COSTA MESA : Reservoir Plan to Be Discussed

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District tonight is expected to again discuss a proposed 10-acre underground reservoir on district property.

Previously, a 10-acre field next to the Kaiser Elementary School, at 2130 Santa Ana Ave. in Costa Mesa, had been mentioned as the most likely site for the $12-million reservoir. The underground tank would store about 25 million gallons of ground water, which would serve the east side of the city of Costa Mesa.

Now, according to Costa Mesa Water District General Manager Karl Kemp, the district is planning to ask that Lindburgh Elementary School be the reservoir site. Lindburgh, at 23rd Street and Orange Avenue in Costa Mesa, is not being used by the district and is leased to the Vineyard Christian School. Kemp said that the site change came after discussion with the district and “indications from the school district and administration that they were quite uncomfortable” with the Kaiser site.

The site selection issue has been a contentious one for the district, and residents of the Sycamore Park development, next door to Kaiser, have opposed the Kaiser location, arguing that the large-scale excavation would be disruptive to the neighborhood and citing safety concerns for children attending the elementary school.

In February, more than 150 people turned out to voice their concerns about the project and to request that Lindburgh be used as an alternative site.