ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WESTSIDE THAT FOLEY DOESN'T LIKE
At it's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday (7/1), the City Council will hear an appeal by Return to Reason--keep the Westside as slum central-Katrina Foley of a Planning Commission approval for the development of a seven unit condominium project to be built at 616 Center Street and 613 Plummer Street on the Westside. MAP1 MAP2 LINK
THE CM PRESS POSITION--BUILD SEVEN!
When Improvers first started organizing, we realized that the key to improving all of Costa Mesa is the Westside.
We also realized that, for a number of reasons, the City would have to be very flexible and creative in allowing new developments on the Westside or there would be no new developments.
This present proposal, for a project that is a little denser than some would like, is one of the things we expected would happen and which we believe should be allowed.
Some of those who oppose letting this project go forward are also some of the same people who oppose any use of eminent domain on the Westside to put together a number of lots for larger developments that would improve the area.
So, if eminent domain can't be used to put together lots for a proper development and if developers can't make a profit by going a little denser, just what do those such as Foley suggest as a way to improve the Westside? More flowers in the middle of W. 19th Street? More pot holes being fixed?
Developers aren't in it to hug and kiss and sing kumbaya. They want to make a profit. They need to make a profit.
If developers can't make a profit on the Westside, they simply won't build on the Westside and the area will continue to stagnate.
We need to get heavy handed politicians out of the way of progress and let developers make a profit even if they come up with something that may bend the rules a little.
Density, per se, is not necessarily bad--it depends on the development itself--and this development looks pretty good.
Hopefully, the full City Council won't listen to Foley and will allow the Planning Commission's decision to stand.
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
