Costa Mesa council approves 142‑unit Bear Street housing project after parking and pedestrian‑gate concessions

The Costa Mesa City Council on Aug. 5 approved entitlements for a 142‑unit residential development at 3150 Bear Street, voting 6‑0 to authorize the general plan amendment, rezone, design review, tentative tract map and density bonus for the site.

The project, proposed by Meritage Homes, includes 142 ownership units — 122 stacked flats/townhome units and 20 detached single‑family units — and seven units restricted to very‑low‑income buyers. Meritage also proposed a one‑time $250,000 community benefit payment for improvements at nearby Shiffer Park.

City staff and the developer emphasized the project’s responses to earlier Planning Commission feedback: added sidewalks, reoriented buildings to reduce impacts on nearby houses and a proposed signalized entrance at Bear Street. The developer’s presentation listed about 93,500 square feet of on‑site open space and additional off‑site open space in an existing Bear Street maintenance agreement. Staff said the project generates fewer than 50 net peak‑hour trips compared with the existing use and that traffic fees will be assessed when building permits are pulled.

Why it matters: The site is in a Measure K corridor identified for additional housing capacity. Supporters said the development delivers for‑sale “missing middle” housing and homeownership opportunities for working households in a city with high housing costs. Neighbors…