Council approves stricter standards for subdivisions

The city of Costa Mesa now has new stricter standards for subdividing rental apartments and multi-unit industrial parks for sale to individual owners after the City Council’s Tuesday approval of a set of new rules.

Before building owners can sell off individual units, they’ll now have to get extensive inspections to show the buildings are in good condition.

They’ll have to provide a set amount of parking or apply for a waiver, and they’ll have to meet a long list of standards regarding landscaping, open space and other amenities.

Council members opted to end residential and industrial building subdivisions after 2011 unless the project meets city standards for new construction.

But, they opted not to write a requirement to pay park fees into the rules.

They’ll have a separate discussion on park fees at a future meeting.

The new regulations were approved unanimously.

— Alicia Robinson