Mid-Rise Development Moves On

SHORT AND TO THE POINT
In a relatively short meeting last night the Costa Mesa Planning Commission passed both Public Hearings before them - same project, separate actions.

THREE-FINGER SALUTE
The meeting began with a flag ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 316.

KILLING CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
Chairman Jim Fitzpatrick pulled two items from the short Consent Calendar for separate discussion.  He addressed the Code Enforcement Update and, after a brief discussion, the commission agreed that this report was no longer necessary.  I thought it was an interesting decision, since it provides excellent information about progress "cleaning up" specific properties and neighborhoods.

TOUTING COSTA MESA CONNECT
He also pulled the discussion of Costa Mesa Connect - the Smartphone App available for use by residents and others to report a long list of problems - graffiti, potholes, etc.  An excellent introduction video produced by Brad Long of Costa Mesa Television was played for the audience.  It is presumed that in the future the Development Services Department will present regular, comprehensive reports about the effectiveness of this tool and the results achieved.  The first such report will be presented in November.

TWO YEAR EXTENSION
The first Public Hearing, HERE, was simply a two-year extension of a development plan for 585 and 595 Anton Blvd. plus a nearby parking structure.  The commission, minus Vice Chair Rob Dickson who left because his employer has a conflict, voted, 4-0, to approve the extension.

REDUCED SIZE
The second Public Hearing, HERE, is about the same site.  However, the property owners wish to modify the previously approved development.  The shorthand version of their plan is to reduce the scale of the approved project from two high-rise towers - 26 and 16 stories - to two mid-rise buildings of six stories each.  These new units would be rental facilities, not the condominium units anticipated in the earlier approved project from eight years ago - before the bottom fell out of the economy.

DEVELOPER DID MORE THAN NEEDED
This project made me smile.  It's clean in almost every way.  The developer, landowner George Sakioka and his team, provided more parking than is required and more carefully-crafted open space than is required.  Even though there are many who feel this city doesn't need any more rental units, these units will be upscale and seem to be the right kind of units in that location.  We were told they will likely rent for somewhere in the $2.75 - $3.00 per square foot range.  That could mean around $3,000 per month for some of the units.

MOVING ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL

The commission voted, 4-0, to move this project on to the City Council meeting of November 18th - a busy night, since it will be the only council meeting next month and the last one before a new council is seated following the election.