INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some of...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some of the issues coming out of Monday’s Planning

Commission meeting:

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDELINES

In Spring 2001, the City Council adopted new zoning code

regulations for new residential construction and additions. These

changes included two new review procedures: minor design review and

design review. Minor design reviews were delegated to the zoning

administrator while the Planning Commission will consider design

reviews.

In addition, the council adopted residential design guidelines,

which are used with the review of new residential construction and

additions and include the criteria of being “harmonious and

compatible” with the neighborhood.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission continued any decision on the guidelines because it

wanted staff to look into some suggestions from residents, including

changing the definition of a bedroom to ease parking requirements and

changes for setbacks for second-story additions.

WHAT IT MEANS

Staff will now have more time to work with suggestions from the

public and the public will have more time to comment before an

ordinance is drafted.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I thought there were a lot of good issues raised that night and

[there were] a lot of people who couldn’t be there and it’s good to

let the public absorb what we talked about before we took a vote on

anything,” said Chair Bruce Garlich.

VIEW PRESERVATION GUIDELINES

The commission considered the view preservation part of the design

review ordinance separately. The view preservation guidelines would

affect homeowners in the Marina Highlands, Freedom Homes, Marina View

and California Seabreeze neighborhoods.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission told staff to include the guidelines in the

ordinance, with Commissioner Bill Perkins dissenting and Commissioner

Joel Faris abstaining because he lives within 500 feet of some of the

affected properties.

WHAT IT MEANS

The commission will consider the entire ordinance when it is

drafted.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I supported it on the basis that I thought we owed the City

Council [the opportunity] of making up their own mind about it,”

Garlich said.

TOWN CENTER DRIVE MASTER PLAN

The master plan is a conceptual plan for the future improvement of

the portion of Town Center Drive between Park Center Drive and Avenue

of the Arts as a pedestrian-oriented public plaza linking the major

arts venues within the South Coast Plaza Town Center Theater Arts

District.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission voted to continue the issue until April 28.

WHAT WAS SAID

“There is a theater arts district plan, which is pretty

interactive with [the Town Center Drive Master Plan], that is not yet

available for our review,” Garlich said. “I thought it would be

better to look at those two together.”

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SYMPHONY HALL

The Performing Arts Center proposed a 296,500-square-foot symphony

hall that will be across Town Center Drive from the existing

facility. The five-story building includes a 2,000-seat main

auditorium with a secondary, 500-seat auditorium.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission unanimously approved the master plan.

WHAT IT MEANS

It will now go to the City Council for review.

WHAT WAS SAID

“We approved it because everyone looks forward to [the symphony

hall],” Garlich said.

SUBDIVISION OF COMMERCIAL PARCEL

A representative of the Irvine Ranch Water District proposed the

subdivision of a 2.26-acre commercial property in the 1100 block of

Bristol Street into three lots with a permit for shared access

between them. The lot is now vacant.

The applicant proposed to subdivide the property into three

30,000-square-foot lots for three office buildings, which have

already been approved by staff. Approval will allow each of the three

lots to be sold separately.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission approved the subdivision, with Katrina Foley

dissenting. The decision includes a condition that required one sign

for all three properties.

WHAT IT MEANS

The applicant can now subdivide the property.

LOT SUBDIVISION

The property owner of an existing 27,800-square-foot residential

lot in the 200 block of Santa Isabel Avenue wanted to subdivide it

into four lots with a permit to allow shared driveway access.

In October 2002, the commission approved the construction of a

detached, four-unit, two-story, single-family residential project for

the lot.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission unanimously approved the subdivision.

WHAT IT MEANS

The owner can now subdivide the lot.

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman