August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 1 through 81 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Policy LU-1.6: Promote sustainable development patterns that consider negative economic and health impacts on existing residents and businesses.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Policy LU-2.6: Encourage increased private market investment in declining or deteriorating neighborhoods, prioritizing neighborhoods located within designated environmental justice area boundaries.
Objective LU-3A: Establish policies, standards, and procedures to minimize blighting influences, and maintain the integrity of stable neighborhoods.
Policy LU-3.1: Protect existing stabilized residential neighborhoods, including mobile home parks (and manufactured housing parks), from the encroachment of incompatible or potentially disruptive land uses and/or activities.
Policy LU-3.2: Actively enforce existing regulations regarding derelict or abandoned vehicles, outdoor storage, and substandard or illegal buildings, and establish regulations to abate weed-filled yards when any of the above are deemed to constitute a health, safety, or fire hazard.
Policy LU-3.3: Continue code enforcement as a high priority with regard to the regulation of property maintenance standards citywide.
Policy LU-3.7: Promote development/design flexibility that encourages older or poorly maintained high-density residential uses to be rehabilitated.
Policy LU-4.1: Ensure that appropriate watershed protection activities are applied to all new development and significant redevelopment projects that are subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Permit during the planning, project review, and permitting processes.
Policy LU-4.3: Preserve or restore areas that provide water quality benefits and/or are necessary to maintain riparian and aquatic biota.
Policy LU-4.5: Promote integration of stormwater quality protection into construction and post-construction activities, as required by the NPDES Stormwater Permit and the City’s Local Implementation Plan.
Policy LU-4.6: Incorporate the principles of sustainability into land use planning, infrastructure, and development processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with State goals.
Objective LU-5A: Ensure availability of adequate community facilities and provision of the highest level of public services possible, taking into consideration budgetary constraints and effects on the surrounding area.
Policy LU-5.2: Strongly encourage protection and preservation of existing but underutilized school sites for future recreational, social, or educational uses.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: LAND USE ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
ATTACHMENT 6
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 82 through 142 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Objective C-1A : Create a transportation network that meets the mobility needs of all Costa Mesa residents, businesses, and visitors.
Po
licy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Po
licy C-1.
2: Allow for flexible use of public rights-of-wa
y to accommodate all users of the
street system while maintaining safety standards.
Po
licy C-1.
5: Implement road diets on street segments with excess capacity to enhance bicycle and pedestrian facilities. For roadways with excess vehicle capacity, consider the reduction of travel lanes and use the reclaimed space for active modes of transportation including pedestrian and bicycle.
Po
licy C-1.
7: Encourage community participation in City processes and programs focused on improving mobility and transportation facilities. Outreach should facilitate participation of underserved populations.
Po
licy C-1.
9: Implement traffic calming measures that discourage speeding and cut-through traffic on residential streets. Identify opportunities to update signal timing and phases with high collision frequencies.
Policy C-1.10: Encourage non-motorized transportation in residential areas by providing sidewalks, implementing pedestrian and bicycle friendly design of local streets, and incorporating street trees in new projects wherever feasible. Provide additional consideration in implementing such enhancements within designated environmental justice area boundaries.
Policy C-1.15: Implement neighborhood approved traffic-calming measures in residential n
eighborhoods and appropriate commercial areas, such as street narrowing, curb extensions, roundabouts, landscaped medians, and radar speed feedback signs. Additional consideration should be given to working with neighborhoods located within designated environmental justice area boundaries to identify and implement appropriate measures.
Po
licy C-1.18: Leverage the tools discussed in the Pedestrian Master Plan Infrastructure Toolbox (e.g. sidewalk connectivity, curb ramps, and crosswalks) to continue to develop a pedestrian network that is safe and accessible by users of all ages and abilities.
Policy C-1.19: Develop a network of walking paths in different commercial districts and neighborhoods to encourage community members to walk. The walking paths could be artistic and each path could have its own wayfinding signs and stylistic flair to create a sense of place
Objective C-2A : Implement policies that encourage and accommodate all users while maintaining the safety and efficiency of the circulation system.
