Costa Mesa is taking a closer look at future development options for the Fairview site, and the numbers being discussed are big enough to shape the city for decades. The former Fairview Developmental Center property is a nearly 100 acre canvas, and city leaders are working through what kind of neighborhood should be built there, how dense it should be, and what the real world impacts could look like for traffic, infrastructure, open space, and surrounding communities. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
If you live in Costa Mesa, or you have ever wondered why housing conversations get so heated, this is one of those moments where it helps to zoom out. This is not just about adding buildings. It is about defining what growth looks like, where it goes, and what the tradeoffs are.
What is the Fairview site, and why it matters.
The Fairview Developmental Center property has been at the center of long term planning in Costa Mesa. Part of the larger area is already tied to a state planned Southern Regional Emergency Operations Center footprint, while the city continues to evaluate what makes sense for the broader mixed use community concept on the remaining land. Governor of California+1
Because the site is large, it can handle a meaningful number of homes, plus amenities that help a neighborhood function like a neighborhood. Think walkability, small retail, public space, and connections that do not overload nearby streets.
A land use plan that city leaders have been discussing would allow for roughly 2,300 to 4,000 residential units on the site, plus approximately 35,000 square feet of retail or commercial space, and a minimum amount of open space. Depending on the final build out, the city has estimated this could accommodate about 5,744 to 10,232 people. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
That range is not a small detail. It is the entire story.
At the lower end, you are talking about a major new neighborhood. At the higher end, you are talking about a neighborhood that could feel like a small city within the city. Either way, it is enough housing to influence demand, traffic patterns, school planning, and the overall rhythm of the local market.
Why density is the hottest part of the conversation?
When people hear numbers like 4,000 homes, they immediately picture congestion. That reaction is understandable. But density is also tied to feasibility, and feasibility determines whether a plan stays a concept or becomes a construction site.
Costa Mesa planning documents and coverage around the Fairview housing discussions have highlighted a common challenge in California development. If a meaningful portion of the units are reserved for low income or very low income households, the developer often needs enough market rate units to make the overall project pencil out. That is one reason higher unit counts can appear in planning scenarios. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
More units can mean more impact, but it can also mean more ability to fund infrastructure, open space, and community benefits, depending on the final agreement and the design. Fewer units can mean less impact, but it can also mean fewer resources to solve the very problems residents worry about, like roads, circulation, and mitigation.
The golf course question, and why access changes everything.
One of the most talked about issues is access. If the project grows beyond certain thresholds, it may require additional access roads. Local reporting has noted concerns that a second access route could affect holes at the Costa Mesa Country Club. That matters not just culturally but financially, since the course is tied to city revenue and is a local asset many residents care about. Los Angeles Times+1
This is one of those planning details that sounds small until you realize it can become the hinge that shapes the entire layout, the traffic plan, and ultimately the development economics.
Open space and quality of life are not side notes.
Any successful neighborhood needs more than rooftops. Open space is not just a nice to have. It is how residents breathe. It is where families walk, where people run, and where a place starts to feel like it belongs to the city instead of sitting on top of it.
The land use plan discussions have included open space requirements and targets, and residents have been vocal about wanting as much open space as possible, with as few units as possible. This is the core tension, and the reason these meetings draw strong opinions. Los Angeles Times+1
What this could mean for Costa Mesa real estate?
When a plan like this advances, the market pays attention, even before ground breaks.
Here are a few realistic ways a large planned community can influence the local real estate conversation.
- First, future supply. Thousands of potential homes, whether for sale or for rent, can affect expectations around inventory over time.
- Second, neighborhood desirability. If the final plan delivers a well designed, amenity rich area with good access and real open space, nearby neighborhoods can benefit from improved services and upgraded infrastructure.
- Third, traffic and daily life. If circulation is not solved, buyer perception can shift quickly. People buy lifestyle as much as they buy a house.
- Fourth, rental dynamics. If the project includes a meaningful number of rental units, it may change the long term rental landscape, including pricing pressure, tenant options, and investor strategies.
The key point is timing. Even large plans can take years to move from concept to approvals to construction to occupancy. That lag is where smart homeowners and buyers stay informed, because early awareness is how you make calm decisions instead of reactive ones.
How to stay involved, and why your input matters.
Costa Mesa has scheduled public meetings tied to the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan process, including a scoping meeting for the draft environmental review stage. These meetings are where the public can comment on what should be studied, what impacts should be analyzed, and what alternatives should be considered. Costa Mesa+1
Whether you want more housing, less housing, more open space, better traffic planning, or stronger community benefits, the most effective time to speak up is while the draft work is still taking shape.
FAQ. Costa Mesa Fairview future development.
How many homes are being considered at the Fairview site.
Plans discussed publicly have referenced a range of about 2,300 to 4,000 residential units. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
How many people could live there.
City estimates have referenced a range that could reach roughly 10,232 residents at full build out. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
Will there be retail and open space.
Yes. Plans discussed include retail or commercial space and designated open space, though the final amounts can change through the planning process. Los Angeles Times+2Los Angeles Times+2
Is this approved and happening tomorrow.
No. This is a planning and review process that typically unfolds over years, with environmental review and multiple public hearings along the way. Fairview Development Plan+1
Costa Mesa is not just planning buildings. It is planning a future neighborhood, and the choices made now will shape how the city feels later. If you are a homeowner, a buyer, an investor, or simply someone who cares about quality of life in Orange County, this is worth following closely.
If you want a clear, local, non dramatic breakdown of what changes like this could mean for home values, neighborhood trends, and opportunity areas, I am happy to help.
I’m Sunny, your trusted real estate advisor. Follow for updates, market trends, and hidden gems across Orange County.