COSTA MESA : Approval Likely for Auto Club Proposal

Mayor Sandra L. Genis said she is more satisfied with the expansion plans for the Automobile Club of Southern California than she was two weeks ago, when she led a council delay of a vote to approve the large project.

Genis argued that the 500,000-square-foot addition to the Auto Club processing center at 3333 Fairview Road will bring more traffic than engineers have said.

At Genis’ request, the traffic engineers who helped produce the environmental impact report spent the last two weeks rechecking the numbers.

Genis said Friday that she is now satisfied.

“The information that I have from staff has addressed a lot of my concerns,” said Genis, who is a professional land-use planner.

“The two big issues for me from day one have been traffic and an adequate balance of housing versus employment. I’m fairly confident that these issues are not going to be a big stumbling block.”

Auto Club executives recently sent the city a letter saying that if their project is not approved, they will want to move to another city.

The expansion could more than double the Auto Club’s work force in Costa Mesa to 2,509 employees, making it the city’s largest employer.

Other council members contacted last week said they want the project to succeed and believe it will be approved.

“I’m optimistic, because I have faith in my fellow council members that they couldn’t possibly be considering driving this business out of town,” Councilman Peter F. Buffa said.

“I’m mildly optimistic,” Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle said.

Genis said people who attended the June 6 meeting and did not get to speak will be given the first opportunity to speak at tonight’s public comment section.