City group gets crack at Westside

Deirdre Newman

City leaders deferred a decision on studying the rezoning of the

mainly industrial Westside bluffs until a group that has been working

diligently to improve the area can weigh in on the issue.

In a victory for the Community Redevelopment Action Committee, the

City Council voted 4 to 0 to give the group the first crack at

looking into proposed changes to the area between Whittier and

Monrovia avenues that would allow developers to replace industrial

buildings with housing.

It was one of the four options the council considered for rezoning

the bluffs -- an area that is predominately industrial, but that city

leaders would like to see covered with houses.

While the council’s action illustrates the committee’s success in

staying relevant to decisions affecting the Westside, some committee

members -- who have been vocal about wanting their decisions taken

seriously -- are still not sure how much influence their opinions

will have.

“That just remains to be seen at this time,” member Terri Breer

said. “That was encouraging, though, that we’re being included.”

Changing the zoning of the bluffs has garnered considerable public

interest and debate over the years. The council’s ultimate goal is to

convert the area into a residential neighborhood.

Only one consultant firm responded to the city’s call for bids on

the study. While it was thorough, staff was concerned that there was

no basis for comparison and that the bid price exceeded the original

cost estimates by about $10,000 to $15,000.

So it gave the council four choices: recirculate a call for bids;

terminate the project; proceed without consultant assistance; and a

variation of the third choice, which the council chose.

The issue was originally scheduled to be decided on May 5, but

because of the fear of deadlock with only four council members

present, it was postponed to Monday. The last choice was added for

Monday’s meeting, which didn’t give council members a lot of time to

consider it.

So Mayor Gary Monahan suggested passing this option on to the

committee for consideration.

“I think this is a perfect issue for [the committee],” Monahan

said. “In my early look, it actually gives more rights to the

property owners rather than rezoning their property. It gives them

more flexibility. I think this may be a good start on answering the

question of what to do with that area.”

Residents are divided on whether there should be any zoning

changes made to the bluffs area.

“My kids have the right to breathe fresh air,” an adamant Martin

Millard shouted in support of rezoning. “I’m sorry to shout, but this

is ridiculous.

“Why don’t you put your house next to your building?” Martin

asked, addressing industrial property owners. “We have an opportunity

now to take Costa Mesa into the future.”

Others reacted as emotionally in opposition.

“I would suggest there’s not a single soul in the affected area

that would like to see [the bluffs] rezoned,” said Dan Gribble, who

owns property on 18th Street. “How do those that don’t live there

have more rights than those who live, work and own businesses there?”

The committee’s study of the future of the Westside is expected to

be completed this summer.