INSIDE CITY HALL OCC SWAP MEET...

INSIDE CITY HALL

OCC SWAP MEET

City leaders denied a rehearing of the Orange Coast College swap

meet’s business license Monday, saying there was no new compelling

evidence to reopen the issue.

Although many residents expressed concerns about the legitimacy of

the college shopping venue, City Council members said they were

legally limited to rule on whether any new proof had been presented

to warrant further scrutiny of the license.

Many residents argued that the swap meet did not benefit Costa

Mesa residents but rather vendors and shoppers from outside the city

limits. People also charged that many vendors were underreporting

applicable taxes and taking business away from the “brick and mortar”

stores.

Mayor Karen Robinson, who is also a lawyer, reminded the audience

of the council member’s limitations, saying it was their

responsibility to follow the letter of the law.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The OCC swap meet will be allowed to operate on Saturdays and

Sundays and will be reviewed by the City Council in six months.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I am not in disagreement with the comments, but I am willing to

let it play out for six months and give the college, the vendors and

everyone the benefit of the doubt,” Councilman Chris Steel said.

REZONING THE BLUFFS

Council members heeded a city committee recommendation to study

the possibility of rezoning the city’s bluffs and said they wanted

concrete documentation of the anticipated effects of such a bold

move.

A debate has long brewed about the financial benefits of turning

much of the industrial portion of the Westside, the closest ocean

property in the city, to residential zoning to attract high end home

builders.

Business owners oppose the idea because it would phase out the

commercial district.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said she wanted to know why housing

developers haven’t been attracted to the area since there is an

underlying residential zone that would permit homes in the area.

She also warned that rezoning would be a difficult decision to

make, as it would personally affect many Costa Mesa business owners.

If it were easy, it would have been done long ago, she said.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The city will look for consultants to study the benefits and

detriments of the zoning change.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I am not convinced that the industrial area is bad or is pulling

down property values, but I certainly want to see,” Cowan said.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Newport Harbor Animal Hospital gained unanimous City Council

endorsement to expand despite slight variances from regular parking

requirements.

Ken Millian, the hospital owner, wants to build a

6,000-square-foot addition without all the required parking spaces

designated by city code. Millian has proposed 39 parking spaces, and

the city requires 46, according to a staff report.

The hospital on Mesa Drive was touted by audience members to be a

wonderful and loving facility that took special care of its animals.

Planning commissioners recommended that the project be approved.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Millian will be allowed to expand his animal hospital.

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper