HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB-1 - 25-627 - Small Lot Ordinance (PCTY-25-0007) - 2/3/2026Page 1 of 3
City of Costa Mesa
Agenda Report
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Item #: 25-627 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
TITLE: ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 13 OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL
CODE TO ALLOW FOR MINISTERIAL APPROVAL OF TWO-UNIT SMALL LOT ORDINANCE
PROJECTS (PCTY-25-0007)
DEPARTMENT: ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT/PLANNING
DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: CHRIS YEAGER, SENIOR PLANNER
CONTACT INFORMATION: CHRIS YEAGER, SENIOR PLANNER, (714) 754-4883
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 2026-XX, approving revisions to Title 13 of
the Costa Mesa Municipal Code (Zoning Code) to allow for ministerial approval of two-unit Small Lot
Ordinance (SLO) projects.
BACKGROUND:
On December 8, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed Code Amendment. The
Planning Commission supported the ordinance and voted 5-2 (Vice Chair Zich and Commissioner
Dickson dissenting) to recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance. Agenda details
for the meeting are found in the following link:
https://costamesa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7773714&GUID=CA876B52-3B66-4948-
8923-756C5F19C165
At its regular meeting of January 20, 2026, the City Council conducted a legally noticed meeting and
introduced on first reading an ordinance amending Costa Mesa Municipal Code Title 13 to allow for
the ministerial processing of two-unit Small Lot Ordinance projects. The City Council voted 5-1 (Buley
absent) to introduce for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 2026-01. The City Council discussed
the need to streamline housing processes and increase housing opportunities in the City. See the links
below for the January 20, 2026, City Council Agenda Report and video:
January 20, 2026, Agenda Report
https://costamesa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7804152&GUID=0CD7A8AD-1A40-414D-
AC3C-1B7FE3E81C91https
January 20, 2026, Meeting Video:
https://costamesa.granicus.com/player/clip/4341?view_id=14&redirect=true
Item #: 25-627 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
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ANALYSIS:
Ordinance No. 2026-01 is included as Attachment 1 to this report. The Ordinance is being presented
for final adoption. If approved, the Ordinance would become effective on the 31st day after adoption.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The adoption of the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the common-sense exemption. This exemption is
typically applied to procedural-only code amendments in which no increase in density is created, no
new land uses are authorized, and no reasonably foreseeable physical change to the environment
could occur. The proposed Ordinance fits squarely within this category. It establishes a ministerial
review process and objective standards for two-unit residential developments on parcels already zoned
for residential use, and it does not expand the range of permitted uses or increase allowable density
beyond what is already established under the General Plan and existing zoning regulations. The
Ordinance also does not authorize construction on any specific site or grant any development
entitlement; rather, it simply streamlines the review process by removing discretionary hearings and
clarifying procedural steps. Any future project would remain subject to ministerial review and would be
independently responsible for demonstrating eligibility for any applicable CEQA exemption. Because
the Ordinance is limited to procedural changes and has no potential to result in a reasonably
foreseeable physical impact on the environment, it is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3).
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may adopt the Ordinance as proposed, modify the Ordinance, or not adopt the
Ordinance. If the City Council chooses to make substantive modifications to the Ordinance after
introduction, the modified Ordinance would need to be brought back at a future meeting for adoption.
FISCAL REVIEW:
On January 20, 2026, in conjunction with the first reading of the Ordinance, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2026-01 to establish a new fee applicable to two-unit Small Lot Subdivisions and SB 9
projects, designed to recover the City’s costs for staff time required to process and review such
applications under the revised procedures. Staff time required for application processing will be reduced,
and the proposed fee will help achieve full cost recovery.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The proposed Resolution, draft Code Amendment and report have been prepared in conjunction with
and review by the City Attorney’s Office
PUBLIC NOTICE:
Pursuant to government Code Section 65854(a), a public notice was published once in the Daily Pilot
newspaper on January 29, 2025 exceeding the minimum 5 days prior to the February 3, 2026, public
hearing.
Item #: 25-627 Meeting Date: 2/3/2026
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Any public comments received for the February 3, 2026 City Council meeting, may be viewed at this
link: CITY OF COSTA MESA - Calendar (legistar.com)
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal:
• Diversify, Stabilize and Increase Housing to Reflect Community Needs
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 2026-01 approving Code Amendment
PCTY-25-0007 to allow for ministerial approval of two-unit SLO projects.