Planning Commissioner Fewel to step down

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Planning Commissioner Chris Fewel has announced plans to

resign at the end of the year, two months before his term expires.

Fewel, a commissioner for 4 1/2 years, stressed that he has no ax to

grind and that his decision stems from a desire to spend more time with

his wife, Mary, and his two sons -- Ian, 12, and Matthew, 6.

“Several months ago, my wife and I decided we need to simplify our

lives,” said Fewel, who owns a commercial real estate appraising firm.

“This is one thing we identified as possibly getting rid of to get more

time. My kids are young, and when I’m at a meeting every Monday night,

I’m missing out on one-seventh of the time that I can be there. The

business and the Planning Commission are both taking up family time, and

I can’t get rid of the business.”

Fewel, 44, a Westside resident, said he didn’t realize his term ended

in February and thought the time was right because it is the end of the

year and the beginning of a new City Council term.

He said he made up his mind several months ago but wanted to work on

the city’s plan to improve the rundown Westside before he resigned. The

City Council sent the plan back to the drawing board Nov. 7 -- a

disappointing decision that made it easier for him to step down, Fewel

said. But it was not the reason for his resignation, he added.

On the Planning Commission, Fewel said he tried to keep an open mind,

be fair with his decisions and give residents’ comments a lot of

consideration. He said he will miss the weekly contact with planning

staff and other commissioners, as well as the ability to have a direct

influence on decisions. But he “won’t miss Monday night football anymore,

and I won’t miss the people that come in and tell us we’re all a bunch of

crooked people. We put in a lot of time, and that is very discouraging.”

Other planning commissioners said they respect Fewel and that they

would miss him sorely.

Commissioner Tom Sutro said Fewel is a very knowledgeable person who

always tried to get the best for the city. Planning Commission Chairman

Walter Davenport said he respects Fewel’s creativity and dedication.

Commissioner Katie Wilson added that she admires Fewel’s conviction

and fresh perspective.

“Chris is a Westside pioneer,” said Wilson, also a Westside resident.

“He has the ability to see beauty and potential in the diamond in the

rough. I always got excited about the potential he saw there, and he had

the same ability to do that with the rest of the city.”