Kohl’s is one store too many, mayor says

Deirdre Newman

Mayor Karen Robinson elaborated on her reasons for appealing approval

of a Kohl’s department store at the Mesa Verde Center at Monday

night’s City Council meeting, citing a “cumulative” effect.

As of press time, it was uncertain that the council would vote on

the project or continue the item.

The project calls for a 96,000-square-foot store that will replace

the defunct Edwards Movie Theater and Ice Capades Chalet and the Kona

Lanes bowling alley, which is tentatively scheduled to close in June.

Robinson said that, with other large-scale shopping centers

already generating traffic along Harbor Boulevard, one of her

concerns was how much new traffic this project would add.

“This project, when taken in isolation, seems fine,” Robinson

said. “But when taking in the cumulative effect, it creates densities

and intensities that are unacceptable.”

Paul Freeman, spokesman for the Segerstroms, who own the property,

countered that the project is compliant with the city’s general plan

and zoning.

“I look at this and ask myself, ‘What is the legal basis for

opposing the project?’” Freeman said. “[Robinson’s] argument would be

stronger if it were supported by any study done by [the] city’s

consultants. They don’t say anything about a ‘cumulative’ or

significant impact.”

Kohl’s will buy the property, which is a testament to their

commitment, Freeman has said.

Although the project was short of parking spaces when the Planning

Commission approved it in February, it now offers 14 parking spaces

more than the requirement, Freeman said. Parking has been a problem

in the area because of the Paul Mitchell Salon and Academy, whose

students were overusing residential spaces before the city stepped

in.

Kohl’s officials had requested a continuance because of two

outstanding traffic studies. But Robinson wanted to vote Monday night

because she said she had all the information she needed.

This was Robinson’s last council meeting. She will resign April 15

to become a Superior Court judge.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].