INSIDE CITYHALL

TOWN CENTER

The City Council will consider a development agreement with

Commonwealth Partners LLC for its part of the Town Center project.

The council on March 5 gave final approval to the other parts of the

Town Center project, which is intended to transform South Coast Metro

into a pedestrian-oriented cultural arts project with a new symphony

hall, expanded South Coast Repertory Theater and an art museum or

academy, as well as restaurants, office space and improved parking.

South Coast Plaza Partners, the Orange County Performing Arts Center

and Commonwealth Partners LLC have collaborated on the project, which is

bordered by Bristol Street, Sunflower Avenue, Avenue of the Arts and the

San Diego Freeway. .

At that meeting, the council postponed a decision on the portion of

the complex pertaining to Commonwealth Partners LLC, which would include

the Isamu Noguchi California Sculpture Garden.

The Town Center project had received preliminary approval Feb. 5, but

determining the length of time Commonwealth would be required to maintain

the garden for public use became an obstacle.

The council instructed city staff to incorporate a provision requiring

Commonwealth to maintain the garden for 25 years and to force

Commonwealth to carry out extensive public notification for any changes

to the garden after that period expires.

WHAT TO EXPECT: City staff recommends that the council review the

revised development agreement Monday but postpone decision on the general

plan, site plan and planning action provisions that deal with increased

development on the property.

Commonwealth Partners LLC and city staff still have one major

disagreement.

According to the staff report, Commonwealth wants to be exempted from

any additional programs the City Council might add to a plan to enhance

the arts district, while city staff believes that an exemption would be a

special privilege.

HAMILTON STREET SKATEBOARD PARK SITE

The City Council is scheduled to consider what to do with a city-owned

site at Hamilton and Charle streets.

The council in February voted to kill plans to build a skateboard park

at the site.

City officials and residents have debated the location of the park for

more than two years. The city has been interested in building a park for

10 years and began looking at locations in 1998, when state law changed

to protect cities from skateboard liability.

Council members approved a site last year at Lions Park but changed

their minds after neighbors pointed out potential flooding and traffic

problems, as well as diminishing green space at the site.

Designs for the Charle and Hamilton park were in the final stages,

with the city less than a month away from putting the project up for bid,

when the council voted it down.

WHAT TO EXPECT: City staff is recommending the council consider

selling the property to the owner of the adjacent site at 523 Hamilton

St.

FYI:

WHAT: Regular City Council meeting

WHERE: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday

PHONE: (714) 754-5223