Development Density Issue in Costa Mesa

In reply to Brian Theriot’s letter on “Quality of Staff at City Hall in Costa Mesa” (July 10), I must mention that Theriot lost in the recent race for City Council of Costa Mesa and was a strong supporter of Henry Segerstrom’s Home Ranch project. He is currently working for the Peters Development Co. in Tustin. This helps explain his attacks on City Councilman Dave Wheeler, Sandy Gennis, and homeowners Steve and Diane Goldberger, who are trying to stem the flood of high density development in Costa Mesa.

I did say “high density” development. Most people in Costa Mesa are happy with “moderate” development. We are about to drown in new high density residential and commercial development, most of it proposed by Henry Segerstrom and Arnel Development.

All of the new proposed high density projects involve zone variances and have been approved by the majority of the City Council, but not by Dave Wheeler.

As citizens of Costa Mesa, we are appalled at the hundreds of high density apartments recently built on Segerstrom land between two of our busiest boulevards, Harbor and Fairview.

We are appalled that after donating land for the Performing Arts Center in exchange for an OK to build a skyscraper tower next to it, Henry Segerstrom now believes it is his right to receive another zoning variance in Town Center and build another skyscraper office building and a hotel near the South Coast Plaza hotel. A block away, Arnel Development has received a zoning variance to do the same thing.

In our most gridlocked part of town next to the 405 Freeway and Harbor Boulevard is Segerstrom’s Home Ranch property. Henry Segerstrom persuaded our City Council to approve 20-story and 12-story high density office towers to be built on a small part of his land, all of the land in time to be densely developed with a zoning variance.

Our Planning Commission originally voted against it, as did Councilman Dave Wheeler.

Most people of Costa Mesa do not want our city dragged into a quagmire of smog, bumper-to-bumper traffic and the quality of life of too many rats in a maze. Yes, we have excellent traffic planners, Mr. Theriot. If they execute all present plans for widening of roads and bridges, syncronizing signals, and no “high” density projects are added, just moderate ones, our quality of life may be beautiful once again and we can all enjoy it.

PAT BARTZ

Costa Mesa