The Westminster City Council on May 14 approved a development to demolish an existing retail building at 530 Westminster Mall and build 89 attached three‑story condominium townhomes, including nine deed‑restricted units for low‑income households.

The project site is in the Westminster Mall Specific Plan area. Contract principal planner Stephanie Tomaino told the council the application complies with the specific plan and state housing laws, and that the units include attached two‑car garages, balconies and a central paseo. Tomaino said the project will “support the city's affordable housing goals by providing nine affordable units for low‑income households while offering a high quality townhome product.”

Nut graf: Council members and planning staff framed the decision as the first major residential phase under the 2022 Westminster Mall Specific Plan. The developer said the design is intended as a transition between existing single‑family homes to the west and denser mixed‑use development planned for the mall interior. The council approved the project by roll call vote 4‑0.

The applicant, Gordon Jones of True Life Companies, said the site is “a perfect use for this portion of the specific plan” and thanked the landowner and staff for prolonged coordination. Dave Stern, the applicant’s senior managing director, said the 89 units include a mix of two‑ and three‑bedroom plans averaging about 1,500 square feet, and that the development provides 192 on‑site parking spaces, “58 more than required under state density bonus law.”

Several members of the public asked questions about sewer capacity, visitor parking and whether residents would park in garages. Project team members said the homeowners association and CC&Rs will require enclosed garages be used for parking and that Midway Sanitary District approval of the sewer solution is required before final map recordation.

Staff added a condition the applicant agreed to: installation of a public art piece at the southeast corner of the property “in harmony with” the plaza art at Edward Street. The resolution approved by the council requires the developer to participate in future infrastructure financing and retail‑preservation fees set by the broader Westminster Mall redevelopment process.

The council adopted a resolution approving Case No. 2023‑0670 — a vesting tentative tract map, development review and affordable‑housing density bonus — with associated concessions and waivers. The motion carried 4‑0 (District 3 Councilmember Wynne: Yes; District 4 Councilmember Wynne: Yes; Vice Mayor Manzo: Yes; Mayor Wynne: Yes).

Ending: Staff and the applicant said the next steps are final engineering, CC&R submittal and coordination with mall owners and Midway Sanitary District; the approval includes conditions that the applicant must satisfy before final map recordation.