REPORT FROM THE NO-PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF 3/26/07
No-Planning Commission stiffs improvement again.
Look, Commissioners, the Westside bluffs are a big grid. You should be filling in squares with residential uses--not more industrial uses. Get it? That's why we have a residential overlay in place. Geez!
At tonight's no-Planning Commission meeting, no-Planning Commissioners Donn Hall, Eleanor Egan, James Righeimer and James Fisler all voted to allow the continuation of a paving and contracting business at 843 W. 17th Street (and Babcock). This is behind Griswold Industries (Cla-Val).
Staff had recommended that this business not be allowed to continue. There were several reasons and justifications for this recommendation, including the fact that this would be a step toward the evolution of the bluffs away from heavy industrial uses and into more residential and live/work uses.
Such an evolution to residential is not what the industrialists in the area want and they sent over a pile of letters from different industrial companies saying that they wanted the property to remain industrial. Hall, Egan, Righeimer and Fisler were happy to give them what they wanted.
Only Commissioner Sam Clark seemed to understand what was at stake and he voted to uphold staff's recommendations.
So, in plain English: Donn Hall, Eleanor Egan, James Righeimer and James Fisler all voted against the improvement of the bluffs.
This is not the first time that Hall,Righeimer and Fisler have voted against improvement on the bluffs.
They did the same thing at a previous meeting for a project on the corner of 17th and Placentia and virtually ensured that it would remain industrial for the next fifty years by their vote.
It's important to put names with these votes against improvement because Fisler and Righeimer (also Clark) may run for City Council in less than two years.
It's also important because Mayor Mansoor is the one who put Righeimer on the no-Planning Commission and snubbed a long time improver in the process. And, worse, Righeimer is a new resident of Costa Mesa and should not have been appointed to an important commission without really knowing about our city.
Mansoor also seems to have been behind keeping the Commission application process open longer than officially announced. Was that so he could appoint Righeimer who didn't submit his application in time?
Righeimer is active in mainstream GOP politics and is considered conservative and pro-family. However, what we need in Costa Mesa (remember that place?) is someone who is focused on the local scene and who will work to help revitalize the Westside instead of voting to keep it mired in industrial uses.
Fisler, who had been on most improvers' "A" list for a run for City Council in two years, is dropping fast in popularity among improvers. Meanwhile, Sam Clark is moving up fast.
Righeimer may have the support of Mansoor and the folks from Huntington Beach, if he runs for the City Council, but it doesn't look like he'll have the improvers behind him. In fact, even if he runs for the State Assembly (again) or some other office, they may actively oppose him because of his anti-improvement votes.
Fisler and Righeimer have now voted three times against improvement. That's three strikes and you're out in most improvers' books. Egan has voted twice against improvement. Her third strike will probably be made in the next few meetings.
Both Egan and Righeimer mumbled some nonsense about the area having industrial zoning so that's what should be there. Hey, haven't you heard about the residential overlay?! Where have you been?
Ultimately, the blame for the bluffs not being improved must be laid at the feet of the so-called improvement majority on the City Council. They appointed these people to the no-Planning Commission who are voting against improvement and they're not removing them, as is their right. These no-Planning Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the City Council. If the Council loses confidence in them, then the Council can remove them and replace them with others.
The Council should recall no-Planning Commissioners who are obstructing improvement on the Westside.
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