Council approves development over protest

Tension and profanity marked the approval process for a new Westside residential development off Harbor Boulevard during Tuesday’s Costa Mesa City Council meeting.

Adjacent business owners criticized the 28-unit project near Hamilton Street, dubbed City Commons, for its proximity to their noisy operations that they said irritate future residents.

They argued that the homes would exacerbate traffic conditions along Hamilton, be an incompatible use for the area and force out existing businesses.

Supporters said that the three-story houses on the 1.53-acre site would be a quality development and a welcome replacement for the eyesore vacant commercial building there now. They also pointed to more than 15 support letters sent to the Planning Commission, which approved the project last month.

Councilwoman Sandy Genis requested that the council review the project. A majority of the council ended upholding the commission’s prior approval; Genis and Councilwoman Wendy Leece dissented.

Leece said she would have rather seen another commercial building go on the parcel, and that the council majority’s actions showed “disdain and disrespect” for longtime Costa Mesa business owners who opposed the development.

Genis said she disagreed with the city’s notion that the shade created by the three-story homes would have an “insignificant impact” upon the nearby Hamilton Community Garden.

During three or four months of each winter, plants within some of the plots in the garden — which has a two-year waiting list — will be adversely impacted by the shade, Genis argued.

“The evidence definitely shows that there will be shadow occurring,” she said. “To say that a loss of any of those parcels is OK is just nuts.”

Mayor Jim Righeimer said the homes would be a better addition for Harbor than the car wash and storage business that opened up nearby.

“That’s not what we’re looking for here,” he said.

Righeimer also cited the success of Sea House, a 33-unit development on West 18th Street, where homes sold quickly.

City Commons “is a phenomenal project,” he said, adding that he plans to welcome the families who move in.

A representative from the developer — Irvine-based South Coast Communities LLC — praised City Commons’ landscaping and cottage-style homes.

The company builds homes its employees would be proud to live in, said David Hutchins, vice president of development.

“I’m proud of what we’ve put together here, and it’s been a long haul,” Hutchins said, adding that the project has taken two years of design work.

He said the anticipated traffic from the project — 267 trips a day — is far less than the 766 daily trips a commercial business would generate.

“It’s quite a reduction from what the alternative is,” Hutchins said.

The main entrance for City Commons will be off of Charle Street. The development will have 113 parking spaces — two more than required.

Hutchins said no homes will be built there until the contaminated soil — caused by the site’s prior use for automotive repair work — is remediated.

Tim Lewis, president of Red-E-Rentals, 2075 Harbor Blvd., said he felt that the homes would destroy his tool and construction equipment business, where he has worked since 1967.

Lewis held a “filibuster event” — which included homemade cookies, brownies and water — before the council meeting. He used the chance to tell passersby about his ill feelings toward the project.

When it was his turn to address the council for three minutes Tuesday, Lewis threw his hat on the speaker’s podium. He then began a speech that said the seven City Commons homes abutting Red-E-Rentals would have agreements to formally “accept” the smoke, odors, vibrations “and any other thing I have” — like pressure washing and diesel delivery trucks — from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“If this project doesn’t destroy my business, I’m gonna destroy [the project], not by plan, but it’ll happen,” he said. “They won’t be able to give those seven units away.”

When his time was up, Righeimer asked Lewis to complete his remarks, to which Lewis replied: “I’m just going to keep talking.”

Righeimer then said his time was up and motioned for the next speaker’s turn.

“[Expletive] you, Mr. Mayor!” Lewis interjected. “Listen to me! You are out of line. [Expletive] you!”

After throwing some papers at the dais, two police officers escorted Lewis back to the seating area.

“Go to hell, you bastard,” Lewis said on his way to a seat. “I’ll see you at the polls.”