HomeMy WebLinkAboutPH-4 - 26-174 - Resolution North CM Specific Plan - 3/17/2026ATTACHMENT 4
Resolution No. 2026- xx Page 1 of 4
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-xx
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO THE NORTH COSTA MESA SPECIFIC
PLAN FOR CONSISTENCY WITH AMENDMENTS TO COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL
CODE TITLE 13, CHAPTER V DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, MIXED-USE
OVERLAY DISTRICT, TO REZONE HOUSING ELEMENT OPPORTUNITY SITES
WITHIN THE NORTH COSTA MESA SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY FINDS AND
DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa adopted the 2015-2035
General Plan, a long-range comprehensive guide for the orderly development of Costa
Mesa, on June 21, 2016;
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa adopted the North Costa
Mesa Specific Plan by Resolution No. 94-67 in July 1994;
WHEREAS, the North Costa Mesa Specific Plan provides additional planning
guidelines and standards for several large development areas located in North Costa
Mesa;
WHEREAS, by its very nature, the North Costa Mesa Specific Plan needs to be
updated and refined to account for existing and projected community needs;
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65580 et sec. (State Housing
Element Law) requires each city and county to adopt a housing element that identifies
and analyzes existing and projected housing needs within their jurisdiction and prepare
goals, policies, programs, quantified objectives, and sites to further the development,
improvement, and preservation of housing;
WHEREAS, the City’s Sixth Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element was adopted by
the City Council on February 1, 2022, through Resolution No. 2022-06 and
amendments adopted on November 15, 2022 through Resolution No. 2022-67, and as
revised as recently as March 1, 2023 to incorporate non-substantive changes as
authorized by the City Council;
WHEREAS, this Resolution would establish the applicable standards in Section 13-
83.58 “Properties Identified in the Housing Element” of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code
Resolution No. 2026- xx Page 2 of 4
as the prevailing planning, zoning, and development standards for any Lower-Income
Housing Element Site within the North Costa Mesa Specific Plan;
WHEREAS, North Costa Mesa Specific Plan amendment would allow the Mixed-
Use Overlay District to supersede the base zoning and Specific Plan allowances on
Lower-Income Housing Element Opportunity Sites pursuant to concurrently proposed
new Costa Mesa Municipal Code Section 13-83-58(e);
WHEREAS, the rezoning of Housing Element Opportunity Sites is exempt from
Title 13, Chapter IX Special Land Use Article 22, An Ordinance to give the People of
Costa Mesa Control of Their Future (Measure Y) pursuant to Costa Mesa Municipal
Code Section 13-200.106(g);
WHEREAS, adoption of a specific plan amendment is considered a legislative
action subject to the discretionary approval of the City Council;
WHEREAS, a Study session was held by the Planning Commission on January
26, 2026 with all persons having the opportunity to speak for and against the
amendments;
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission
on February 9, 2026 with all persons having the opportunity to speak for and against the
amendments;
WHEREAS, on February 9, 2026, the Planning Commission recommended the
City Council approve amendments to the North Costa Mesa Specific Plan for
consistency with proposed amendments to Title 13 to rezone Housing Element
Opportunity Sites, with direction for staff to conduct additional review with specific
Housing Element Opportunity Site property owners for consistency, on a 6-1 vote;
WHEREAS, staff completed the additional consistency review of the North Costa
Mesa Specific Plan with specific property owners as directed;
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2026, the City Council held a duly noticed public
hearing to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation, with all persons
having the opportunity to speak for and against the proposal at the public hearing;
WHEREAS, on November 15, 2022, the Costa Mesa City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2022-67, certifying and adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program that analyzed the candidate housing sites
Resolution No. 2026- xx Page 3 of 4
for the Sixth Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element, which provided environmental
clearance for the adoption of the Housing Element;
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments implement a schedule of actions
contained in the approved Housing Element pursuant to Government Code Section
65583 and do not allow the construction of a distribution center, or oil and gas
infrastructure, accordingly, the proposed amendments are statutorily exempt from
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code
Section 21080.085 (an exemption also known as SB 131);
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA
HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitations are true and correct and are
incorporated by reference into this action.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that based on the evidence in the record and the
findings contained in Exhibit A, the City Council hereby approves the proposed
amendments to the North Costa Mesa Specific Plan for consistency with amendments
to Title 13 of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code to rezone Housing Element Opportunity
Sites.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Costa Mesa City Council does hereby find
and determine that adoption of this Resolution is expressly predicated upon the activity
as described in the staff report and compliance with all applicable federal, State, and
local laws.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any section, division, sentence, clause,
phrase or portion of this resolution, or the document in the record in support of this
resolution, are for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining provisions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of March, 2026.
Resolution No. 2026- xx Page 4 of 4
_____________________________
John Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________ _____________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 2026-xx and
was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular
meeting held on the 17th day of March, 2026, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 18th day of March, 2026.
___________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk