HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - - Public Comments - 4/27/2021From: C1 Hunter <mapleknowellhouse@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 7:46 AM
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Housing Element
Dear City Council,
As you begin to review different options for increasing the housing in Costa Mesa, please keep in mind that the
status quo does not work. Car centric cities are bound to fail as can be seen by the current housing market which
is dominated by car ownership, climate change which is fueled by emissions, and the countless number of
cyclists and pedestrians that are killed by cars every year in Costa Mesa and Orange county. I implore you to
take drastic action and to save our City.
Newport Boulevard is deteriorating north of 19th Street because commercial businesses are bound to fail there.
There is no visibility and it is a haven for druggies with all of the motels and derelict properties. Every property
should allow high density housing by right. The location has easy access to the 55 freeway and also is
cyclable to downtown Costa Mesa, East Side, West Side, and even the beach.
While we're at it, the same applies for Harbor Boulevard, specifically in "downtown". These properties are
falling apart. The City should allow for ground floor commercial, and a minimum of 3 floors of residential
above. Having a mixed use neighborhood actually decreases traffic and increases livability. Restaurants and
retailers flock to these locations because of the constant pedestrian traffic. Employees of the new commercial
business would also live above removing any requirement for a car. These new businesses would also be
utilized by the countless number of people who walk and cycle in Westside Costa Mesa. This would also work
on West 19th, East 17th, and other potential neighborhoods.
So please, drop the status quo, stop holding our city hostage to the car. Remove as many car and parking
requirements and the City will thrive. Will people complain about parking? Yes. Will people spend a couple
more minutes commuting in their car? Yes. But ultimately, more people will move away from car dependence if
other options are available. Unfortunately our current system doesn't allow for that.
Thank you for your consideration and hard work,
CJ FONG