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: CIRCULATION ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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Policy C-3.14: Coordinate with other responsible agencies the planning, funding, prioritization, and implementation of bicycle, pedestrian, and transit programs and supporting infrastructure.
Objective C-4B: Promote regional and local transit services as an alternative to automobile travel.
Policy C-4.13: Provide transit stop amenities that facilitate access to and from transit stops a
nd transfer locations. These may include pedestrian pathways approaching stops, high- quality benches and shelters, traveler information systems (real-ti me transit arrival
information), and bike storage and bicycle connections. Bus stops should accommodate timed transfers between buses and other transit services where necessary.
Policy C-4.18: Coordinate with OCTA to improve transit services in the City, including strategies such as bus rapid transit, express services, community circulators, and other strategies.
Objective C-6A: Pursue funding sources to maintain and enhance the transportation and infrastructure system.
Policy C-6.3: Develop an annual list of Active Transportation projects to be proposed as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including identification and additional consideration of such projects within designated environmental justice area boundaries.
Objective C-7C: Encourage sustainable modes of transportation to fill gaps between the first and last miles of trips (walking, biking, ride sharing, transit, taxi and car-sharing).
Policy C-9.2: Ensure that all current and proposed land use planning is consistent with the Costa Mesa Active Transportation and Pedestrian Master Plan.
Policy C-9.6: Provide a fully integrated network of modern active transportation facilities to and from major activity centers and residential centers.
Objective C-10A: Encourage more people to walk and bicycle by supporting programs that foster community support for bicycling and walking, and raise public awareness about active transportation.
Objective C-11A: Improve air quality and public health and reduce ambient noise by promoting Active Transportation programs.
Policy C-12.3: Ensure that Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan programs and projects are implemented in an equitable manner geographically, socioeconomically, and serving disadvantaged communities, with additional consideration on implementation of such programs and projects within designated environmental justice areas boundaries.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 143 through 185 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Housing Goal #1: Preserve and enhance the City’s existing housing supply.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
HO
U-1.2: M
inimize the displacement risk for existing residents when considering approval of future redevelopment and public projects.
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U-1.3: P
rioritize enforcement of City regulations regarding derelict or abandoned vehicles, outdoor storage, substandard or illegal construction and establish regulations to abate blighted or substantially unmaintained properties, particularly when any of the above is deemed to constitute a health, safety, or fire hazard.
HO
U-1.4: E
stablish housing programs and code enforcement as a high priority and provide adequate funding and staffing to support those programs.
Hou
sing Goal #2: Facilitate the creation and availability of housing for residents at all income levels and for those with special housing needs.
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U-2.1: F
acilitate the development of housing that meets the needs of all segments of the population including affordable housing and households with specialized needs.
HOU-2.2: Promote the use of State density bonus provisions to encourage the development of affordable housing for lower and moderate-inc ome households, as well as senior housing through the dissemination of informational materials and discussions with project applicants.
HOU-2.3: M onitor the implementation of the City’s ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures to ensure they comply with State requirements for “reasonable accommodation” for disabled persons and all fair housing laws.
HOU-2-4: Encourage housing programs and future actions that address the need for affordable housing options as well as the housing needs of Costa Mesa’s senior resident population and the large households population.
Housing Goal #3: Identify adequate, suitable sites for residential use and development to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) at all income levels and promote a range of housing types to meet the needs of all segments of the Costa Mesa community.
Housing Goal #4: Provide housing opportunities to residents of all social and economic segments of the community without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability/medical conditions, national origin or ancestry, marital status, age, household composition or size, source of income, or any other arbitrary factors.
HOU-4.1: Support equal housing opportunities as expressed in Federal and State fair housing laws.
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: HOUSING ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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HOU-4.2: P romote actions and programs that provide fair housing and counseling services and other housing assistance programs for all Costa Mesa residents in an effort to remove barriers and promote access to affordable housing in the City as funding is available.
