Construction will take two years, during which a senior lawn the school's only green space will be removed. City leaders claimed in a lawsuit Newport-Mesa Unified never addressed the project's impacts.
Proponents say a community workforce agreement would create jobs for Costa Mesa residents, veterans and local graduates. Opponents believe it will exclude workers and drive up costs.
A Jan. 6 settlement agreement reached days before the lawsuit was set to go to trial releases the city and former CMPD Chief Rob Sharpnack from any future claims.
Developers of the 1,057-unit mixed use complex are requesting a special election under Measure Y, just as city officials consider loosening the law's mandates for being too restrictive to necessary growth.
In a Nov. 12 tentative ruling, a judge said challengers had 180 days from the time Newport-Mesa Unified trustees approved the high school renovation project in 2019 to file a complaint. The city is considering an appeal.