Council member advocates for 40% affordable housing at Costa Mesa development site

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission meeting on June 23, 2025, focused heavily on the future of affordable housing in the city, particularly concerning a proposed development site. A key discussion point was the need for a firm commitment to include 40% of very low and low-income housing in the development plans.

One commissioner expressed satisfaction that the staff report recognized the community's support for affordable housing. However, concerns were raised about the potential dilution of this commitment as the project evolves. The commissioner emphasized the importance of ensuring that the 40% affordable housing requirement is explicitly included in the specific plan for the development site. This would guarantee that regardless of the total number of housing units built—whether it remains at the initially proposed 2,300 or increases to 3,500 or more—40% would be designated for affordable housing.

The commissioner argued that this requirement would not only address the community's pressing need for affordable housing but also help mitigate the impact of increased traffic from new developments. They suggested that the state, as the landowner, should consider this requirement when determining the sales or lease price of the land, ensuring it does not impose an excessive burden on developers.

In addition to this significant discussion, public comments were invited, with one resident, Cynthia McDonald, sharing her long-standing connection to Costa Mesa and her commitment to participating in local governance, despite her initial hesitation to speak.

The meeting underscored the ongoing dialogue about balancing development with community needs, particularly in the realm of affordable housing, as Costa Mesa continues to navigate its growth and development strategies.