Steel wants project to ensure legal residence

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Councilman Chris Steel said he plans to question more

than mundane planning codes during his appeal tonight of the proposed

affordable housing for the Westside.

Steel said he initially filed his appeal based on parking concerns on

the lot at 1925 Pomona Ave., where Habitat for Humanity wants to convert

three two-story duplexes into affordable, owner-occupied housing.

Since filing the appeal, issues of legal residency and ethnicity have

come into play.

“I appealed on that basis because I didn’t have time to enter my own

problems with the project,” he said. “But there are definitely other

things I’m concerned about.”

At the Nov. 13 meeting, the Planning Commission approved the

conversion of a six-unit apartment building into ownership condominiums.

Each two-bedroom duplex would be converted into one four-bedroom home

while two additional three-bedroom units would be built.

During that meeting, commissioners also made exceptions to usual rules

regarding open space, landscaping and distance to back out from several

open and garaged parking spaces.

In addition to ensuring enough parking space, Steel said he wants to

enact some conditions regarding the people who would be chosen to live in

the newly converted homes. He said he wants only legal Costa Mesa

residents to be selected and wants no more than three unrelated adults

living in one unit, he said.

“We have too many so-called slum lords allowing too many people to

live in unsafe and unhealthy conditions,” Steel said.

Mark Korando, who represents Habitat for Humanity, said overcrowding

would not be an issue, as the organization would not allow two unrelated

households to live in the same condominium -- only one family per house

is allowed.

Perhaps his most ambiguous idea, Steel said he wants to see “more

diversity” in the area. Commenting on the large population of Latinos in

the area, Steel would only say, “I’m looking for balance on the

Westside.”

He said he would explain exactly what he meant at tonight’s council

meeting.

“It’s not what people think,” he said. “Just give me a chance to

explain it.”

The councilman is happy to see rentals converted to ownership housing

and feels Habitat for Humanity is a responsible organization. He agreed

it would be better to have the property run by a reputable entity than a

common developer, but wants to make sure certain specific requirements

are set in stone.

The proposed project drew fire from some residents, including Joel

Faris, who says the lot is not big enough to support more buildings.

“It’s too bad Habitat for Humanity would pick such a lousy project.

They have a fantastic program. I would love to provide a tour of the

Westside and point out better-suited lots,” Faris posted on a community

Web site.

Faris, who is considering a run for a council seat, said he visited

the site and the cars were double-parked on the site even without an

additional back unit. He said he did not understand how the city could

even consider adding more units when so many people live there already.

Habitat’s Korando said despite the additional building, less people

will be living there under the proposed project than the 58 living there

now. Only 42 people are expected to live on the property as proposed, he

said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

FYI

What: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Information: (714) 754-5223