REPORT FROM NO-PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6/11/07
The Westside Bluffs
The CM PRESS reminded the no-Planning Commission that unlike other coastal cities, Costa Mesa is currently backwards and that this is detrimental to improving our city and making it the great place it can be.
Indeed, in most coastal communities the neighborhoods get nicer as you get closer to the ocean. In Costa Mesa, it's just the reverse.
We have our best land--land closest to the ocean--the Westside bluffs--used for the lowest and worst use--industrial buildings--instead of for its highest and best use--homes.
But not just any homes should be put on rare land nearest the bluffs' edges; that land demands that top quality homes--even mini-estates--be built there. Such homes will attract people who are willing and able to pay higher prices for such homes, and they'll be human assets to our community and will help make the Westside the great and vibrant part of our city that it should be.
We also noted, however, that while there seems to be a general consensus that eminent domain should not be used to correct past zoning errors on the bluffs, that the City government must act and do the right things to jump start the free market so the bluffs will begin the evolution.
This means that the City government must take an active role in encouraging the building of homes and live work spaces on the bluffs.
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Common Interest Development Conversion Projects (Condos, etc.)
The CM PRESS also spoke to the issue before the no-Planning Commission about changing our zoning codes in respect to both residential and non-residential common interest development conversion projects.
Our concern with the staff report was that while scenarios were covered about converting apartment building to residential condos, and industrial buildings to industrial condos, there was scant mention about converting industrial, retail, or office buildings to live-work condos. And, it is this type of live-work conversion that many believe will help the bluffs begin the transition to higher and better uses; so changes to our zoning codes should clearly include provisions to allow this to happen.
Others spoke to concerns about a new rule that would bar owners of apartment buildings older
than 40 years from converting them to condos. The primary argument against this rule was that these are the types of conversions that might most benefit the city if these older buildings are thoroughly refurbished and brought up to modern codes.
The no-Planning Commission finally decided to refer this matter to their Study Session on June 26, for further discussion and then to bring it back to the no-Planning Commission for action on July 9.
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
As always, please feel free to pass the CM PRESS on to others who want an improved Costa Mesa. Here's our link: http://cmpress.blogspot.com/
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