Westside urbanization plans need updating, city officials say

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission plans to examine proposed changes to urbanization plans Monday that have helped spur new Westside residential development.

City officials say the plans, first approved in 2006, are in need of updating.

Based on input from the community, the commission and the City Council, city staff recommends more architectural variety for the three-story houses being constructed under the guidelines of the Westside plans.

Initially, the guidelines called for nontraditional, contemporary designs, since described by some critics as far too boxy, “stark” or having “muted color palettes.”

Now, staff is suggesting that developers return to classic California architecture, such as Spanish Colonial revival, Craftsman or bungalow.

Staff also recommends homes be prohibited from being used as short-term vacation rentals on Airbnb and similar sites.

Another recommendation would ensure ground-floor rooms, originally intended to be used as small offices, not contain full bathrooms with showers or baths, to keep them from being used as extra bedrooms.

Though the Westside plans were approved a decade ago, the Great Recession stifled the Costa Mesa housing market, and builders held back.

By 2013, the market had improved enough that construction began on the first finished tract made under the Westside urbanization guidelines.

Prices for Sea House, a 33-unit development at 1036 W. 18th St., started around the mid-$600,000s. All 33 homes sold within a year.

Since then, more than a dozen such projects have been approved or built.

Monday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

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Bradley Zint, bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint