On Tuesday, December 1, 2009, Costa Mesa City Council will consider four land use designations which could be used to protect the Orange County Fair and Events Center (OCFEC) from development. The zoning and planning designations would be included in a ballot measure sent to the voters for approval. The initiative would include provisions that future changes to land use would require another vote by Costa Mesa residents.
In California's Government Code, there is a hierarchy for the land use tools available to Costa Mesa. The General Plan is the master document - all other policies, standards, zoning and land uses must conform to the General Plan. Under the General Plan is the Specific Plan and Zoning Code.
There are four designations being considered at Tuesday's meeting. Staff recommends the adoption of Option 4, adopting a General Plan Amendment.
Option 1: Currently, the 2000 General Plan designates the OCFEC property as "Fairgrounds" with a maximum allowable floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.10 and a compatible zoning of I&R (Institutional and Recreational.) Costa Mesa planning staff believe that this designation does not adequately describe the objectives for residents and City Council members as expressed at recent meetings.
Option 2: Place Institutional and Recreational Zoning (I&R) on the ballot. I&R is the current zoning designation for the Fairgrounds property, but does not conform to the wishes of the public and City Council. I&R allows uses such as open space, health services and public services. I&R is compatible with a golf course, low/medium and high density residential, religious assembly facilities and educational uses.
Option 3: Adopting a Fairgrounds Specific Plan. City Staff is not recommending that the plan currently being written be put on the ballot because the detail in the Specific Plan will be very "tight" in terms of permissible land use, future development procedures, and development standards. Staff is concerned that adopting the Specific Plan by ballot will create the need to ask the voters to approve even minor changes in the plan.
Option 4: Prepare and adopt a General Plan Amendment and place on the ballot. Staff recommends this plan to overcome the deficiencies of the "Fairgrounds" designation currently in use and allow the flexibility in planning not found under a Specific Plan.
The staff report is here.Download CM_BallotOptions
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