Within 1 FY of approval.
12. Review funding opportunities and aggressively pursue, as the County has been, all state and federal housing grant funds for which the County is eligible
Bimonthly.
13. Approve affordable housing projects in Rancho Mission Viejo administratively.
Ongoing.
14. Coordinate with the City of Newport Beach for development and shared RHNA credit of the identified parcels on the Countyowned Coyote Canyon site.
By November 2024.
15. Implement an informational program to disseminate information about developing ADUs.
By end of 2025; annually
thereafter.
16. Prepare pre-approved ADU plans. July 2024.
17. Implement the Affordable ADU Loan Program Policy Manual. Within 2 years of adoption.
18. Initiate consideration of an Inclusionary Housing Program/Policy. By December 2026.
19. Leverage available funding sources, such as Homekey funds, to purchase or rehabilitate housing, including hotels, motels, vacant apartment buildings, and other buildings and convert them into interim or permanent, long-term housing.
Annually.
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Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Contributing Factors:
1. Unaffordable rents and sales prices in a range of sizes.
2. Shortage of subsidized housing units.
3. Cost of repairs and rehabilitation.
4. Dominance of single-family housing, which is typically more expensive than multifamily.
Actions: Timeframe:
Rehabilitate and Preserve Existing Residential Units through the following actions:
1. Use available housing funding to finance housing rehabilitation, focusing in Central and North County.
Annually.
2. Implement and review the County’s code enforcement and graffiti removal programs.
Ongoing.
3. Provide infrastructure maintenance in existing residential neighborhoods, including through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), focusing in Central and North County.
Annually.
4. Participate in the CDBG, HOME and related programs as a means of providing passthrough funding to affordable housing projects and efforts to rehabilitate existing affordable units or projects, focusing in Central and North County.
Annually.
5. Site Replacement – Comply with site replacement requirement pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(g)(3). Replace sites identified in the inventory that currently have residential uses, or within the past five years have had residential uses that have been vacated or demolished, and:
a. Were subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts rents to levels affordable to persons and families of low or very lowincome; or b. Subject to any other form of rent or price control through a public entity’s valid exercise of its police power; or
c. Occupied by low or very low-income households for the purpose of this program “previous five years” is based on the date the application for development was submitted.
As
necessary
(ongoing).
6. Monitor projects with expiring affordability covenants and take appropriate action to preserve these affordable units whenever possible. Promote funding and other opportunities to owners considering conversion of units through existing outreach programs and the County’s website.
Annually.
7. Enforce the provisions of the County’s condominium and mobile home park conversion ordinance.
Annually.
Make neighborhood improvements in low opportunity areas in Central and North County, including the following:
Orange County 155 25-29 Regional AFH
8. Implement the County CIP plan including ADA, roadway, and infrastructure improvements in the Unincorporated County. Improvements may include:
a. Curb ramp, sidewalk, and driveway upgrades and improvements to satisfy current ADA standards and requirements.
b. Parkway, sidewalk, and intersection improvements.
Annually.
9. Facilitate the development or improvement of parks and open space under the County’s CIP plan or other implementation plan benefiting residents of Unincorporated communities, particularly communities with reduced access to environmental opportunities. Projects may include:
a. Development of Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley b. Santa Ana River Trail
c. Ted Craig Regional Park improvements
d. Yorba Regional Park improvements
By 2029.
Increase housing opportunities, with a focus in Central County, for persons experiencing homelessness through the following actions:
10. Facilitate the development of one interim or permanent, long-term housing project using available funding sources, such as Homekey funds (provided it is made available through the State), during the planning period which is anticipated to assist 50 persons experiencing homelessness annually.
Annually.
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2. Brea
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunity and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of community revitalization strategies.
2. Lack of public investments in specific neighborhoods, including services and amenities.
3. High cost of housing rehabilitation and repairs.
4. High levels of overpayment create displacement risk.
5. Limited availability of affordable housing in all areas of the city, including those where rents and sales prices have become exclusive.
6. Community concern about housing densities.
7. Lack of knowledge of fair housing laws.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase knowledge of fair housing laws through the following actions:
1. By the end of 2022, post additional fair housing information at the Family Resource and Senior Centers and on their digital platforms.
Starting in 2022, conduct an informational workshop at these locations once every two years.
By the end of 2022
2. In 2023, conduct a fair housing information session for the City Council.
Invite local nonprofits (including the Orange County Human Relations Commission, the Kennedy Commission, and People for Housing O.C.) to attend.
By the end of 2023
3. Publish Fair Housing information, including any community meetings in Brea Line (city newsletter), as well as non- traditional media, such as Instagram and Facebook, and conduct targeted outreach to tenants, mobile home park residents, and other lower-income populations.
Annually
4. Increase the distribution of fair housing materials by at least 25 percent to increase awareness of fair housing options among residents, including special needs groups and low-income residents. Seek to increase the number of Brea residents counseled through the Fair Housing Council of Orange County from an average of 70 to 75 annually.
