September 4, 2026
SENT VIA EMAIL
Melinda Dacey
Principal Planner, Advanced Planning and Housing
City of Costa Mesa Community Development Department
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 95626
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR RESPONSE TO FDC PUBLIC COMMENT
Dear Melinda Dacey:
The Department of Developmental Services (Department) concurs with and supports the public information presented by the City of Costa Mesa in the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan Fact Sheet – Secondary Access Road.
Harbor Village serves over 300 individuals with developmental disabilities and is the largest housing complex for individuals with developmental disabilities in the State. The project is an integral part of the Department’s and the Regional Center of Orange County’s care provision program. The Department is committed to providing a safe, quality, and integrated environment for individuals with developmental disabilities living in Harbor Village. Residents of Harbor Village may have limited hazard awareness, react adversely to certain environmental stimuli, or experience challenges communicating intentions to drivers. For these reasons, the Department has a long-standing policy of controlling both vehicle and pedestrian access to Harbor Village.
As the Department has consistently stated and as the Department of General Services has reiterated, we will continue to limit utilization of Merrimac by the general public as a main thoroughfare and control access to all other portions of the Department’s property. This applies to the existing project under State Lease L-753 as detailed in the Exhibit 1, Harbor Village Lease Exhibit (1981) provided as part of the public comment, irrespective of the lease termination date, as well as the additional 15 acres being retained by the Department as detailed in the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Maxwell Lowry at [email protected] or 916-597-3704.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by:
CARLA CASTAÑEDA, Chief Deputy Director
Operations
ATTACHMENT 11