MISSION VIEJO

The Planning Commission has voted 4 to 1 to approve plans for a 52,000-square-foot City Hall across a courtyard from the library, despite concerns that there may not be enough parking.

Commissioners delayed a decision on the proposal June 12 after seeing that the design was nearly 10% larger than what voters approved in March. Commissioners asked city planners to come to their meeting Monday night to explain why the added size is needed and whether there would be enough parking.

Jim Wirick of Irvine-based LPA Architects, the firm designing the building, told the commission the additional size was largely the result of design adjustments to improve access between the front desk and some staff offices, as well as an increase in the number of stairwells and access lobbies.