REFLECTIONS FROM THE MEASURE K REZONING OUTREACH MEETING
- Cynthia McDonald
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Norma Herzog Community Center | Monday Evening
We attended the Measure K Rezoning Outreach meeting on Monday evening at the Norma Herzog Community Center, and while the discussion was worthwhile, the light turnout highlighted an ongoing challenge: public awareness and engagement.
Approximately 35 members of the public attended the meeting, compared with 27 City staff members, consultants, and City Council and Planning Commission members. The City indicated that postcards were mailed to some residences to announce this new round of meetings, but we did not receive one—raising questions about how broadly the outreach is actually reaching residents.
How the Meeting Was Structured
Opening remarks were given by City Manager Cecilia Gallardo Daly and Cathy Tang Saez of Dudek. Early on, a member of the audience asked about parking requirements for ADUs and why the City needs to rezone to implement Measure K. That question alone showed that residents are beginning to engage more deeply with the rezoning process.
Unfortunately, there was no formal question-and-answer period. Instead, attendees were directed to circulate around the room to review informational posters and participate in a hands-on exercise using wooden blocks.
Posters, Stickers, and Blocks—But Limited Dialogue
The posters were more informative than those used in previous outreach meetings, which is a positive step. However, the format still relied heavily on the familiar sticker exercise, which tends to limit meaningful dialogue rather than encourage it.
Another activity involved aerial photographs of small sections of Costa Mesa, with Measure K parcels outlined. Participants were asked to place wooden blocks labeled with residential densities—20 dwelling units per acre (du/ac), 40 du/ac, and so on—onto the parcels where they felt those densities were appropriate.
At one point, I jokingly stacked several blocks on the Eastside of Newport Boulevard, only to be told by a planner that the City would not rezone any parcels for more than 20 du/ac. However, it was also acknowledged that even if the City rezones a site at 20 du/ac, a developer could exceed that number using the State Density Bonus law.
In fact, one of the City’s own density posters already shows 30 du/ac planned for Newport Boulevard. This highlights an important reality: actual project densities are likely to be higher than what is shown on the posters, and residents should be aware of that distinction.
Missed Opportunities for Education
More posters were placed around the room covering various planning topics. While the information was there, the format assumed a level of familiarity with planning concepts that many residents simply do not have.
If City staff or consultants had given a brief presentation walking through the posters, particularly explaining how the proposed changes affect the Zoning Code, followed by time for questions, the meeting would have been far more informative and accessible.
Open Space Gets Attention—But Not Enough Space
One notable observation was how little space was devoted to open space planning, despite the fact that open space is widely acknowledged as Costa Mesa’s largest deficit in terms of planning objectives.
Ironically, the open space poster received the most public comments, suggesting that this is an issue residents care deeply about—even if it wasn’t a major focus of the meeting itself.
Traffic: The Elephant in the Room
Perhaps the most striking omission was traffic circulation, which received virtually no attention. When I raised concerns that placing 30 du/ac along Newport Boulevard would exacerbate an already difficult traffic situation on the Eastside, the response was largely a shrug.
Given the scale of the proposed changes, the lack of meaningful discussion about traffic impacts was disappointing.
Final Thoughts—and Why You Should Attend
Despite the low attendance and limitations of the meeting format, this was still a worthwhile workshop, and public participation is critical as Measure K moves forward. These decisions will shape neighborhoods, traffic, and quality of life for decades.
If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, there are still opportunities to participate:
Virtual Meeting:
Thursday, March 5, 6:00–8:00 p.m. (via Zoom)
https://tinyurl.com/NWWABMarch5th
In-Person Workshop:
Saturday, March 7, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Costa Mesa Senior Center
695 W. 19th Street
Even if the format isn’t perfect, showing up—and being heard—matters.
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