HO
U-4.3: E
ncourage and support the construction, maintenance and preservation of residential developments which will meet the needs of families and individuals with specialized housing requirements, including those with developmental disabilities.
HOU-X.X: Promote community involvement in the development and implementation of housing programs and actions. Outreach should facilititate participation of residents within designated environmental justice communities.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 186 through 225 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Policy CON-1.A.X: Work with applicable regional agencies to discourage the use of herbicides and pesticides within the community's natural areas and especially its riparian corridors, and to educate the public on the impacts of their use.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Objective CON-3.A: Work towards the protection and conservation of existing and future water resources by recognizing water as a limited resource that requires conservation.
Policy CON-3.A.5: Work with public and private property owners to reduce stormwater runoff in urban areas to protect water quality in storm drainage channels, the Santa Ana River, and other local water courses that lead to the Pacific Ocean.
Objective CON-4.A: Pursue the prevention of the significant deterioration of local and regional air quality.
Policy CON-4.A.1: Support regional policies and efforts that improve air quality to protect human and environmental health, and minimize disproportionate impacts on sensitive population groups.
Policy CON-4.A.2: Encourage businesses, industries and residents to reduce the impact of direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of stationary and non-stationary pollution sources.
Policy CON-4.A.3: Require that sensitive uses such as schools, childcare centers, parks and playgrounds, housing, and community gathering places are protected from adverse impacts of emissions.
Policy CON-4.A.4: Continue to participate in regional planning efforts with the Southern California Association of Governments, nearby jurisdictions, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to meet or exceed air quality standards.
Policy CON-4.A.6: Enhance bicycling and walking infrastructure, and support public bus service, pursuant to the Circulation Element’s goals, objectives, and policies.
Policy CON-4.A.8: Develop long-term, community-wide strategies and programs that work at the local level to reduce greenhouse gases and Costa Mesa’s “carbon footprint”.
Policy CON-4.X.X: Assess consistency with the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) in major land use decisions and investments in public infrastructure.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: CONSERVATION ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 226 through 251 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Objective N-1A: Control noise levels within the City for the protection of residential areas, park areas, and other sensitive land uses from excessive and unhealthful noise.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Policy N-1.3: Encourage Caltrans to construct noise attenuation barriers along I-405, SR-55, and SR-73 where these freeways adjoin residential and other noise-sensitive areas.
Objective N-2A: Plan for the reduction in noise impacts on sensitive receptors and land uses.
Policy N-2.4: Require that all proposed projects are compatible with adopted noise/land use compatibility criteria
Policy N-2.5: Enforce applicable interior and exterior noise standards.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: NOISE ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 252 through 300 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Objective S-1A: Work to mitigate and prevent potential adverse consequences of natural and human-caused disasters.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Policy S-1.6: Identify through a study the issue of unreinforced masonry buildings and soft stories and other structures not meeting earthquake standards in Costa Mesa. Provide assistance if necessary to unreinforced masonry building owners once those buildings have been identified, with priority for assistance given to building owners located within designated environmental justice area boundaries.
Policy S-1.9: Continue to consult with appropriate local, State, and federal agencies to maintain the most current flood hazard and floodplain information; use the information as a basis for project review and to guide development in accordance with federal, State, and local standards.
Policy S-1.11: Improve and maintain local storm drainage infrastructure in a manner that reduces flood hazards.
Policy S-1.12: Continue to develop hazard preparedness plans to prepare for large storms that could bring flooding hazards and other related issues.
Policy S-1.13: Actively promote public education, research, and information dissemination on flooding hazards.
Objective S-2A: Plan, promote, and demonstrate a readiness to respond and reduce threats to life and property through traditional and innovative emergency services and programs.
Policy S-2.1: Promote crime prevention strategies and provide a high level of response to incidents.
Policy S-2.3: Timely response to incidents and monitoring areas with high crime rates should be part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce crime in the community.
Policy S-2.4: Provide a high level of police and fire service in the community. Secure adequate facilities, equipment, and personnel for police and fire.
