By: Chad Kim

A prior post described the under construction Anaheim Convention Center Expansion project located in the City of Anaheim's Anaheim Resort District: http://www.laocdb.com/oc-development-news/anaheim-convention-center-expansion-started-construction

The Summer 2015 edition of the Anaheim magazine highlights the under construction Anaheim Convention Center Expansion project. See below for scanned pages relevant to this project: 

By: Chad Kim

For those not familiar with the Wyndham Boutique Hotel/High-Rise Residential Project in Costa Mesa, check the previous post here: http://www.laocdb.com/oc-development-news/proposed-23-story-condo-tower-in-costa-mesas-south-coast-metro-area

A new document has been uploaded on the City of Costa Mesa's website. This document's title is "Notice of determination". In the document, under "Appendix D", states ..."...This project represents a modification to the approved development plan and it was determined that, when compared to the previously certified Final EIR 1054, no new impacts would occur nor would there be any substantial increase in the severity of any previously identified impacts. This is to advise that the City of Costa Mesa has approved the above described project on April 14, 2015 and has made the following determinations regarding the above described project."...
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CEQA Flow Chart: 
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Recall from a previous post, LTG Platinum Center proposed a regional mixed use center in Anaheim's Platinum Triangle, from L.T. Global Investment Inc., which also consisted of two high rise towers, a 28 story condo tower (354 feet tall) and a 26 story hotel. According to the OC Register, the applicant of the project turned in their application on June 11, 2015. It can be confirmed, as the City's website shows the information and status of the proposed project's application: ​

Source: http://permits.anaheim.net/tm_bin/tmw_cmd.pl?tmw_cmd=StatusViewCaseplan&shl_caseno=DEV2015-00024

Under the 'Other Associated Cases' heading are other items the project requires approval from the City. These include pending: Conditional Use Permit, Development Agreement, General Plan Amendment, Pre-File, and Zoning Code Amendment. It is possible to view the status of each by clicking on the Case Number and at the top of the page near "Case Number" is "Status" which for example, Case Number DEV2015-00024's status is "Received". 

While this is one step forward, however, according to the OC Register, a large challenge exists which deals with the Angels and parking issue. While the developer is looking to build 3,021 parking spaces, they still need 1,300 parking spaces at the Angels Stadium parking lot (city-owned) and the Angels does not want to share and does not want to give it up. The Angels has a lease agreement with the City where they are given the use of 12,500 surface parking spaces. The lease would have to be renegotiated if a parking structure is proposed. The developer states that if a deal cannot be reached, then it could devastate the prospect for the proposed project. An additional update from the article states that the project downsized the retail (from 460,000 sq. ft. to 387,000 sq. ft.) and hotel component (from 300 rooms to 250 rooms). The developer stated their decision for this downsize was from a demand analysis. The article also states the application process along with environmental studies could take a year. If the project is approved by the City, the developer desires to start construction in 2016 and complete the project in 2020  (source: OC Register).

Stay tuned for more updates.
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By: Chad Kim

An Irvine Planning Commission report (05/07/2015) sheds light on the proposed project named Irvine Gateway located at 17150 Von Karman Avenue. The developer, FF Realty II, LLC., is aiming to build a total of 434 residential units (out of the total, 44 rental units are affordable units) on a 8.51 acre site (~51 DU/Acre). The project is aiming to get a density bonus of 87 residential units and accordingly, there are 347 base residential units. The total of these two adds up to the overall total residential units proposed in the project. While the north side of the project site is proposed to have a 5 story apartment (363 rental units; may have the future option of turning into for sale condo units), the south side is proposed to have for sale attached three story townhomes (71 units). The apartment building configuration is a wrap-around and the parking garage will have six levels.
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By: Chad Kim

For those not familiar with this project, check out the prior post here: http://www.laocdb.com/oc-development-news/mixed-use-development-in-downtown-fullerton-pomona-court

Picture taken: 06/13/2015

By: Chad Kim

Update: The link to the video of the June 8, 2016 meeting can be found below:

http://costamesa.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=10&clip_id=2625&meta_id=184458

The item, 'Summary Matrix of High Density Residential Districts in Orange County Cities' starts at 00:45:46.

Summary: Four members of the public spoke about the item and all four opposed the idea of having more high density developments in Costa Mesa. Their fear pertains to ranging from the City attempting to raise the level of density to the displease of the current dense developments going on in the overlay zone in the Westside.

