Costa Mesa residents will vote on Measure K, a ballot initiative that seeks to remove the requirement for voter approval on major development projects in the city, according to costamesaconfidential.com. The measure, if passed, would grant the Costa Mesa City Council increased authority over development projects, with final approval decisions falling into their hands.
Six years prior, Costa Mesa residents adopted Measure Y through a majority vote. That legislation compelled the city council to seek voter approval for any major development projects. Measure K could reverse this voter approval aspect.
Councilmember Arlis Reynolds, Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr, and Councilman Jeffrey Harlan are part of the push for Measure K's passage. Reynolds, Marr, and Harlan were members of the Ad Hoc Housing Committee that drafted the measure.
The Housing Ad Hoc Committee hosted one public meeting on Measure K before advancing amendments at a city council meeting to place the measure on the ballot. Some councilmembers reportedly had little time for a thorough review due to the late nature of these amendments. Reynolds and Marr have refuted claims that the measure was 'rammed through' to the ballot without public opinion.
Supporters of Measure K emphasize its importance in complying with state requirements for cities to plan for affordable housing. New state rules mandate future development projects include on-site, taxpayer-subsidized, low-income housing. Councilmember Reynolds stated, "Housing has been one of the most important issues we’ve discussed since the first meeting of my first term. Doing nothing is not an option. We’re here to represent the people of Costa Mesa, and 50% of people have housing concerns, so we have to take care of that." Reynolds added that she believes the City Council "can address current housing needs and begin investing in ways that Costa Mesa residents really want."
However, opponents of Measure K raise concerns that the initiative lacks specific language mandating housing units for middle and working-class families, seniors, veterans, or the disabled. They point to examples in other cities where, without clear mandates, the proportion of low-income units in mixed-use, high-density developments has been flexible, such as one instance with only nine low-income units out of seventy-two.
Former City Councilmember Jay Humphfreys noted, "There is nothing that requires affordable housing in Measure K." Opponents also argue that Measure K does not guarantee that the housing needs for low-income residents will actually be met and could potentially bring thousands more people into the city without fulfilling the state's goals. While the Housing Element identified a few specific areas for development for state compliance, Measure K expanded its scope to include areas along all of Costa Mesa’s corridors.
This report is based on information initially published by costamesaconfidential.com.