Annually, between
2021-2029
Increase quality of affordable housing and access to opportunities in low opportunity areas through the following actions:
5. Include information about rehabilitation resources in City newsletters and on the City website, including the availability of funds for accessibility improvements. Include translated information when feasible. Seek to assist 12-15 households annually. Starting in 2023, conduct targeted outreach in identified Low and Moderate Resource Annually
Orange County 157 25-29 Regional AFH
Census Tracts, utilizing the Housing Conditions Survey and Code Enforcement information to further target assistance.
6. Identify apartments in need of rehabilitation and cooperate with nonprofit providers to acquire and rehabilitate units and provide as long-term affordable housing. Seek to complete at least two projects, including the 47-unit Walnut Village in partnership with Jamboree Housing.
Between 2021-2029
7. Continue to improve access to individuals with disabilities through ADA improvements to streets, sidewalks, and public facilities. Dedicate or seek funding, including annual CDBG allocations, to prioritize infrastructure and accessibility improvements in Low and Moderate Resource opportunity areas.
Ongoing
8. Increased public and private investment in Low and Moderate Resource Census Tracts, including $2,000,000 allocated for a variety of ADA, park facilities, transportation, water, and sewer line improvements in these Census Tracts during 2021-2029.
2021-2029
Increase housing opportunities in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
9. Starting in 2023, work with the FHCOC to contact landlords of affordable multifamily complexes every two years and provide fair housing information and assistance. This outreach will focus on promoting the Section 8 voucher program to landlords who have not previously participated in the program and should include multi-lingual materials.
Through landlord outreach in coordination with the FHCOC and housing mobility programs through the Orange County Housing Authority, the City's goal will be to increase Housing Choice Vouchers by 10%, from 114 to 125 vouchers, including a 10% increase in high resource neighborhoods.
Every two years;
2021-2029
10. Rezone sufficient parcels to provide geographically dispersed sites for over 1,100 lower-income units, fostering a more inclusive community. 2022
11. Provide significant new housing opportunities in Highest Resource eastern Brea through development of a diverse mix of 1,100 new units in the Brea 265 project, including an estimated 76 deed restricted affordable units as required through the City’s inclusionary ordinance.
Pursue the introduction of workforce housing on Amazon’s 31-acre warehouse site in eastern Brea.
2021-2029
12. Update Brea’s Affordable Housing Ordinance in 2022 to integrate lowand moderate-income units in market rate projects throughout the community
2022
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13. Coordinate with the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) in 2023 to utilize the mobility counseling program. This OCHA program informs Housing Choice Voucher holders about their residential options in higher opportunity areas and provides holistic support to voucher holders seeking to move to higher opportunity areas.
2023-2029
14. Initiate a marketing program for homeowners on the benefits of ADUs and the availability of funds to support development through the City's Newsletter and posting of the ADU application checklist on the City website, thereby expanding housing opportunities in areas traditionally limited to single-family ownership. Promote and support the development of ADUs and seek to issue permits for 16 units annually throughout Brea.
Annually, starting
in 2022
15. Adopt an Ordinance by 2022 to expand the housing supply in High Resource single-family zones by allowing for lot splits and duplexes under the parameters of SB 9. In coordination with research being conducted at the State level, pursue opportunities to incentivize and provide funding assistance for homeowners to provide affordable units under SB 9.
2022-2025
16. Require affordable developers receiving public funds to prepare an affirmative marketing plan and encourage private developers with affordable units in their projects to prepare an affirmative marketing plan. The affirmative marketing plan shall ensure marketing materials for new developments are designed to attract renters and buyers of diverse demographics, including individuals of any race, ethnicity, sex, handicap, and familial status.
Ongoing
Prevent displacement through the following actions:
17. Continue anti-displacement programs including limits on rent increases and prohibiting evictions without just cause for tenants that have resided in their units for more than 12 months; relocation assistance where public funds are utilized; and replacement requirements when affordable units are removed.
Ongoing
18. Assist mobile home park resident organizations interested in purchasing their parks to access funds through the state HCD Mobile Home Park Resident Ownership Program (MPROP). Provide available local funds for leverage and assist with the subdivision map waiver process consistent with the Subdivision Map Act.
Ongoing
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3. Cypress
Issue: Segregation and Disparities in Access to Opportunity Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of City-specific data on fair housing inquiries/complaints.
2. Lack of effective outreach strategies.
3. Concentration of lower- and moderate-income households.
4. Limited understanding of regulations surrounding acceptance of HCV tenants.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Advocate to receive reports from the Orange County Fair Housing Council that include data specific to the City of Cypress to allow the City to better assess fair housing issues within the community.
Ongoing
2. Create an updated webpage on the City’s website with information on fair housing rights and resources by 2023.
2023
3. Publish information about fair housing resources in the City’s quarterly newsletter.
Ongoing
4. Implement requirements for developers to submit an Affirmative Action Marketing Plan for density bonus projects by 2023.
