One Metro West development would bring 1,057 apartments, 1.7-acre park to northwest Costa Mesa

There are several large employers within blocks of each other in northwestern Costa Mesa and the developer proposing One Metro West says they could use housing nearby.

Rose Equities envisions meeting that need with a mixed-use project at the western end of Sunflower Avenue. It would feature 1,057 apartments in three residential buildings, some shops to serve those residents, a creative-space office building and a 1.7-acre park with a victory garden, bark park, public art and bike paths connecting the nearby Santa Ana River Trail.

The project would join SOCO & The OC Mix as the entry point to Costa Mesa along the 405 Freeway.

Along with that complex of stores and eateries, nearby employers include Vans, The Hive, Ikea and coming later The Press, a re-purposing of the old Los Angeles Times plant into offices and a large food hall.

“Placing housing near jobs makes a good deal of practical sense,” Brent Stoll, a partner at Rose Equities, said.

If even 300 of the nearby employees choose to live in the complex, it could cut out 3 million miles of vehicle travels a year, he said. That would take pressure off the major nearby roads and the on- and off-ramps to the 405, he said.

Fifteen percent of the apartments would be divided evenly between very-low-income, low-income and moderate-income affordable housing.

The City Council recently agreed to let the project be formally submitted to the city after a general plan screening meant to look for any fatal flaws and to collect feedback from leaders about issues they would want addressed in the review process.

The project will still have to go through the typical approval process and, if approved by the City Council, it would be the first to face a Measure Y vote.

Costa Mesa voters in 2016 approved Measure Y, which requires a public vote to approve developments adding 40 or more housing units that require General Plan amendments or zoning changes. One Metro West would need the city to allow housing where there is now industry.

Rose Equities is aiming the project for the November 2020 ballot.

Council members were largely supportive of the proposal, though they stressed the need to make sure traffic and parking issues were thoroughly studied and that concerns about light noise affecting residents across the 405 from the up-to-seven-story buildings be addressed.

Councilwoman Sandy Genis was concerned the council would be making a decision on losing industrial space in the city without having a good plan in place for overall economic development.

Council members also encouraged the developer to plan a robust community outreach program.

Stoll said he’s already been meeting with groups and even residents in their homes.

The need for housing throughout the state and the argument it is better to be closer to where people work and how that will help traffic in Costa Mesa south of Sunflower are all talking points, he said.

“I think that is going to be a pretty powerful story.

“One Metro West is the answer to the changing dynamics in the area today,” Stoll said. “This part of Costa Mesa has been organically changing over the last 10 to 15 years.”