Costa Mesa OKs two housing developments
The Costa Mesa City Council has approved 16 new homes for Mesa Verde and the Eastside.
One of the developments, at 2880 Mesa Verde Drive East, will replace First Church of Christ, Scientist, with 10 homes. The church has been on the 2-acre property since 1968.
The developer, Peter Zehnder of Aliso Viejo-based Pinnacle Residential, hosted sessions with neighbors earlier this year to get resident input.
City planners described the 3,300-square-foot houses as “Santa Barbara style,” with cosmopolitan shingle roofs, stucco with stone siding and veneers.
On Tuesday, the council approved the project 4-0. Councilwoman Katrina Foley was absent.
The second development approved involves six craftsman-style homes at 2366 Orange Ave. that will replace six apartments on just over a half-acre lot. The homes would range in size from about 2,250 square feet to 2,700 square feet.
The project did provoke some neighborhood dispute, with some arguing that the two-story structures wouldn’t fit in well alongside single-story homes. On June 29, Douglas Gorrie, whose home on East Wilson Street abuts the development, appealed the development to the council, contending that it still had unresolved design issues.
To alleviate some of the neighbors’ concerns about the loss of privacy, the council asked the property owner, Irvine-based Kings Road Partners LLC, for some screening measures, such as adding a wall and trees.
