COSTA MESA : City Resolves Dispute With Car Dealership

Prompted by residents’ complaints, the City Council recently ordered Nabers Buick to become a better neighbor.

For nearly a decade, the residents whose homes back up to the car dealership on Harbor Boulevard have complained about a range of problems, including a loud public-address system and employee parking on residential streets.

After hearing repeated complaints in the past month about noise, the Council unanimously ordered the dealership to take corrective measures.

The dealership was ordered to put up a wall of plants to block the view into residents’ back yards from an elevated parking area.

In addition, the public-address system must be turned down and noisy air compressors moved out of earshot of the homes, the council decided.

“Hopefully, we will not have to see this item back on the agenda,” said Mayor Mary Hornbuckle.

The neighborhood dispute has a long history. In 1988, the city permitted the dealership to expand while instituting several steps to mollify residents.

Among other things, the city stipulated that cars could not be sold on the overhead parking area and that the dealership’s public-address system be kept at low volume.

Recently, Princeton Drive resident Carl Bureman and about 25 of his neighbors complained that many of the conditions have been ignored.

“It is four years later, and they are still noisy,” Bureman told the council about Nabers’ failure to remove a loud compressor at the rear of their property.

To bolster his case, Bureman presented a series of photographs showing customers on the overhead car parking area--a violation of the agreement.

In April, the Planning Commission placed new restrictions on the dealership, which it appealed, saying it would hurt business.

Taking a less stringent approach, the council loosened some of the Planning Commission’s rules and worked out a compromise.

“We feel this is a victory,” said Bureman. “We are happy we got some help and support from the City Council.”

Bob Hansen, service manager for Nabers, called the decision appropriate.

“I fully understand the people who live right in back of the dealership, especially about people peering into their back yards. I wouldn’t want that,” said Hansen. The decision “was fair.”