Costa Mesa officials delay vote on initiative that would loosen Measure Y, spur housing
Costa Mesa city officials will spend more time crafting a ballot measure to place before voters in November, suggesting the slow-growth initiative Measure Y be loosened to allow for more development in certain areas of the city.
Panelists Tuesday were poised to approve language exempting housing projects that helped the city meet state and federal housing mandates or included affordable units from triggering a citywide vote under Measure Y. Instead, they pushed a vote to an Aug. 2 meeting.
Such exemptions would allow the city to amend land use plans to encourage housing and revitalization in defined commercial and industrial corridors, including portions of Harbor and Newport boulevards, Placentia Avenue, West 17th, 18th and 19th streets and north of the 405 Freeway.
Once approved, the “City of Costa Mesa Revitalization and Residential Neighborhoods Protection Measure” would go before voters on Nov. 8. It would not apply to single-family residential zones.
“The idea is to create new housing opportunities, not necessarily the redevelopment of property that is already developed with residential land uses,” said Jennifer Le, director of economic and development services.
Passed with 68.39% voter approval in 2016, Measure Y intended to place a check on pro-development council members who are no longer in office. Officials say it has since scared off projects that could have benefited the city.
They further maintain it constrains the city’s ability to update its sixth cycle housing element, in accordance with a state mandate to plan for the addition of 11,760 residential units by 2029 that, if unmet, could cause the state to overturn the measure altogether.
Local law enforcement officers describe encounters with individuals arriving at crime scenes, DUI checkpoints or police department lobbies — cameras in hand — waiting to capture 1st Amendment violations on video.
A council ad hoc committee explained in a July 12 study session on housing its push to loosen Y’s mandates. Although the move had been considered for months, the ballot language wasn’t made public until last week, which didn’t sit well with some.
“I oppose Measure Y as unnecessarily restrictive. But the people of Costa Mesa … mandated by a 70/30 majority they should have the power to decide major development issues,” said Rob Dickson. “I urge you to receive and file and start a realistic process to engage the community in its own future.”
Among nearly 30 commenters, others said they’d prefer a wholesale repeal of Measure Y.
“I’d rather have the state sue Costa Mesa and get rid of Measure Y once and for all,” said Marc Vukcevich. “We’re not trying to do anything ambitious, which is to make Costa Mesa affordable.”
Councilwoman Arlis Reynolds, who served on the ad hoc committee with Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr and Councilman Jeff Harlan, said it made sense to take time to ensure the ballot language was clear.
“We’ve heard ample evidence of the housing challenges for the residents in Costa Mesa. But we have only had really three or four days, at most, to hear input from our fellow council members or our residential community,” Reynolds said, making a motion to continue the discussion.
“I think it’s worth very little harm and a lot of value, taking the time to hear that additional input.”
Council members voted 6-1 to continue the discussion to Aug. 2. Councilman Manuel Chavez recommended adding a segment of Baker Street, East 17th Street and Bristol Avenue to the exemption area.
Councilman Don Harper cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing skepticism a policy change would inspire developers to create affordable housing and saying he opposed limiting residents’ rights to have a say about housing in their community.
“I’ll probably vote no on this because I’d just like it to die,” he said.
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