Mesa Verde housing project moves ahead

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Shutters, varying roof lines and arches are some of the

design elements included in the plans Standard Pacific Corp. has

submitted for a 69-home Mesa Verde development.

The two-story houses would be built in a variety of styles -- some

with Italian features such as window accents and trim; some with glass

separations, brick accents and shutters; and some with Spanish-style

arches.

“We believe the project will benefit the community by providing new

housing,” said Dana Bieber, project manager for Costa Mesa-based Standard

Pacific.

“We’ve got over 250 names on an interest list to purchase homes there.

They are four- and five-bedroom homes geared toward both young families

and the empty-nester market.”

On Aug. 21, the City Council approved the project on a 12-acre,

triangular-shaped parcel owned by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons that is bordered

by Adams Avenue, Mesa Verde East and Mesa Verde Center.

The houses would range in size from 2,696 to 2,972 square feet, not

including the garage and patio space, on lots averaging 5,000 square

feet.

Standard Pacific reduced the number of proposed houses from 90 to 69

after the council rejected its initial plan in the spring.

But some Mesa Verde residents, including Councilwoman Karen Robinson,

say there are still too many homes.

“In my opinion, there is no question that 69 homes at the size of the

homes is too many,” she said. The project “is not compatible with the

surrounding neighborhoods.

“I spoke out very strongly about that before the project was approved

by the former council, and my views on it haven’t changed.

“Standard Pacific [reduced] the number of homes but increased the size

of the homes, and the council permitted them to do that.”

Council members and residents also previously urged Standard Pacific

to retain the mature eucalyptus trees on the property.

City staff members said 20 trees on the perimeter of the shopping

center were removed after a survey found the property line differed from

where the city and developer thought it was. The trees will be replaced.

“It was a clear mistake as far as where the property line did lie,”

said Councilwoman Linda Dixon, who supported keeping the trees.

“I saw where the wall had to be built, and it was actually impossible

to build the wall and retain the trees. It broke my heart, but I saw that

some trees had to be removed.”