HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Here are a few items the council considered Monday:

FREEWAY SIGNAGE

Tenants and major developments within the North Huntington Center and Bella Terra mall are set to have freeway-oriented signs to improve its access and visibility.

WHAT IT MEANS

The proposed signs will be installed on an existing parking structure in the northeast of the center facing the San Diego Freeway.

About 10 panels will advertise tenants and the city will have rights to the central panel. The lack of frontage on an arterial road or visibility from the freeway poses a problem in attracting visitors for the North Huntington Center and Bella Terra tenants, city staff said.

Council members also insisted that the landowner, Mullrock 1-Beachpointe LLC, maintain the signs in keeping with current styles.

EDISON COMMUNITY PARK

The Edison Community Park, 21377 Magnolia St., is set to be reconfigured as a youth sports complex for south Huntington Beach.

WHAT IT MEANS

Several council members were concerned that reconfiguring the Edison Community Park would mean the loss of softball fields for girls, as well as preference for adults using the facility over kids.

Community Services Director Jim Engle assured Councilman Don Hansen that both softball fields would remain intact. The reconfiguration will cost about $2.5 million, Engle said.

DAY CARE USES MODIFIED

The City Council made it easier for large family day care units to operate in Huntington Beach on Monday by doing away with the $3,500 application fee and not requiring architectural plans with the application.

Councilman Joe Carchio voted against the ordinance, citing concerns about allowing large family day care units to operate in a neighborhood.

WHAT IT MEANS

Huntington Beach has a major need for day care facilities that council members hope to alleviate by making it easier for large family day care units to operate neighborhoods.

The item was introduced by Councilwoman Cathy Green, who said council members aimed to do away with the overly burdensome procedure of getting a permit from the city. Large family day care units are already intensely regulated by the state, she said.

— Compiled by Purnima Mudnal