ONCE MORE WE WADE INTO THE FDC MORASS

SPARSE CROWD FOR AN IMPORTANT ISSUE - Last night, once again, I attended a meeting about the future of the Fairview Developmental Center property - more than 100 acres near the center of Costa Mesa that has become surplus land for the State of California and, in theory, is available for new uses, mainly housing.  This meeting, at the Norma Hertzog Community Center, was very sparsely attended.  My guess is that fewer than 40 residents attended.  They were outnumbered by members of the staff and consultants.  I saw Councilman Manuel Chavez chatting with rookie Planning Commissioner David Martinez.  Former Councilman Jay Humphrey sat near me, as did the husband and wife team of activists, Cynthia McDonald and Rick Huffman.  Flo Martin also joined us at our table.  There were several senior staff members in attendance at this meeting, plus many other staffers.

CECILIA KICKS IT OFF - The meeting was scheduled to run from 6-8 p.m., but it was kicked off a few minutes late by Assistant City Manager/Acting Economic and Develop
ment Services Director Cecilia Gallardo-Daly.  Suzanne Schwab of the consulting firm Placeworks  provided the brief discussion, which was basically a walk through the 21 slides projected on the large screen and provided as a handout (copies of which will be included here - some, not all).  A Spanish interpretation was included, which slowed the process down significantly.  I could not tell how many Spanish-speakers were in the small crowd.  As far as I could tell, there was no audio nor video recording of this meeting.

BAIT AND SWITCH - The State of California originally told us the entire site was available for our consideration, with the exception of 15 acres of prime real estate earmarked for their Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Heliport.  Over the months the heliport was abandoned, but they kept the entire 15 acres when all they actually needed was around 2 acres for an office building and warehouse.  And, according to the consultants and staff members last night, the State is unwilling to relinquish the prime site overlooking our golf course and move the site closer to the Harbor Blvd. entrance.  Of course, that makes a lot of sense, so they, naturally, won't do it.  In fact, the EOC could, and probably should, be located elsewhere - like a perfect 20 acre site in Tustin in an industrial area close to 3 freeways.  Nah, that makes too much sense.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE - Not only that, but last night we learned that the State also has decided to retain another 20 acres for "other uses", including infrastructure for managing services for developmentally disabled folks - just as the entire site did before the State declared it surplus.  So, that now leaves us with only 80 or so acres for which we can plan for much-needed housing.  It is that remainder on which the current schemes are based.

3 CONCEPTS - The consultants presented slides with three concepts - Fairview Promenade, Fairview Fields and Fairview Commons, images of which are included.  The Promenade involves just under 115 acres and provides for 2,300 units.  The Fields is just over 115 acres and provides for 3,450 units and the Commons is similar in size but provides for 4,000 units and less park space.  You can see the breakdown along affordability lines on the images provided.

WANDER AND ASK QUESTIONS - Following the presentation, which took about a half hour including translation, the attendees were encouraged to wander among the 5 “stations” set up and manned by staff and consultants to answer any questions.  Those “stations” were Land Use Concepts and Project Information; Housing; Mobility and Traffic; Open Space and Parks and Infrastructure and Site Development.  Images are included.  One staggering fact provided in the last slide is the estimate of more than $250,000,000 for site preparation costs - Demolition, Remediation, Infrastructure/Utilities, Streets/Landscaping, Grading and Impact Fees.

NEXT STEPS AND SURVEY - We were also provided with “next steps” and encouraged to provide input via a survey.  We are encouraged to provide feedback by email to FDCHousingPlan@costamesca.gov.

MORE MEETINGS - Tonight, Thursday, July 25th, there will be another similar meeting at St. John the Baptist School beginning at 6 p.m. and will cover the same information.  There will also be a virtual meeting in both English and Spanish on July 31st.  We were also informed that there will be a “pop up” meeting for Spanish-speakers at Iglesia Harbor Church on August 1st, also at 6 p.m.  Here’s a link with more information, including the information necessary to participate in the virtual meeting next week: www.FDChousingplan.com

SURVEY - I have not yet completed the survey, but will go online to do so. Question #4 is interesting.  It asks “Do you support allowing up to 4,000 dwelling units in the preferred plan?” and you are asked to respond by checking either “More” or “Less”..  I would have thought the more appropriate choices would have been “Yes” or “No”.  On the positive side, we were not burdened by being expected to place “stickers” on the charts this time!

MY TAKE - I was disappointed in the small turnout for this meeting.  This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our City to create a new, special place for much-needed housing but only a few people showed up to hear the latest iteration of the plan.  I was also very disappointed that the proposed EOC is still on this plan, occupying the most prime piece of real estate on the entire site.  And, we are told, that construction on that ill-advised facility will start sometime next year!  Yikes!  I was pleased to see two of the plans included a second road from Harbor Blvd. into the site.  One thing that is not clear is whether there is a plan to provide emergency access to the site from the Fire Station on Placentia directly across the golf course rather than require emergency responders to drive around to the main entrance(s).  I encourage you to attend one of the other meetings scheduled or participate in the virtual meeting next week.

LINKS - I’ve written about this issue several times.  I’ve provided links to those individual entries below, just in case you want to refresh your memories.

Fairview Developmental Center Zoom Meeting 11/7/23

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/36907480/8516859097711182567

The Future of the FDC - The Resident’s Concerns 11/5/23

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/36907480/2282036690955319612

“Visioning” the Fairview Developmental Center 11/4/23

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/36907480/4364873693775678026

My correspondence Regarding the Proposed EOC 10/13/23

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/36907480/5777558731070983448

FDC Emergency Operations Center Meeting 9/29/23

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/36907480/4450809590635044181