COSTA MESA 17 residents will vie...

COSTA MESA

17 residents will vie for Planning Commission posts

The suspense is mounting as 17 residents vie for only five open

seats on the Planning Commission.

City Hall released the names of the applicants, which included all

five sitting commissioners, plus another dozen who are interested.

The list includes one-time City Council hopefuls Bill Turpit, Joel

Faris and James Fisler, as well as vocal soccer dad Jonathon Zich.

Former Newport-Mesa school trustee Wendy Leece applied for a Parks

and Recreation Commission spot.

The decision-making process promises to be lively, as some of the

city’s planning commissioners face extinction after a contentious

City Council race. Council members will vote on the nominations after

they review each application, interview those who qualify and

nominate their choices.

City officials said the vote will most likely be taken at the

first City Council meeting in February.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at [email protected].

NEWPORT BEACH

Pizza place asks to deliver alcohol, as well as pies

A new pizza parlor wants to deliver beer and wine along with food,

but they will need the City Council’s approval first. Councilman Gary

Proctor requested that the council reconsider the Planning

Commission’s approval of the request by Hotties Pizza.

Marinapark mobile home park residents got another one-year

extension of their lease while city officials review plans for a

luxury hotel at the site. Council talk has turned toward closure of

the city-owned park that is the site of 56 private residences.

Two extensive habitat restoration projects are simmering at City

Hall. One would build a boardwalk through the Back Bay to steer

pedestrians and bicyclists away from fragile bird habitats. The other

would improve Big Canyon Creek and Big Canyon Nature Park.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

PUBLIC SAFETY

Car nearly strikes woman sleeping on house couch

A drunk driver reportedly crashed into the living room of a Costa

Mesa home in the 1100 block of Paularino Avenue Wednesday morning,

police said.

Wiley Joseph Orrison, 18, of Huntington Beach was stopped by Costa

Mesa Police near the intersection of Adams Avenue and Fairview Road.

But he failed to stop and continued to drive on Paularino ramming

into six parked cars, losing control of his vehicle and swerving off

the road into the home of Ellen and Ken Roberts, barely missing their

guest who was sleeping on a couch.

The crash blew a large hole in the living room wall leaving glass

and debris scattered all over, Ellen Roberts said. Orrison was

arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol,

hit-and-run and reckless driving.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].