Group will appeal denial of radio station antenna
A Garden Grove-based nonprofit seeking to start a radio station in Costa Mesa has appealed the city’s denial of its request to construct a 70-foot antenna near College Park homes.
International Crusade for the Penny, which aids people with disabilities and the homeless, wants to start a small station at the commercial building at 440 Fair Drive and broadcast 24 hours a day in English and Spanish using an antenna in the center’s parking lot. The station’s programming would include education and entertainment shows for children and adults as well as interviews with civic leaders.
The nonprofit described its programming as benefiting “all of the diversified nationalities within the needs of our community.”
In March, a zoning administrator denied the antenna, partially on the grounds that it would be “extremely out of scale” compared to the structures around it and that it could not be properly camouflaged to minimize visual blight.
College Park residents also expressed concerns about the antenna’s proximity to their homes, particularly along Carnegie Avenue.
The city Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the matter Monday.
Mary Luna, representing International Crusade, wrote to city officials that she believes her organization is being mistreated because other antennas in the city are not camouflaged in the manner being asked of her group. Luna suggested putting a flag on the antenna to make it less conspicuous.
She wrote that her group is “tired of being bounced like a ball back and forth, wasting a lot of our time, money and energy.”
Luna added that the Federal Communications Commission approved the antenna, though city officials contend that FCC approval does not preempt the city’s zoning laws, which can restrict the device’s height and location.
City officials also say that while Luna says the station would be an amateur operation, like ham radio, they contend it would be much more powerful than that.
In correspondence sent to City Hall, International Crusade alleges discrimination: “True fact is that you’re discriminating and raitst [sic] because you saw Latinos and Latino black? FYI our group doesn’t dicriminate [sic] it consist also different nationalities.”
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Sutra move, Westside development
City planners on Monday will also consider a request from Sutra nightclub, located in The Triangle entertainment center, to move to another suite on the downtown property.
Sutra wants to use Niketown’s former space, giving the club 11,804 square feet — about 3,200 more than it has now. If approved, The Triangle’s owners want to convert Sutra’s old space into a restaurant.
The commission will also hear development plans for Westside Gateway, a 177-unit project at 671 W. 17th St. that could replace an industrial site.
The homes are designed to be spread across about 9 acres, making Westside Gateway among the largest proposed developments in recent years.
The City Council first heard project plans in June.