2023, ongoing
thereafter
5. Expand outreach and education of Source of Income Protection laws (SB 329 and SB 222), which include HCVs and other public assistance as legitimate sources of income for housing.
Ongoing
6. Provide information on Source of Income Protection laws in ADU informational packets.
Ongoing
7. Increase affordable housing stock in high opportunities through the following actions:
a. Promote key lower income housing opportunity sites for affordable housing development as a means to bring new housing opportunities to high resource areas.
Ongoing
b. Conduct a feasibility study on the implementation of an inclusionary housing ordinance by 2024.
2024
c. Support funding applications by nonprofit developers for affordable housing in high resource areas.
Ongoing
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Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Contributing Factors:
1. Presence of a higher proportion of older multi-family rental units.
2. Limited income available for home repairs/maintenance.
3. Older single family housing stock.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Implementation of a Neighborhood Preservation Pilot Program to identify and address code violations and needed right of way improvements.
Ongoing
2. Expand outreach and education efforts to neighborhood residents on resources available to address code violations and property maintenance issues.
Ongoing
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4. Dana Point
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Low rates of HCV use. Despite high rates of overpayment for rental households, the use of housing vouchers is low. This may be due to stigma associated with the use of Housing Vouchers, both by property owners and tenants.
2. School performance. Disadvantaged students at schools serving Dana Point residents may be falling behind other students in the school and compared to those across the state. Both elementary schools in Dana Point are ranked much lower compared to other elementary schools that serve Dana Point residents.
3. Income and Diversity. The City lacks a substantial number of suitable housing sites in moderate / high / highest opportunity areas; many of these areas are largely built out with single-family homes. The majority of available housing sites are in Census Tracts that already have a higher concentration of low-income residents.
4. Lack of regional coordination and lack of public/private investment. Dana Point and surrounding cities generally address the need and solutions for affordable housing and homeless shelters in an independent manner, which causes them to compete against one another for funds and eliminates opportunities to pool resources.
5. Potential community opposition. While there is little community opposition to a proposed affordable project (e.g., there was community support for Silver Lantern), additional regional collaboration can help to mitigate community opposition that may arise in the future (whether an affordable housing project or homeless shelter).
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase knowledge and enforcement of fair housing laws through the following actions:
1. Educate the community about fair-housing and equal housing opportunities, providing housing counseling services and family resource information and referral. Topics include, but are not limited to tenant rights, legal resources, rehabilitation grants and loans, first-time homebuyer programs, and Section 8 programs.
Distribute materials in English and Spanish through City Hall, City libraries, City websites, and the Fair Housing Council website.
Ongoing
2. Track fair housing issues and identify patterns in the City, including meeting annually to check on the status of active cases.
Annually
3. Promote fair housing opportunities through various financial assistance initiatives and affordable housing/neighborhood revitalization programs.
Ongoing
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4. Actively recruit residents from neighborhoods in low resource areas to serve or participate on boards, committees, and other local government bodies.
Ongoing
5. As part of the City’s Housing Element Annual Report, continue to annually monitor zoning regulations to ensure compliance with fair housing laws.
Ongoing
Increase use of Housing Choice Vouchers through the following actions:
6. Coordinate with OCHA to generate a detailed understanding of where overpayment rates and displacement risks are highest in the city (as of latest available Census data), where vouchers are and are not used, and how many tenants could potentially qualify at each multifamily property in target areas.
2022
7. Coordinate with Orange County United Way on the
WelcomeHomeOC program to identify opportunities to assist Dana Point residents.
2022
8. Apply affirmative advertising policy to income-restricted units to be built in the Victoria Apartments development in the Doheny Village area. Apply the policy to all future income-restricted projects, as permitted by state and/or federal funding programs. 2022
9. Coordinate with OCHA to develop an outreach plan and materials to communicate the benefits of vouchers and tenant rights regarding just cause evictions, limitations on rent increases, and replacement housing requirements if any existing residential units would be removed, based on state law.
2023
10. Complete study of options to augment/adjust current in-lieu fee program for possible application of funds for those overpaying and/or at risk of displacement; evaluate how the City can prioritize or facilitate mixed- income housing through potential use of in-lieu fees or other resources (e.g., determine which federal and state grant or loan programs are structured to score mixed-income projects as more competitive compared to 100 percent lower income developments).
2024
11. Distribute outreach materials through means that reach target populations (e.g., those receiving subsidized school lunches).
Conduct direct outreach to 10 properties (tenants and owners) in Census Tracts illustrating high rates of rental overpayment and conduct mailer outreach to all renter occupied units and rental 2024
Orange County 163 25-29 Regional AFH
property owners in the Town Center and Doheny Village Census Tracts.
12. Bring forth appropriate in-lieu fee provisions for adoption. 2024
13. Establish strategies to use City resources (technical support and/or in-lieu fees as appropriate) to encourage mixed-income housing developments.