Policy S-2.6: Require that water supply systems for development are adequate to combat structural fires in terms of location and minimum required fire-flow pressures.
Policy S-2.8: Partner with community based organizations, neighborhood watch programs, and other neighborhood groups to promote awareness, safety, and security, with focus on designated environmental justice communities.
Policy S-2.10: Maintain staff and facilities that will continue to support a coordinated and effective response to emergencies and natural disasters throughout the City.
Policy S-2.12: Continue to maintain adequate police and fire staffing, facilities, equipment, and maintenance sufficient to protect the community.
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: SAFETY ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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Policy S-2.15: Continue to consult with the County of Orange to identify and inventory all users of hazardous materials and all hazardous waste generators, and prepare clean-up action plans for identified disposal sites.
Policy S-2.16: Require the safe production, transportation, handling, use, and disposal of hazardous materials that may cause air, water, or soil contamination.
Policy S-2.19: Support policies and programs to help residents and businesses be prepared for extreme heat conditions.
Policy S-2.20: Promote public awareness of best practices for participation in household hazardous waste management and disposal.
Policy S-2.21: Support policies and programs to help residents and businesses be prepared for extreme heat conditions.
Policy S-2.22: Maintain guidelines for monitoring and disseminating public information related to extreme heat; maintain cooling centers and update their locations annually, with priority given to locating such centers within the boundaries of designated environmental justice areas.
Policy S-2.23: Require new development within a designated floodplain to submit a flood safety plan for approval by the Floodplain Administrator.
Policy S-2.24: Continue to ensure emergency alert/notification capabilities meet the City's future needs by providing alerts about potential, developing, and ongoing emergency situations.
Policy S-2.25: Collaborate with local, regional, state, and/or federal jurisdictions and agencies on climate resiliency and adaptation strategies. a. Develop a climate resiliency plan that integrates and builds upon the strategies identified in City, County, and regional climate action/adaptation efforts. b. Monitor climate change-related effects with local, regional, state, and/or federal partners to provide information about the effectiveness of existing infrastructure and programs.
c. Coordinate with regional, state, and federal agencies to monitor the indicators and impacts of climate change.
Policy S-2.26: Explore opportunities to locate emergency services and response centers within or near underserved neighborhoods to support preparedness, rapid response, and recovery across a range of neighborhood threats, including natural disasters, climate hazards, and other emergencies
Policy S-2.27: Ensure adequate evacuation capacity and infrastructure is available for existing and new development. a. Implement evacuation measures locally as outlined within City and County Evacuation Planning efforts.
b. Develop an Evacuation Master Plan that identifies routes, potential hazard incidents, and criteria regarding capacity, safety, and viability.
Policy S-2.28: In areas with inadequate access or without at least two means of ingress/egress, provide adequate mitigation actions to address the deficiencies required by the Fire Code and State law.
Policy S-2.29: Require all residential developments that do not have at least two ingress/egress routes, identify alternate evacuation options, implement earlier evacuation notifications, and develop protocols for future evacuations that consider the constraints associated with these areas.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 301 through 336 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Objective CD-1B: Encourage clear connections between districts within the City.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Policy CD-6.3: Continue to work with Code Enforcement to ensure continued maintenance of properties and compliance with adopted development standards.
Policy CD-6.4: Promote urban greening and expansion of the tree canopy throughout the City to create more physical comfort and to encourage walking, with consideration on greening within designated environmental justice areas boundaries.
Policy CD-10.5: Require that landscaping be used to define areas such as entrances to industrial buildings and parking lots; define the edges of developments; provide transition between neighboring properties; and provide screening for outdoor storage, loading, and equipment areas. Landscaping should be in scale with adjacent buildings and be of an appropriate size at maturity to accomplish its intended purpose.
Objective CD-10B: Ensure that the development of industrial projects are positive additions to the City’s community setting and do not result in adverse impacts with adjacent uses.
Policy CD-10.7: Require industrial projects to incorporate landscape setbacks, screening walls, and/or other elements that mitigate negative impacts with adjacent uses.
