Smart housing policy requires real expertise, not local choices that backfire.
The City Council's 40% affordable housing mandate on the Fairview Development Center site isn't a state requirement. It is driving project density up to 4,000 units when our housing element only called for 2,300. Even pro-housing groups agree that poorly designed inclusionary mandates can slow down production and make overall affordability worse.
There are better ways to deliver affordable housing faster and with less neighborhood disruption:
• Distributing affordable units across multiple city sites
• Allowing developers to acquire existing multi-family properties and deed-restrict them as affordable at roughly half the cost of new construction
As Costa Mesa prepares to negotiate a long-term development agreement with the master developer, we need experienced leadership at the table who understands infrastructure, traffic, and real estate economics.
With over 10 years of master-planned community development experience and service as a former Orange County Planning Commissioner, I will negotiate from strength to protect our neighborhoods.
I’m Daniel Morgan, and I’d be honored to have your vote for Costa Mesa City Council.