Sunset magazine has marked Brea among a select group of suburban areas considered to be some of the best places to live. The City Council will soon be considering adoption of several mixed use zoning designations consistent with the recently adopted General Plan. This has been successfully implemented in the downtown encompassing live-work-entertainment uses in a pedestrian friendly setting. These lauded principles will also be applied in developing several upcoming projects in other areas around town such as along South Brea Boulevard and in the proposed La Floresta neighborhood.
Other "best" western suburbs recognized by Sunset Magazine were: Boulder City, Nevada; Stapleton near Denver, Colorado; Barrio Santa Rosa, within Tucson, Arizona; and Orenco Station in Hillsboro, Oregon.
