Huntington Beach planners review 2 townhome developments proposed near City Hall

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission studied proposals Tuesday night to build 53 townhomes near City Hall, though commissioners provided little feedback other than asking technical questions.

The developer of both projects — MLC Holdings of Newport Beach, a subsidiary of Arizona-based Meritage Homes Corp., a nationwide homebuilder — is seeking various code exemptions.

City officials noted that because MLC would price some units for moderate-income buyers — those earning 120% or less of Orange County’s median income — MLC can get certain exemptions and bonuses under state affordable-housing law — namely the ability to build more houses and have fewer parking spaces than city code usually requires.

One project, at 19100 Gothard St., would have 21 Mediterranean-style homes on a 1.28-acre site. Two of the homes would fall under the density bonus provision. The project would have 53 parking spaces, 10 fewer than called for by city code. Forty-two of the spaces would be in garages.

The other development, at 19200 Holly Lane, would have 32 Mediterranean-style homes on a 1.93-acre lot. Four of the homes are a density bonus. Rather than have 96 parking spaces, as required by code, MLC is proposing 76 spaces, 64 of which would be in garages.

The units in both projects would be two or three stories and contain three or four bedrooms. They would range from about 1,700 square feet to 2,150 square feet.

Both lots are owned by Linda Stadel of Costa Mesa and are used for boat and recreational vehicle storage. They also contain oil wells.

Moses Kim, forward planning manager with MLC, said he has met with residents who live in housing tracts near the sites.

“Some of them have been welcoming,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done my due diligence ... we’re actually going out in the neighborhood, so they’re aware, and feedback is being received.”

The city’s Design Review Board has approved both projects, which are scheduled to return to the Planning Commission on Dec. 12.

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