Fairview Developmental Center Existing Conditions

Costa Mesa’s proximity to the beach; the ARTS community; its general lack of environmental hazards; and its recreational features, such as the county fairgrounds, make the city a highly desirable place to live. With this in mind, the goal is creating an inviting and beautiful new neighborhood to serve all residents of Costa Mesa.

Other considerations include housing, State requirements, such as the housing bills and the Emergency Operations Center, community needs and desires, access to parks and recreation, and access to retail from the site.

The Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan provides the unique opportunity to meet the needs of Costa Mesa’s current and future residents in a new walkable, mixed-income, and mixed-use neighborhood.

Full of diversity and vibrancy, the community of Costa Mesa represents many cultures. Costa Mesa is a place where people of all ages, races and ethnicities, and backgrounds come together to share experiences.

Scroll down to view Costa Mesa community data.

The chart shows 2022 census data for the age distribution of people living in Costa Mesa. People age 18 to 34 are one of the largest demographics, just after those age 35 to 64.

 _{Source: ACS 2022 1-Year Data from  censusreporter.org}  

The chart shows 2022 census data for the race distribution of people living in Costa Mesa. The data shows all races including those who are Hispanic and Latino and those who are not. The majority of people living in Costa Mesa identify as white, followed by people who identify as two or more races. Of all the residents in the City, 34 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino.

 _{Source: ACS 2022 1-Year Data from  censusreporter.org}  

This chart shows 2022 census data for four person households in Costa Mesa.The data shows that a majority of residents earn a household income over $150,000. The next largest income group is those earning less than $45,000.

 _{Source: ACS 2022 1-Year Data from  censusreporter.org}  

The history of FDC reflects the changing understanding of developmental disability in modern America. Post-war, public mental health institutions in California grew rapidly, with new hospitals being developed and existing facilities expanding.

The FDC was the third newest state hospital facility to be established in the post World War II era. The Fairview Developmental Center, originally 750 acres, was intended to house 4,125 residents and had an initial bed capacity of 2,622.

 _{The image to the right shows the fully developed Fairview State Hospital Main Campus in 1983. Source: Fairview: Costa Mesa State Hospital will have a New Name, from the Collections of the Costa Mesa Historical Society.} 

The complex consists of 39 buildings built about 50 years ago, between 1953 and 1974, which is sometimes considered historic. However, none of the individual buildings meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or California Register of Historical Resources.

Nevertheless, according to the Historical Resources Inventory and Evaluation Report prepared by JRP Historical Consulting, the collective site itself is considered eligible as a Historic District. What does this mean?

Essentially, none of the buildings or structures on-site require preservation, but to honor the history a memorial or homage to the FDC will be required.

 _{The image shows the meal train that kept meals warm while they were delivered to residents. Source: Lee Payne, Staff Photographer, Collections of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, Daily Globe-Herald: Fairview State Hospital Dedication Issue, May 4, 1961.} 

The FDC site is encompassed by a variety of land uses, including single-family homes and medium- to high-density residential projects such as the Harbor Village Apartments. There are multiple options for recreation, including the Costa Mesa Golf Course, Fairview Park, and Tanger Park.

Additionally, retail centers within a few miles provide access to Mother's Market, Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Target. Directly to the east on Fairview Road is the OC Fair Center.

The City of Costa Mesa General Plan designates the area as Multi-Use Center, Medium Density Residential, and High Density Residential.

Use your mouse to zoom in or out on the Existing Uses map to the right!

On-site existing structures include multiple uses that served various purposes when the facilities were active. Existing buildings served as housing for staff and residents; kitchens and meal centers; and recreation uses such as fields, pools, and indoor gymnasiums. Other buildings functioned as utility rooms and facility offices.

Trees and greenery are largely credited for reducing heat in areas and providing spaces for relaxation and play. The site has over 900 trees that contribute to its unique environment.

In November of 2023, a tree survey and arborist report counted and assessed 971 trees and 79 distinct species on-site during the survey.

Use your mouse to zoom in and view the location of each tree!

Yes. Although the site is private, two vehicle access points are east of the plan area on Fair Drive and Merrimac Way. Due to the surrounding Costa Mesa Golf Course, there are no other vehicle access points.

On a larger scale, the plan area is served by a network of local roadways that provide connections to important regional highways, such as I-55 and I-405.

The Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) provides local bus and paratransit services in Orange County, with several routes in Costa Mesa. Three bus routes serve the plan area, but none have frequencies high enough (service at 15 minutes or less during peak commute hours) to qualify it as a Transit Priority Area.

Route 43 makes stops along Harbor Boulevard at Harbor/Merrimac and Harbor/Fair. As shown on the map, the closest stops to the plan area are approximately 320 feet and 225 feet away.

“Bravo!” is a limited-stop bus route (Route 543) along Harbor Boulevard, with buses making stops every 10 to 15 minutes. Bravo! extends from the Fullerton Transportation Center through Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana, ending at MacArthur Boulevard on the Costa Mesa city limit.

Bike trails and lanes create more mobility options for residents and encourage activity while reducing CO2 emissions. Bike lanes were also identified by community members as a high priority consideration for the specific plan. A series of existing bike lanes are shown on the map.

Class I bike facilities are considered off-road paths or trails and often take the form of multiuse trails, while Class II bike facilities are on-road lanes.

The plan area is served by both Class I and Class II lanes. Existing bike lanes on Harbor Boulevard, Tanager Drive, and on the Costa Mesa Country Club’s southern boundary provide direct site access. Bike lanes provided on Wilson Street, Merrimac Way, and Fair Drive connect the plan area to the greater Costa Mesa.

Public services are vital to the health and growth of a community and city. Emergency services, recreational facilities, and schools are all key services and institutions for maintaining a connected, safe, and healthy community.

As Costa Mesa grows, to ensure adequate response times and evaluate the growth needs of the department, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue updates the annual report. The 2022-2023 report is currently underway, where specific actions and key goals will be identified for implementation.

The Costa Mesa Police Department provides police protection services for the city. The Police Department is at 99 Fair Drive, which is 0.85 mile east of the plan area.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District operates the following schools that would service the plan area:

• Adams Elementary School: 2850 Clubhouse Road, 0.52 mile northwest of the plan area
• TeWinkle Middle School: 3224 California Avenue, 1.28 miles north of the plan area
• Estancia High School: 2323 Placentia Avenue, 0.31 mile southwest of the plan area