2024
Improve educational outcomes for lower income and underserved students at schools in or serving Dana Point, through the following actions:
14. Continue annual assessment of effectiveness of Sparkpoint OC with Orange County United Way.
Annually
15. Negotiate with the Victoria Apartments property owner to dedicate substantial funds toward schools in Dana Point, specifically Dana Hills High School (which serves residents in the low resource areas).
2024
16. Coordinate with United Way to continue and or expand Sparkpoint effort on annual basis, with modifications to provide better or more effective assistance and/or to reach more families.
Annually
17. Coordinate with United Way to expand Sparkpoint effort to Palisades Elementary School.
2025
Increase affordable housing opportunities through the city, and especially in moderate, high, and highest resource areas, through the following actions:
18. Adopt a pre-approval review process for ADUs. 2023
19. Initiate a general plan update with an explicit objective to identify additional housing opportunities in moderate, high, and highest resource areas, with additional emphasis on Census Tracts that can help improve patterns of greater diversity, promote a broader distribution of households with a range of incomes, and lowers displacement risk.
2023
20. Coordinate with the OCHA to inform Housing Choice Voucher holders about their residential options in moderate, high, and highest resource areas.
Annually
21. In coordination with research being conducted at the state level, pursue opportunities to incentivize and provide funding assistance Ongoing
Orange County 164 25-29 Regional AFH
for homeowners to provide affordable units under SB 9 provisions (adopted by ordinance in February 2022).
22. Coordinate through the Orange County Housing Finance Trust (OCHFT) on the use of funding sources (e.g., REAP) and potential to apply for additional funding.
Ongoing
23. Coordinate through OCHFT on year two notice of funding availability (NOFA), and subsequent NOFAs for years three, four, and five; advocate for the use of funds in Dana Point as appropriate and in surrounding jurisdictions when such location would yield better benefits (more units, deeper level of subsidy, more target populations, etc.).
Ongoing
24. Assist in the update of the OCHFT five-year strategic plan. 2024 Orange County 165 25-29 Regional AFH
5. La Palma
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Some residents who are in need of fair housing resources, including low-income households, individuals with disabilities, racial/ethnic minorities and other protected classes, may be unaware of the fair housing resources that are available. Although information about fair housing services is posted on the City website and in public offices, more could be done to make this information available.
2. Lack of access to opportunity due to high housing costs is a significant contributing factor to fair housing throughout the region. All areas of La Palma are classified as high opportunity.
Increasing housing availability in areas with good opportunity make it easier for lower-income households to access the types of services and amenities that further economic and social mobility.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Expand fair housing outreach through the following actions:
a. Continue directing fair housing inquiries to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County.
Ongoing
b. Post and update information annually regarding fair housing and request FHCOC to conduct a presentation every two years about services available.
Every two years
c. Contact all apartment complexes annually to provide
education and materials about the Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher program including multi-lingual materials.
Coordinate to develop an outreach plan and materials to communicate the benefits of vouchers and tenant rights
regarding just cause evictions, limitations on rent increases, and replacement housing requirements. Conduct direct
outreach to 30 properties (tenants and owners) in Census Tracts with LMI concentrations by December 2026.
Annually
d. Publish and update links to fair housing information on the City website and via social media annually.
Annually
2. Improve Access to Opportunity and Mobility through the following actions:
a. Conduct fee study annually and adopt City planning fee reductions for new deed-restricted low-income housing
projects and fee waivers for lot consolidation by June 2025 Annually, fee
reductions adopted
by June 2025
b. Update Municipal Code for large residential care facilities and remove any unreasonable conditions of approval or other By December 2024
Orange County 166 25-29 Regional AFH
requirements by establishing objective development
standards to eliminate subjective components of the
discretionary CUP process and ensure barrier free housing choices for individuals with disabilities by December 2024. c. Continue to support the provision of housing for individuals with disabilities through updates to zoning regulations in compliance with fair housing law by December 2023.
December 2023
d. Encourage and facilitate housing development commensurate with the City’s identified housing need in the RHNA allocation on a continuous basis.
Ongoing
e. Apply for CDBG funding through the County of Orange Urban County program and seek third-party grant writing assistance for City’s Meals on Wheels senior program and ADA
improvements for streets and sidewalks by October 2025.
October 2025
f. Establish Economic Development/Land Use Committee by February 2024 to implement the following programs:
i. Review City-owned properties annually and identify
any surplus land that could be made available for
affordable housing development by June 2024.
ii. Explore options to allow and incentivize missing
middle and special needs residential uses in the R-3 as part of the development standards amendments for
increased story count, parking, and lot coverage by
December 2024.
iii. Pursue strategies to facilitate housing development of at least 10 housing units on religious, institutional, and quasi-institutional lands, and adaptive reuse of
underutilized properties for affordable housing by
December 2024. Include potential residential
development and conduct targeted outreach to
interested parties for City-owned parcel on 5062 La
Palma Avenue and conduct outreach to the three large
churches within La Palma. Evaluate opportunities for
adaptive reuse as part of outreach to Centerpointe
property owners by December 2024.
iv. Report back to City Council on findings,
recommendations and provide update on program
implementation by December 2024. By 2027,
implement short term and midterm programs
identified in the Strategic Plan.
