Updated Draft Housing Element Available for Public Comment
On March 17, 2026, the City Council adopted a Resolution to amend the Sixth Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element where several Housing Element Opportunity Sites were removed, two were added, and to rezone the remaining sites through an update to the City’s the Mixed-Use Overlay District. Following these actions, and in accordance with “No Net Loss” provisions of state Planning and Zoning Law (Government Code § 65863), the City has 180 days to identify new Housing Element Opportunity sites to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and buffer (10-15 percent). The RHNA for 2021-2029 is 11,760 units and a buffer helps the City maintain adequate capacity should several Housing Element Opportunity Sites be redeveloped with a nonresidential use or at a lower density than assumed in the Housing Element.
On June 8, 2026, the City prepared a draft revision to specific chapters of the Housing Element to identify additional Housing Opportunity Sites and describe implementation progress. The public comment period for the draft Housing Element amendment was open between June 8 to June 15, 2026.
On June 24, 2026, the City made additional revisions to the Housing Element in response to public input and submitted the draft to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), where it provided preliminary comments on the draft.
On August 12, 2026, the City incorporated additional revisions in response to HCD comments, to share progress on program implementation, update the sites inventory, and identify policies that address Environmental Justice Issues.
The revised public review draft of the Housing Element will be available for public comment August 12 through August 19, 2026. The public can provide comments on the revised public review draft by:
The community can provide comments on the revised public review draft by:
Providing your comments directly on the project website HERE
Emailing your comments to neighborhoods@costamesaca.gov
Previous versions of the Housing Element, including the latest updated draft Housing Element amendment, are available on the City’s website at: https://www.costamesaca.gov/government/departments-and-divisions/economic-and-development-services/planning/housing-element-update
The Planning Commission will also review the revised draft Housing Element and make a recommendation to the City Council at a Special Planning Commission Meeting on August 17, 2026.
DATE: Monday, August 17 at 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: City Council Chambers, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA.
The agenda report for the Housing Element Amendment will be available online the evening of August 13, 2026: https://costamesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
For more information about all upcoming events, click HERE.
