Editorial

Costa Mesa code enforcement officers “have been walking the streets,

block by block, and going after the worst offenders.”

That was from Don Lamm, deputy city manager and director of

development services, back in June.

Fast forward a couple months and those same code enforcement officers

are telling Westside resident Dave Morley that his Maple Avenue home is

far from compliant. That is, he’s breaking the city code by living in his

garage.

But Morley’s case isn’t one of the typical garage converted to a

bedroom. No. It turns out that his garage/bedroom has been that way for

more than 50 years. And he’s only lived at the home since his parents

bought it 38 years ago.

So, since the mid-20th Century, that home has sat at its Maple Avenue

location without a garage and with an extra bedroom. At the beginning of

the 21st Century, Costa Mesa code enforcement officials are doing

something about it.

So far, they’ve issued Morley a $75 citation for failing to conform.

If his house doesn’t show signs of improvement by Sept. 6, he’ll face

another fine of $200 to $500.

All of a sudden, a man who has been living in a home that lacks the

standard garage for 38 years has to come up with the necessary funding to

create a garage that he’s never had.

That just doesn’t sound right. Is his garage, or lack thereof, harming

anyone? Is it unsightly to those walking passed it?

No. In fact, unless one goes into Morley’s home, they wouldn’t even

know the difference.

Heck, his bedroom’s probably even cleaner and more up to code than

most garages would be.

Should everyone be able to live in their garage? No. But should Dave

Morley be able to keep his bedroom and forgo the garage? Yes. After all,

he’s never had it any other way for, count them, 38 years.

As city officials well know, there can always be exceptions to rules,

especially when they come 50 years after the fact. With someone in the

rare situation that Morley is, it would make the most sense to

grandfather him in.

As Morley said earlier this month, “They are asking for such a

sacrifice just to put a car in a box.”

We couldn’t have said it better.