Council makes deal for future ramps

Susan McCormack

COSTA MESA -- The City Council and Sakioka Farms struck a $1-million deal

Monday night that will give the city two strips of land on which to build

freeway ramps.

In exchange for giving the city the land off Anton Boulevard near the

Performing Arts Center, Sakioka Farms will be allowed to develop two

larger pieces of adjacent land under today’s building codes at any time

over the next 20 years.

There was virtually no discussion at the City Council meeting as council

members unanimously voted to accept the agreement, which the city has

been working on since this summer.

Mayor Gary Monahan has said the city needs the land for the development

of future ramps to the San Diego Freeway.

“I just want to say thanks to the city attorney and his staff for working

since July on this project,” said George Sakioka, who represented Sakioka

Farms.

Part of the land also may be needed if the county proceeds with a project

to build a light rail system from Fullerton to Irvine. It would include a

stop in Costa Mesa.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the plan at its Oct. 25

meeting.

The city has been working with the county’s transportation authority and

Caltrans on several freeway improvement projects. One of those project

includes building an onramp at Anton Boulevard and an offramp at Avenue

of the Arts at Anton Boulevard, land which Sakioka Farms is transferring

to the city.

A community meeting sponsored by Caltrans and the transportation

authority to discuss these projects will take place Wednesday from 5 to 7

p.m. The meeting will be at the Doubletree Club Hotel, 7 Hutton Centre,

Santa Ana.