home Ranch project would be allowed four minutes, and three
minutes for each of the other hearings.
Mayor Cowan indicated that she would like porous cement required
for the IKEA parking lots, and the two commercial properties. She
asked staff to investigate relative issues regarding the storm drain
system. She asked that should the sale of the five -acre site to
Mesa Consolidated Water District for an underground reservoir not
be completed, that the Development Agreement reflects that it
should be preserved as open space. Mayor Cowan commended
the Segerstroms for their donation to the Newport -Mesa Unified
School District. Noting that she encouraged adding the stadium and
pool plans, "The Scott Plan", which would benefit the two high
schools and asked for a response on the above at the meeting of
December 3, 2001.
Council Member Steel supported "The Scott Plan" but pointed out
that the project has not been approved at this time.
Mayor Pro Tem Dixon asked that if traffic is not circulating and -the
project is not built out, can the circulation problem be addressed
through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and asked
for Council's alternatives. Council Member Robinson asked: for
information on the process for the public to vote on the Home
Ranch Project, which election it could be considered; and the cost
to the City.
Council Member Robinson added that she has a similar concern
that if there came a point in the future when the City had traffic
problems and the only property abutting the roads was owned by
the Segerstroms, what would the City have to do to obtain the right-
of-way to be able to improve those roads to sustain the traffic. In
terms of dealing with that issue in the Development Agreement, she
asked for information to be brought back about a, commitment to the
City for purchase of land at today's prices, or prices five years down
the line. The City Manager asked if Mayor Pro Tem Dixon was
asking for the same information as Council Member Robinson, and
Mayor Pro Tem Dixon confirmed that she is.
COUNCIL Council Member Robinson commented that she participated, along
COMMENTS/Westside with Mayor Tem Dixon, and Planning Commissioner Bruce Garlich,
Cleanup in the Westside Clean -Up effort on the previous Saturday,
November 10, 2001, and commented on the children who
participated, learning that litter is not appropriate.
Council Agenda Order Council Member Steel asked that the issue of putting Council
Comments to the beginning of the agenda be reconsidered.
Westside Cleanup Mayor Pro Tem Dixon thanked the community for supporting the
Westside Clean -Up, stating that she felt everyone who participated
had a good time. She thought that it was quite educational
regarding refuse which floats to the ocean, and hopes an
educational program is created to teach both young and old alike
not to throw litter in the street and in the gutters and to use the trash
containers.
Home Ranch Mayor Cowan commended staff on their hard work in balancing the
Home Ranch Project; and other items that are heard by Council.
She reported that staff is researching the Orange Coast College
Swap Meet traffic because of the impact on Fairview Road on
Saturdays and Sundays.
ADJOURNMENT The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
ATTEST:
Deputy City r7IIrk of the City of Costa Mesa
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