Report to Council by
December 2024.
Implement short and
midterm programs in
Plan by 2027.
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g. Work cooperatively with the County of Orange and cities to create a regional housing bond program to help fund
affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.
Ongoing
h. Work with Orange County Housing & Community
Development to conserve existing affordable housing units atrisk of converting to market rate. Contact owners of the City’s low-income apartment complexes (Camden Place, Seasons at La Palma, and Casa La Palma) and offer funding from the City’s affordable housing asset fund toward rental rehabilitation of at least 20 units during the planning period.
2021-2029
i. Work with the Fair Housing Council to expand knowledge of first-time homebuyer programs, and promote available
programs on the City’s website, newsletters and through social media.
Ongoing
j. Affirmative Marketing and Regional Registries: Require, provide incentives, and utilize other strategies to promote affirmative marketing plans in all new housing developments.
The affirmative marketing plans will consider regional housing registries and ensure marketing materials for new
developments are designed to attract renters and buyers of diverse demographics, including individuals of any race, ethnicity, income, disability, and familial status.
Ongoing
k. In collaboration with OCHA, expand the use of housing choice vouchers in high resource areas through the following actions:
i. Develop an outreach plan and materials with targeted outreach to Census Blocks of LMI concentrations to
communicate the benefits of vouchers and tenant
rights regarding just cause evictions, limitations on
rent increases, and replacement housing
requirements if any existing residential units would be removed, based on state law.
ii. Gain a better understanding of where overpayment
and overcrowding rates are highest in the city, where
vouchers are and are not used, and how many tenants
could potentially qualify at each multifamily property
in target areas in order to develop strategies to expand use of vouchers with the goal of increasing voucher
use (63 vouchers in 2023) by at least two per year in La Palma.
iii. Inform voucher holders about their residential options in high-resource areas by developing a Housing
Ongoing
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Resources Directory available on the City’s website and updated annually.
l. Expand production of accessory dwelling units in highresource single family neighborhoods and address potential overcrowding by promoting the City’s ADU ordinance,
application, look-up tool, preapproved plans, and educational resources through the Housing SoCal page by June 2024.
Target direct outreach to areas of LMI concentration and Census Tracts south of La Palma Avenue with promotional materials annually. Increase ADU production by two units per year for a total of at least 30 units during the planning period. 2021-2029
m. Enhance City’s existing proactive code enforcement program by targeting areas of concentrated owner rehabilitation needs, resulting in repairs to minimize displacement and relocation impacts. Re-initiate volunteer home painting/repair program with local churches and home improvement stores, which was successful in the last planning period. Provide owner
rehabilitation assistance to at least a total of 16 residential units rehabilitated within areas of LMI concentration during the planning period.
2021-2029
n. Distribute direct mailers and applications to apartment complexes for La Palma Citizens’ Academy to recruit residents from areas of concentrated lower income and renters to serve on boards, committees, and other local government decisionmaking bodies annually.
Annually
o. Initiate joint use agreement between City and Centralia Elementary School District to create a public playground at Miller Elementary School and Edison Right-of-Way to benefit the LMI concentration in the eastern portion of the City. Seek grant funding opportunities by December 2026.
December 2026
p. Continue place-based strategies toward community
revitalization including:
i. Invest and prioritize City beautification projects,
including 3.85 miles of street medians, trees, and
drought-tolerant landscaping, along corridors of areas
with LMI concentrations (La Palma Avenue, Moody
Street, and Walker Avenue) by June 2025.
ii. Complete water infrastructure projects related to four (4) water main interconnections to provide emergency
and contingency water supply to 4,270 units; and
2024-2025
Orange County 169 25-29 Regional AFH
replacement of large water meters for 36 residential
units by June 2024.
iii. Seek grant funding for the La Palma Avenue Slurry
Seal Project, which includes sidewalk ADA
improvements from west to east City limits, centralized in area of higher percentage (10-20%) of population
with a disability by December 2024.
q. In cooperation with the Orange County Transportation Authority, provide community education regarding transport services for individuals with disabilities. Partner with OCTA, OC Health Care Agency, and local school districts to
implement OC Safe Routes to Schools Program in its
Countywide initiatives through participation in Next STEP (ATP and REAP 2.0 funding) by December 2027.
December 2027
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6. Laguna Beach
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of knowledge and enforcement of fair housing laws due to the following:
a. Insufficient fair housing monitoring and limited outreach capacity. b. Lack of a variety of media inputs.
c. Lack of marketing community meetings.
d. Lack of regional coordination.
