Moratorium on converting rentals extended 6 months

A ban on converting rental apartments into condos for sale will continue for six more months, the Costa Mesa City Council voted Tuesday, 4-0, with Eric Bever absent. In April, the council put a 45-day moratorium on condo conversions to give the city time to draw up new standards, and that work is not yet done.

The review of residential condo conversions is part of an overall examination of rental versus sale properties. The council in March temporarily banned the subdivision for sale of industrial parks, and that ban also has been continued to allow further study.

City officials have said older buildings sometimes don’t have adequate parking, and they worry the aging infrastructure could fail after the units are sold.

Planning department staff members told the council the department should have the new rules ready in June.

— Alicia Robinson