City moves to tighten building standards

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- The Planning Commission tonight is scheduled to take a

final look at a new set of proposed residential development zoning codes,

which have been in the works since June in an effort to preserve the

quaint neighborhood feel of the Eastside.

“Costa Mesa is one of the last communities where you see front and

back yards,” said Councilwoman Karen Robinson. “These [recent] small-lot

developments are taking away that quality and just being on top of other

people creates stress you might otherwise not have.

“If we have an opportunity as a city to prevent that while preserving

the quality of Costa Mesa that sets it aside from other communities, why

not?”

The proposed citywide zoning codes, if ultimately approved by the City

Council, would require:

* bigger lot sizes;

* larger driveways;

* more off-street parking;

* more distance between main buildings;

* a more extensive review process for new developments as well as

remodeling projects.

The revisions also would reduce the maximum building height, increase

the amount of landscaping required and require developers to follow

stricter architectural design standards, including more variety in

building heights and roof forms, more offsets and building projections in

home facades and enhanced detailing.

In June, the council established a temporary moratorium on small-lot,

multifamily developments throughout Costa Mesa in an effort to preserve

the Eastside’s neighborhood character.

Last month, the council extended the freeze to give the city more time

to work on the new development standards, which would apply throughout

the city if approved.

Planning Commissioners Walt Davenport, Katrina Foley and Katie Wilson

said they are likely to approve the ordinances tonight.

“In general, the intent is to minimize the impact and the crowding

effect that the development of some of the larger lots zoned for multiple

housing units have,” Wilson said.

“I think [the ordinances] will preserve the residential feel of the

neighborhood because if you have a dense, multifamily feel you lose that

sense of neighborhood.

“My biggest concern now is that we’re going to lose the number of

available housing stock, but I think it’s a worthwhile trade.”

Foley said she hopes the revisions will provide more open space and

better projects.

“While I am supportive of the ordinance, my biggest concern is that we

address the housing needs of the city and county,” she said. “We’re

trying to achieve a balance.”

Mesa Verde resident Robin Leffler said she strongly supports a few of

the proposed revisions, including requiring neighbors to be notified of

two-story remodelings and design reviews for remodelings, but would like

more specifics to ensure that houses blend in with the rest of the

neighborhood.

Douglas Watson of Costa Mesa said he strongly opposes the proposed

regulations.

“They’ve got some grandiose ideas about what the city is all about,

but I think [the City Council] is a little out of touch with the

community,” he said.

“It’s guaranteed for every American to have a certain amount of

freedom, such as for the pursuit of happiness, and this is another step

in taking those freedoms away.

“I think freedom is the most important, dearest thing we have, and I

object when I see it flippantly thrown away. If we have a lot of freedom

in the city, it’s probably not going to look as good, but I think it’s

worth it.”

FYI

* What: Costa Mesa Planning Commission meeting

* When: 6:30 tonight

* Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

* Information: (714) 754-5245