2. Lack of affordable housing in high opportunity areas due to the following:
a. Historical land use development patterns and zoning, and lack of vacant land limit opportunities for larger and higher density project types. b. Past national, state, and regional racial/ethnic discriminatory practices. c. Current high cost of housing limits access to lower income households of all races/ethnicities.
d. Lack of affordable housing and need for greater access to opportunities. e. Regional coordination affects transit services, funding sources, and allocation of housing resources including vouchers.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Increase fair housing knowledge and enforcement through the following actions:
a. Ensure that all laws, programs, and activities affirmatively further fair housing in accordance with state law. As the General Plan and Zoning Code are updated or amended, review and revise policies and code provisions to promote an inclusive community.
Ongoing
b. When considering specific plan or rezoning proposals, evaluate whether the change in zoning will help achieve fair housing goals.
Ongoing
c. Include fair housing information on the City’s website, including up-to-date fair housing laws, FHCOC services, and information on filing discrimination complaints. Proactive announcement of fair housing resources on Community Newsletter (weekly text
messaging system).
Provide link to
services on City
website by 2023
and make service
announcements at
least annually.
d. Continue to publish a Housing Assistance Guide informing community members of the Orange County Fair Housing Council (FHCOC) and its oversight of fair housing practices, for availability on the City's website and at the Planning counter.
Update annually
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e. Develop interest list for update on fair housing and affordable housing projects.
By the end of 2022
and updated
annually.
f. Update the City website with affordable housing projects. Update website semi- annually.
g. Utilize non-traditional media (i.e., social media, City website, Community Newsletter) in outreach and education efforts in addition to print media and notices.
Beginning in 2023;
ongoing
thereafter
h. As a participating City in the County of Orange Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, continue to support the annual contribution of CDBG funds to the Orange County Fair Housing Council (FHCOC).
Annually
i. Participate in regional efforts to address fair housing issues and monitor emerging trends/issues in the housing market. Attend quarterly OCHA Housing Advisory Committee meetings.
Quarterly
j. Petition to Orange County, administrator of the City’s CDBG program, for the fair housing provider (FHCOC) to expand landlord education on source of income discrimination and voucher programs.
Beginning in 2023.
k. Expand outreach and education on recent state laws (SB 329 and SB 222) supporting source of income protection for publicly assisted low-income households (HCVs).
Begin in 2023
2. Increase affordable housing in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
a. Establish a new Housing Program Coordinator planner position to oversee and expedite Housing Element program
implementation.
Beginning in 2023.
b. Create a comprehensive ADU Handbook with tools to facilitate ADU production.
12/1/2022.
c. Require that 25% of the total number of units or lots, whichever is greater, in new subdivisions of two or more residential units or lots and 25% of new development of three or more units on existing building sites be affordable to extremely-low-, very-low- , low- or moderate-income households or individuals.
Initiate
inclusionary
housing policy
update in 2023
with a market
feasible study.
d. Update inclusionary housing policy to enhance feasibility and production of affordable housing.
Orange County 172 25-29 Regional AFH
e. Amend the Zoning Code to provide more flexible development standards and the built form for affordable housing and facilitate development of densities at or above 30 units per acre.
Complete
amendments by
2024.
f. Conduct outreach to religious institutions to provide information and technical assistance on state law regarding developing housing units on religious-use parking spaces.
In 2023.
g. Monitor financial assistance programs administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and apply for funding that the City is eligible for and can competitively vie for.
Annually explore
funding options
available.
h. Amend the Zoning Code to create a new zone where emergency shelters all allowed by right, then apply the zone to the Friendship Shelter site.
Zoning Code
revision adopted
by the City
Council on
December 13,
2022.
i. Amend Zoning Code to address Low Barrier Navigation Center, transitional housing, and supportive housing, SRO, and
reasonable accommodation.
By June 2023.
j. Review Zoning Code to accommodate large group homes (7+ individuals) as a residential use to be conditionally permitted in residential zones and to establish conditions for approval that are objective and provide for certainty in outcomes.
By June 2023.
k. Establish an Affirmative Marketing Plan, to include advertising and community outreach designed to reach underrepresented households to be implemented when affordable units become available.
Establish plan by
the end of 2023.
l. Initiate an update to the Laguna Canyon Specific Plan to evaluate suitability for expansion of sites, through code amendments or rezoning, to where live-work, residential, or mixed-use development is permitted.
Complete plan by
2023.
m. Continue to evaluate potential for mixed-use and work/live spaces along the Coast Highway Corridor and on vacant or underutilized commercial properties.
Establish strategy
by 2024.
n. With adoption of Phase 2 of the DSP, include incentives such as:
increased densities, increased height limits, higher lot coverage, lower parking requirements, allowances for off-site parking, allowances for lot assemblage and, and removal of upper story Adoption of Phase
2 in 2025.
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residential use limitations to assist in the development of housing
3. Make neighborhood improvements to increase access to opportunity, and preserve housing affordability, through the following actions:
a. Pursue the development of an amnesty program for unpermitted residential units.
