INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the items the council decided on Monday.

AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL CODE

In 2002, an Assembly bill was signed into law that eliminates

local discretionary review of second unit (accessory apartment)

applications. In July, the city has to accept these applications

without the discretionary review. If the city’s zoning code is not

changed to reflect the state law, state standards of accessory

apartments will prevail over the city’s standards.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved the change.

WHAT IT MEANS

Accessory apartments will now be reviewed according to local

standards, instead of the state’s.

WHAT WAS SAID

“We have enough apartments in our city already, yet we have

Sacramento telling us we have to do it,” Councilman Chris Steel said.

“I’m going to vote no as a protest vote.”

SYMPHONY HALL DESIGN

In February, Orange County Performing Arts Center officials broke

ground on the $200-million Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall,

which is the first major expansion of the Center since 1986. The hall

will be about 297,000 square feet and contain two auditoriums. The

design for the hall has been in the works for five years.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved the final master plan for the hall.

WHAT IT MEANS

Construction will start on July 7, said Jerry Mandel, Center

president.

WHAT WAS SAID

“When this is finished, it will be the preeminent arts center in

the country in terms of space,” Mandel said. “The City of the Arts

will, in fact, have the facility to be the City of the Arts.”

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman