Commentary: Newporters should support controlled growth in Mesa
Now that the Costa Mesa City Council has approved an update of the city’s General Plan, an update that includes new overlays that will allow four- to five-story apartment buildings, Newport Beach needs to keep a close eye on Measure Y.
Measure Y is Costa Mesa’s growth-control initiative to require voter approval for certain projects that require General Plan changes. Why be concerned about a ballot measure in a neighboring city? Because the outcome of that election will have a great impact on Newporters’ lives.
Despite the protest of its citizens, the Costa Mesa City Council majority has made it easier for developers to build high-density projects by passing a Small Lot Ordinance and granting General Plan amendments (“spot zoning”), variances and deviations to the planning rules. The areas targeted for redevelopment are not only older motels, but also local businesses that residents of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach frequent.
The consequences of this accumulation of increased density from projects have already been felt by Costa Mesa residents. The increase in traffic on our major boulevards is apparent to everyone. While some vehicles are just traveling through Costa Mesa, most of the vehicles contain Costa Mesa residents going from homes to jobs, shopping and doing business, etc. The increase in traffic from these large projects means that streets in Costa Mesa, including 17th Street, will need to be widened.
With the higher density we have also seen a reduction in open space and now have a deficit in the amount of parkland required to serve the growing population. Costa Mesa’s parks and sports fields are suffering from overuse. How long will it be before Newport Beach’s parks are filled with Costa Mesa residents?
Because of the recent rezoning of Newport Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard commercial areas, high-density projects of 40 to 50 dwelling units per acre (the four and five-story apartments mentioned above) are allowed. The City Council majority approved that zoning, despite the fact the City of Costa Mesa will lose $3,000 per acre per year because of annual tax revenue from the projects is inadequate to cover the cost of providing public services and maintaining related infrastructure. This is why maintaining a balanced tax base that includes commercial zones is fiscally sound.
Traffic from these developments will flow into nearby neighborhoods, which are already impacted. Eastside Costa Mesa traffic will likely flow onto Newport’s streets as Costa Mesa residents look for ways to escape the backup and Newport residents working and shopping in Costa Mesa will suffer from the gridlock as well.
Newport Beach needs to ask if Costa Mesa can continue to be a good neighbor if the impacts of all its excessive building are taking a toll outside the Costa Mesa city limits. Newporters need to consider that with Costa Mesa increasing density, will this have a ripple effect on Newport Beach?
What is being done to stop or mitigate these problems? Since the Costa Mesa City Council has largely ignored the wishes of its residents, a group of residents came together and wrote an initiative.
Measure Y was put on the ballot by the signatures of nearly 7,000 Costa Mesa residents. That measure will give the citizens of Costa Mesa a right to vote on their future. For Newport Beach’s sake, I hope its residents will urge their friends in Costa Mesa to support Measure Y. For more information, or to help with the campaign, go to savecostamesa.com.
--
CYNTHIA MCDONALD represents Costa Mesa First, a citizens’ group.