COSTA MESA : Auto Club Drives for OK on Project

The Automobile Club of Southern California says it may leave town and take its jobs and sales taxes to a friendlier community if it does not get approval to expand its headquarters.

“Further delays are unacceptable and will be considered a denial of the project,” said Auto Club President Thomas McKernan in a letter sent to city officials June 9 after the City Council postponed for two weeks a decision on the auto club proposal.

The auto club, one of the biggest in the nation with 1.3 million members in Southern California, plans to add 500,000-square feet of space to its administrative offices at 3333 Fairview Road.

The additional space will be used to combine the club’s work force of about 2,500 in Los Angeles and Orange counties over several years.

The expansion could pump in an additional $2.2 million into the local economy, according to an independent study.

But Mayor Sandra L. Genis said that leaving the city would be “ill-conceived.” She said that unless the auto club has begun negotiations with another city, the group would have to begin from scratch.

Genis insisted that with a project as big as the auto club’s, a delay is not unusual and would give the city time to scrutinize the project, possibly avoiding lawsuits.

“If it takes two weeks to have the last loose ends tied, it’s a pretty good bargain in the long run,” Genis said.

City Manager Allan L. Roeder said the council will consider an environmental impact report on the project Monday. The council also will consider a proposal to change the zone designation of the 29 1/2-acre site from industrial to urban center commercial.

If the council approves the environmental report and the zone change, Roeder said that an agreement between the city and the auto club would have to be reached before construction could start.

Layna Browdy, an auto club spokeswoman, said that the expansion would be phased in over a period of several years “to show the community our long-term intentions.”

Genis, a professional planner, said that community members are concerned about the potential traffic problems the project could produce.

Also, Genis said she wants to maintain a balance between residential areas and commercial developments.

Two council members--Joe Erickson and Mary Hornbuckle--said Wednesday the project would be good for the city, and it would be unfortunate if the auto club decides to leave.

“They want to expand,” Erickson said. “If they can’t do it here, they will do it elsewhere. I’d like to keep them here.”

Hornbuckle said that the auto club may appear as if it’s threatening the city.

“The truth is, they’re just being honest,” Hornbuckle said. “They have a need and they want to make sure we understand their need.”