INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the items that the Planning Commission discussed

Tuesday:

MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

The applicant, James Poindexter, requested a permit to establish a

martial arts school in an industrial complex at 775 W. 17th St. The

applicant chose this site instead of a commercial site because this

site already has a large open area that would work well for the

studio. Staff has determined that there is enough parking for this

use.

WHAT HAPPENED

The studio was unanimously approved.

WHAT IT MEANS

The martial arts studio can open in an industrial business

complex.

TOWN CENTER DRIVE MASTER PLAN

This is a conceptual plan for the improvement of the portion of

Town Center Drive between Park Center Drive and Avenue of the Arts as

a pedestrian-oriented, public plaza linking the major arts venues

with the South Coast Plaza Town Center Theater Arts District.

The plan provides for vehicle drop-off and valet parking areas, a

pedestrian crosswalk and a central public plaza. A major goal is to

create a unified “Arts Campus” through the development of a

significant public space, while maintaining adequate access to

developments north and south of Town Center Drive.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission postponed any decision until July to give the

stakeholders -- Orange County Performing Arts Center and South Coast

Repertory -- more time to make the plan more consistent with their

development agreements.

WHAT IT MEANS

The commission will consider the item again in July.

SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT

This would incorporate the Theater and Arts District Plan into the

North Costa Mesa Specific Plan. The applicants are the Orange County

Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory, CommonWealth Partners

and South Coast Plaza.

Staff has been working with the affected landowners over the past

several months to define and develop the Theater Arts District Plan.

The first draft was submitted in January 2003 and a second draft in

March 2003. The plan contains elements such as public right-of-way

improvements, private improvements and special events.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission postponed this item for the same reason as the

previous item.

WHAT IT MEANS

The commission will consider the item again in July.

-- Compiled by

Deirdre Newman