Quote:

Commissioner Colin McCarthy:  "Uhm, Mr. Chair just a couple comments from me because I was sort of the one who was pushing to get this...on the density discussion just real quickly, I don't think anyone has been saying raising density...uhm...all I asked for in the overall discussion about what high density is to have some context for what cities view as high density. What this chart does not show you and it would be pretty much impossible to show you unless it was a project by project basis would be site specific densities. Uh, where cities are exceeding what's shown on this sheet for specific reasons and of course cities can do that and some cities are doing that. You're seeing that somewhat in the South County right now where more dense, more intense condos and apartments, uhm, we're not really building a lot of apartments in Costa Mesa, a lot of apartment still building going on. Uh, so I'm glad that we have this, I'm glad it's a good discussion point for giving us an understanding of where we are. Uhm, and having an honest discussion of about what high density, I'd love to come to a point in our discussion where we stop throwing around high density as if it's like big oil or big tobacco that high density is a terrible term. As if you see on our zoning map, we do have a lot of high density in our city already. Uhm, I can't recall a lot of projects that have gotten rezoned up to high density we had the project over on Victoria which was already an intense commercial use to begin with and it brought the trip count down, but I don't think there's a big rush at the council level or the commission level to start tinkering with densities and start expanding densities and throwing high density here and there, but I think this is a good starting point for a good discussion about high density and I look forward to having that discussion in more of these applications."

^Commissioner Colin McCarthy mentioned dense developments occurring in  South County. Some examples include developments going on in Laguna Niguel's Gateway Area (e.g., Apex Laguna Niguel and Career Lofts). Adagio On the Green in Mission Viejo.

While this appears to be a beginning point about discussing high density developments, Orange County Dense Developments blog will continue to follow this discussion. Stay tuned.
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June 6, 2015:

Perusing through Costa Mesa's planning commission agendas, an agenda from upcoming June 8, 2016 meeting, one can find a chart that illustrates the different level of designation of residential high density from the Orange County cities. It will be interesting to see what discussion comes out of this.

As mentioned by the report, there are additional information that is not in the chart where there are some cities that have certain locations that allow greater density than that listed under the units per acre column. Additionally, cities have exceptions which is not fully described in the chart.

Costa Mesa Planning Commission records their meeting and posts the videos on the City's website. I will post the link of the video as soon as the recording is up. In the meantime, check out the chart:
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By: Chad Kim

For today's post, we take a look at an already under construction infill residential mixed-use project near the Laguna Hills Mall located in the City of Laguna Hills. The project is known as the Reata At Oakbrook Village and is located right next to the Oakbrook Village Shopping Center which has a Trader Joe's and an El Torito. The mixed use development will have a total of 289 rental units. The mixed user is located about 10 minutes (walking) from the Laguna Hills Mall. According to the OC Register, the mall will under-go major renovations and be renamed as Five Lagunas. Pending City's approval, if the City approves the plan, work could begin sometime in 2016 and plans for opening their doors in 2017 (Source). Also the Laguna Hills Transportation Center is within walking distance. The transit center is located at the intersection of Calle De Los Caballeros & Paseo De Valencia. When the OC Fair is back, it is possible to take the OC Fair Express at the transit center. This express service, provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),  is a direct service from the transit center to the OC Fair in Costa Mesa. The benefit of taking the OC Fair express pertains to avoiding the parking cost, receiving a $3 admission coupon to the fair upon boarding the express bus, and best of all, avoiding traffic hassles (Source and for more info such as fare cost and days of operation, and schedules).

Note: Much thanks to Shea Properties for letting us know about the under construction dense residential mixed use project. For more information about the Reata At Oakbrook Village check out their website: http://www.sheaapartments.com/apartments/reata/amenities/

Rendering:

By: Chad Kim

Modera Crown Valley has been renamed to the Apex Laguna Niguel. More information can be found at Mill Creek Residential's webpage: http://www.millcreekplaces.com/portfolio/apex-laguna-niguel-apartments-in-orange-county

The prior post on this development can also be found here: http://www.laocdb.com/oc-development-news/december-05th-20151

Pictures taken: 05/31/2015
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By: Chad Kim

For those not familiar with the 200 Spectrum Center project in the Irvine Spectrum area, check out the prior post here: http://www.laocdb.com/oc-development-news/irvine-200-spectrum-center-upcoming-tallest-buliding-in-orange-county-and-other-irvine-spectrum-developments

Pictures taken: 05/31/2015