By 2023
b. Laguna Canyon Road (SR-133) Improvements: place overhead utilities underground; active transportation improvements; reconstruct drainage channel; add dam to control storm flows.
By end of 2025
c. Coast Highway ADA South Improvements (Moss Street to Fifth Avenue): add new sidewalks; widen existing sidewalk;
reconstruct existing curb ramps and driveways to meet current ADA standards; add audible pedestrian crossing systems; repair, resurface, and restripe roadway.
By end of 2025
d. Laguna Canyon Road Median Landscaping: Replant the
landscaped median along Laguna Canyon Road between Forest Avenue and east of Canyon Acres Drive.
2023-2024
e. Continue to provide Senior Housing Repair program. Ongoing f. Monitor implementation of the Short-Term Lodging Ordinance.
Restrictions to short-term lodging are intended to help preserve rental housing stock by limiting their use for vacation rental purposes.
Annually
g. Continue to support aging in place through amortization and abatement agreements which allow residents to remain on the property under specified conditions to improve the property.
Ongoing
h. Where safety concerns can be addressed, allow residents to remain in unpermitted spaces while they are adapted to meet work/live code If funding is available, develop incentives and funding programs to assist building owners and tenants to make the building modifications necessary to conform with work/live ordinances.
By 2023
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7. Laguna Hills
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Concentration of more affordable housing (e.g., multifamily, mobile home park) in north Laguna Hills and the Via Lomas neighborhood.
2. Neighborhoods in south Laguna Hills are more desirable, therefore more costly, than neighborhoods in central and north Laguna Hills.
3. Availability of affordable units in a range of sizes.
4. Cost of rehabilitation or repair.
5. Availability of rentals that accept Housing Choice Vouchers.
6. Linguistic isolation of non-English speaking households.
7. Availability of high-ranked elementary schools to serve north Laguna Hills and the Via Lomas neighborhood.
8. Housing shortages regionally in Orange County.
9. Unaffordable rents and home prices.
10. Lack of partnerships with affordable housing developers
11. Concentrated areas of poverty in low-resource areas.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Coordinate local housing efforts with federal, state, regional, and local government and/or agencies and cooperate in implementation of intergovernmental housing programs; including the following actions:
Ongoing
a. Submit CDBG applications to assist in preserving existing affordable housing stock;
Annually
b. Continue to publicize programs, such as energy-efficiency programs and state and federal funding programs;
Ongoing
c. Encourage local housing advocates to make presentations to local builders and developers, Chamber of Commerce, civic groups, and the local community re: affordable and
multifamily/higher density development.
Biannually
2. Encourage the development of ADUs throughout the City to expand housing opportunities for all income levels within existing neighborhoods, particularly for lower-income seniors, single individuals, individuals with disabilities, and small households; through the following actions:
Ongoing
a. Update the City’s current ADU Ordinance 2023
b. Promote development of ADUs through City website
c. and informational material
2023
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d. Identify and implement potential incentives to encourage production of affordable ADUs.
Ongoing
e. Monitor the production and affordability of ADUs annually to ensure the City will meet the assumption of 18 ADUs during the planning period.
Annually
f. Explore funding options to create an ADU forgivable Loan Program.
2024
3. Increase affordable housing in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
a. Establish objective design standards for residential development and analyze opportunities to permit multifamily residential in an existing commercial center.
By August 2024
b. Analyze opportunities to permit multifamily residential in an existing commercial center in north Laguna Hills.
2024
c. Mitigate regulatory constraints on the production of housing through the following actions.
i. Consider adaptive reuse ordinance by June 2024 and
implement, if appropriate, by June 2025.
2024-2025
ii. Consider inclusionary housing ordinance and present findings to City Council by June 2024 and implement,
if appropriate, by June 2025.
2024-2025
iii. Consider congregational overlay by June 2024 and
implement, if appropriate, by June 2025.
2024-2025
iv. Conduct initial review of development standards and permitting requirements by June 2025 and update
Zoning Ordinance as needed.
2025
v. Amend the General Plan and Zoning Code, as needed,
to provide adequate sites for 413 lower-income units.
2024
d. Provide incentives (e.g., expedited processing, fee waivers, and density bonuses) to facilitate set-asides for planned lowincome units, and for mixed-use development.
Ongoing
e. Promote lower-income housing development incentives on the City website.
Ongoing
f. Enact new measures that will raise local funding for construction of affordable and other needed housing types.
June 2025
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g. Develop and implement strategies to encourage and facilitate lot consolidation and phasing of residential and mixed-use developments on large sites.
Ongoing
h. Explore the potential to partner with a nonprofit organization to offer a program based on the Community Land Trust
model.
2025
i. Work with stakeholders to identify nongovernmental
constraints that may impede the construction of housing.
Ongoing
j. Increase participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program through the following actions:
i. Provide referral services and information to City
residents on HCV program.
