Tustin Planning Commission Workshop on Non-conforming Structures – 6pm

Regular Planning Commission Meeting – 7 pm

The Tustin Planning Commission will hold a workshop prior to their regular meeting this evening. The workshop agenda appears to be geared toward discussion of a report they produced titled, “Nonconforming Structures, Uses and Lots.” The staff report goes on to define a nonconforming structure and further states that, “An illegal structure is caused by the acts of a past or current owner, tenant or property manager, and not a governmental action.” The main focus of the discussion appears to be pre-1961 structures. If all of this sounds familiar, it is because nearly the entire report is focused on the Fairbanks property and the corrections demanded by the city. This comes in the midst of hearings on the property that have been held in the past few weeks to determine the extent of necessary repairs. The report attempts to stage this as a much larger issue than just the Fairbanks property by making wild allegations that the courts could possibly, through the force of law, make all legal and illegal non-conforming structures legal and that the city would lose control over what you can do with your own property. Oh, shades of libertarianism.

That is the kind of smoke and mirrors that our city council, welll really just Amante, would like to set up while he deals another death blow to the Fairbanks property. Instead of spending staff time producing ridiculous reports, perhaps the City just needs to step back and wait for the hearings on the property to be completed. Certainly, the timing is suspicious and that won’t work in the city’s favor should this issue be taken further (like, through the court system). Citizens, particularly in Old Town, where this ordinance could have a chilling effect, should stay abreast of the issues and attend the workshop at 6 pm.

The rest of the evening’s entertainment is pretty straightforward with the Planning Commission taking action on a variety of regular issues. We did notice a proposed draft amendment to the ordinance that would govern the establishment of tattoo and body piercing parlors. The issue has not, apparently, come up in the form of an actual application for a business license yet. The Planning Commission is taking an early lead on this to establish ground rules for new shops that may want to move into our town now that we have a nice District shopping center and other areas of entertainment and business. Good show.