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WORK STUDY SESSION <br />F. 55-FREEWAY CORRIDOR <br />Bill Apple, Associate Planner, commented that at the direction of the <br />Commission, staff investigated the feasibility of rezoning the 55-Freeway Corridor <br />to professional designation to encourage multi-level office use. It became <br />apparent while working on study area that Planning needed to have discussions <br />' with the Economic Development and Redevelopment Divisions as the areas in <br />the corridor include parts of an Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Zone and portion <br />of the South Main Street Redevelopment Project Area. <br />Patti Nunn, Economic Development Manager, provided an overview of the city's <br />economic profile, including revenues generated by the business sector; <br />discussed the percentage of local sales/use tax revenue derived from top 25, 50 <br />and 100 businesses; and provided a comparison of sales tax revenues from <br />selected cities. <br />Commissioner Cribb commented on the importance and opportunity of the <br />ongoing development of South Coast Metro area and it being identified as Santa <br />Ana and the interest in creating a more urbanized land use and putting mixed- <br />use professional north along the 55 Corridor. <br />Mr. Adams indicated that prior to any rezoning actions, staff will prepare a <br />strategic plan for the corridor that will address short, mid and long term goals <br />based on Commission input. <br />G. MAIN STREET CONCOURSE/OPUS WEST <br />Ms. Nelson provided an update of the project indicating staff sent a letter to Opus <br />West Development with comments from site plan review. Opus West is currently <br />' in discussions with the property owner, Polygon, to determine if they will proceed <br />to the next level. Ms. Nelson added that there are certain elements, particularly <br />in the residential component, that need to be addressed. Staff will continue to <br />update Commissioners. <br />H. <br />George Alvarez, City Engineer, discussed the staff findings for two intersection <br />improvements identified in Fiscal Year 2001-02: Main Street/MacArthur <br />Boulevard and Bristol StreeUMacArthur Boulevard. Mr. Alvarez distributed a <br />table explaining the level of service descriptions indicating that both intersections <br />are marked as Level of Service E, described as severe congestion and delay. <br />With the proposed improvements, the intersections would be marked as Level of <br />Service D, described as heavy traffic with significant delay. <br />Souri Amirani, Senior Civil Engineer, identified proposed improvements at both <br />intersections including existing and proposed set-backs, additional turn lanes, <br />discussed the pros and cons, and noted that funding is through a grant from <br />Measure M. <br />Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney, reviewed the California Eminent <br />Domain Law on partial takes adding that the city does two types of takes -either <br />the whole property or part of the property. In order to insure the City's ability to <br />acquire right-of-way to include landscaped setbacks, an ordinance amendment is <br />proposed which will be presented at a future Commission meeting. <br />Chairman Mondo thanked Public Works staff for their presentation. Chairman <br />Mondo further noted that the Main/MacArthur intersection has a Class A <br />development and thinks the after condition of the northwest corner is an <br />inadequate solution; adding the setbacks would take parking away from the <br />California Apartments located north of the Arco station and make parking worse <br />for the Sandpointe neighborhood; he added that there should be policy <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 APRIL 8, <br />