COSTA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION WRAP-UP

SOBRIETY GROUP HOME PERMIT

What happened: The Planning Commission on Monday decided to allow the

Book House, a sober-living group home, to continue operation. The group

home, intended to help recovering alcoholics work their way back into

society, may house up to 16 occupants, plus two on-site managers.

At the meeting, some residents opposed the permit, arguing that the

city has too many similar facilities. Previous Book House residents spoke

in support of the permit, however.

According to a staff report, the city received no complaints about the

site, the property is well-maintained and on-site parking meets the needs

of the home.

What it means: Property owners Dean and Dawn Fluss will be able to run

the Book House as they have since the home opened in October 1998. The

City Council passed an ordinance in February requiring permits for group

homes with six or more residents.

What they said: “The [Book House] provides a service to alcoholics by

giving them apparently a very structured environment in which to get

their lives in order. It has been there for some time, we have received

absolutely no complaints about it from neighbors and it seems to coexist

very well in the neighborhood,” said Walter Davenport, commission

chairman.

VOTE: Approved, 4-0

TOWN CENTER PROJECT

What happened: The Planning Commission continued a public hearing on

the South Coast Plaza Town Center project to Nov. 13. Expansion plans,

submitted by South Coast Plaza, the Orange County Performing Arts Center

and CommonWealth Partners, LLC, include a new concert hall, expansion of

the South Coast Repertory Theater and office space.

What it means: The commission will review the details of an

environmental report, a general plan amendment, a preliminary master plan

for the Town Center area and three development agreements at its next

meeting. The commission will also continue to hear public comment at that

time.

What they said: Planners postponed a decision because Commissioner

Katie Wilson was absent, Davenport said.

“It’s a major project and neither [the commission] nor the applicant

wanted a vote with less than the full commission present,” he said.

VOTE: Continued, 4-0