Policy CD-10.8: Protect transitional areas between industrial and other uses.
Policy CD-10.9: Storage yards, parking areas, and service areas should be screened from public view.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: COMMUNITY DESIGN ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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August 10, 2026 PC - Attachment 2 - PDF Page 337 through 373 Task
Reduce Pollution
Exposure
Provide Safe &
Sanitary Homes
Enhance Community
Assets
Increase Physical
Activity
Ensure Access to
Healthy Foods
Address
"Compounded" Risks
Promote Civic
Engagement
Policy
Objective OSR-1A: Maintain and preserve existing parks, and strive to provide additional parks, public spaces, and recreation facilities that meet the community’s evolving needs.
Policy CON-2.A.9: Encourage waste management programs that promote waste reduction and recycling to minimize materials sent to landfills. Maintain robust programs that encourage residents and businesses to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost, prioritizing education programs directed toward designated environmental justice communities.
Policy OSR-1.3: Pursue the acquisition and development of pocket and neighborhood parks within park-deficient areas, as identified in Figure OSR-3: Planning Areas and Underserved Park Areas.
Policy OSR-1.4: Prioritize the acquisition of land for parks in underserved neighborhoods, with consideration placed on designated environmental justice communities.
Policy OSR-1.8: Require that parks and recreation facilities reflect new trends and population changes, and are developed with facilities appropriate to all ages, including athletic fields, active play areas, passive open space, tot lots, and picnic areas.
Policy OSR-1.9: Conduct a sports facility study to review current outdoor facility locations and resources and a demographic study for future facility requirements as they relate to planned growth within the City.
Policy OSR-1.10: Pur
sue urban agricultural opportunities in both private developments and public spaces, including urban farms and additional community gardens lots and spaces, and home gardens to meet demand and need by the community, and explore opportunities to promote and incentivize farmer's markets, especially those that are readily accessible to designated environmental justice communites.
Policy OSR-1.11: Co ordinate with local organizations to promote urban greening and urban gardening programs, including the planning, operations, and maintenance of community gardens, and to educate the public on the benefits of healthy foods.
Policy OSR-1.13: Design and reform parks to reflect the latest recreational features that respond to demographic changes and community needs.
Policy OSR-1.20: Enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and transit linkages to meet the needs of residents and to provide better access to parks, recreation, and public spaces.
Policy OSR-1.21: Provide opportunities for public access to all open space areas, except where sensitive resources may be threatened or damaged, public health and safety may be compromised, or access would interfere with the managed production of resources.
City of Costa Mesa
Environmental Justice Policies: OPEN SPACE & RECREATION ELEMENT
EJ TOPICS
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Objective OSR-2A: Provide activities, classes, and a variety of programs to meet the year- round recreational needs of all residents: children, adult, seniors, and persons with special needs.
Policy OSR-2.1: Provide high-quality community services programs that are flexible and responsive to the community’s changing needs.
Policy OSR-2.4: Update existing facilities for senior citizens, youth, adults, and overall community use, with consideration given to areas that are underserved and/or within designated environmental justice area boundaries.
Policy OSR-2.5: Encourage recreational, cultural, and community services programs and activities that are of local interest and inclusive and affordable to all residents.
Policy OSR-2.6: Support efforts to connect residents to local and regional cultural, recreational, and educational assets.
Policy OSR-2.7: Monitor and research the ever-changing community services needs of the community, and develop action plans to address those needs through partnerships with service agencies.
Policy OSR-2.9: Continue broad-based public outreach activities that inform residents of all available community services programs, and obtain input from the community regarding program and service needs.
Policy OSR-2.10: Encourage resident input and utilize demographic data, partnerships, volunteers, and existing resources to identify the needs of community.
Policy OSR-2.13: Develop and implement community services programs and activities that meet the needs of specialized populations through the development of community partnerships.
Objective OSR-3A: Preserve the City’s open space lands and provide additional community and neighborhood parkland in underserved areas.
Existing Policy
Revised Policy
New Policy
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