INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE

CITY HALL

Here are a few of the items the commission considered on Monday.

ARMSTRONG GARDEN CENTER

The property, at the corner of Newport Boulevard and Victoria

Street, is occupied by Armstrong Garden Center. The applicant, Ted

Stelzner, representing property owner Pastor Tim Celek of Calvary

Church Newport Mesa, wants to tear down the structure and construct a

new building, display area and parking lot for the same business.

The zoning administrator approved the request on June 5. Planning

Commissioner Katrina Foley appealed that decision because she is

concerned that the exceptions Celek is requesting on landscape

setback encroachment and reduction in parking don’t address the

possibility of the property being converted for another use.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission approved the permit.

WHAT IT MEANS

Celek will be able to make the changes to the site.

WHAT WAS SAID

“Staff modified one condition of approval and added three more

that picked up the things that somehow didn’t get into the list of

conditions, and it was no problem,” commission Chairman Bruce Garlich

said.

HI TIME LIQUOR

The applicant, architect Marcus Paris, representing owner Diana

Hirst of Hi Time Liquor, proposes a 4,060-square-foot addition on the

north side of the store. Because of the property’s zoning, the

expansion must be reviewed by the commission. Hirst is also

requesting an exception to floor area ratio requirements.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission approved the expansion, with Commissioner Joel

Faris dissenting.

WHAT IT MEANS

Hirst can expand her store.

WHAT WAS SAID

Faris said he dissented because he saw and heard from some of the

nearby residents and business owners that the owner of the liquor

store did not maintain property.

“They left it really untidy in back of the store,” Faris said.

“Even when they were asked about it, they really didn’t seem to care.

If these guys can’t be a good neighbor now, do we want them to expand

and create a bigger problem?”

-- Compiled by

Deirdre Newman