Ongoing
ii. Study the feasibility of a landlord incentive program for landlords that choose to accept voucher holding
tenants.
2024
4. Increase housing opportunities for special needs populations through the following actions:
a. Pursue homeless assistance grants through the Continuum of Care.
Annually
b. Assist public and private nonprofit housing developers in preparation of funding applications for special-needs
populations.
Annually
c. Conduct outreach to service providers to discuss ways the City can assist in the development of housing for lower income households.
Annually
d. Work with local organizations that provide assistance to individuals with disabilities to implement an outreach
program that informs individuals with disabilities and their families about housing and available services.
Ongoing
e. Prepare and distribute informational material on the reasonable accommodation ordinance, that will direct people to service information on the City website.
2024
f. Encourage developers to provide universal design features in housing developments.
Ongoing
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g. Provide fair housing education and information to apartment managers and homeowners associations on why denial of
reasonable modifications/ accommodations is unlawful.
Ongoing
5. Promote development opportunities in the Urban Village Specific Plan (UVSP) area, encouraging affordable housing development, through the following actions:
a. Add promotional material re: UVSP housing opportunities on the City’s website.
2023
b. Meet with prospective developers to encourage
incorporating housing for multiple income levels.
Annual
c. Consider amending UVSP to incorporate inclusionary
housing requirements.
2024
d. Provide regulatory incentives on a case-by-case basis consistent with Chapter 9-72 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Ongoing
6. Preserve existing affordable housing through the following actions:
a. Cooperate with owners of existing affordable units to secure appropriate federal funding necessary to maintain existing affordability.
Annually
b. Enforce the Municipal Code and address matters related to property maintenance that pose threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
Ongoing
c. Develop informational materials to help educate property owners on available funding programs to assist with
rehabilitation.
2023
d. Notify the State Franchise Tax Board if substandard rental housing is identified.
Ongoing
e. Work with Orange County Housing and Community Services Department to receive rehabilitation loans and grants for low and moderate-income homeowners and rental property
owners; Use CDBG funds as funding becomes available and pursue other funding sources;
Ongoing
f. Prepare and distribute informational material advertising the rehabilitation program
2024
g. Continue to pursue the extension of affordability controls for 51 units that are set to expire in 2032; prepare a “Risk Annually
Orange County 178 25-29 Regional AFH
Assessment” report provided by the California Housing
Partnership Corporation
h. Provide technical assistance to preserve at-risk units; Ongoing i. Apply for state or federal funding on behalf of interested nonprofit entities, if necessary, to protect the affordability of rental units
Ongoing
j. Provide foreclosure information on City website 2023, update annually
k. Refer residents to external agencies to assist in reducing incidents of foreclosures
Ongoing
l. Require replacement housing units subject to the
requirements of SB 330 on sites identified in the sites inventory when any new development occurs on a site that has been occupied by or restricted for the use of lowerincome households at any time during the previous five years;
Ongoing
m. Prevent tenant displacement by considering the feasibility of a local Just Cause Eviction ordinance, a Local Rent
Stabilization ordinance, and a multi-lingual Right to Counsel program;
2024
7. Increase services to special needs populations through the following actions:
a. Allocate CDBG funds to nonprofits providing shelter for the homeless
Annually
b. Contract with Mercy House or other housing services
providers to help residents experiencing homelessness
obtain services.
Annually
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8. Laguna Woods
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing. The availability and price of land represents a significant market constraint to housing production in Laguna Woods, where there is very little residentially designated vacant land.
2. Displacement risk for existing lower-income residents due to economic pressures/motivators on property owners/managers
3. Limited access to opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other special needs due to underimproved housing stock potentially resultant of financial or physical challenges.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Conduct a market study and then amend the existing inclusionary housing ordinance to modify the minimum percentages of new housing units that must be deed-restricted for extremely low, very low, and low-income households, as feasible and advantageous to promote the development of affordable housing.
2. Investigate potential incentives for property owners to extend and/or expand existing affordability covenants beyond the planned expiration date and/or current number of housing units, with an emphasis on incentivizing (i) affordability covenants for extremely low and very low-income housing units, and (ii) affordability covenants that apply to housing units in a range of sizes.
If feasible and economical, adopt such incentives.
3. Adopt an ordinance waiving or reducing City building permit fees for improvements to the home of a person at least 60 years of age with a qualifying disability that are made to accommodate that disability, as provided for by California Health and Safety Code Section 17951.7. Consider including provisions allowing for similar building permit fee waivers or reductions for improvements to the home of a person with a qualifying disability that are made to accommodate that disability, regardless of age.
Prepare and maintain a flyer with related information. Conduct annual outreach to nonprofit organizations known to provide medical or social services to residents with disabilities. Conduct biennial outreach to residents residing in Census Tracts 626.22 and 626.48 due to their comparatively lower economic domain scores from the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map.
4. Provide opportunities for reimbursements, grants, or other forms of financial assistance to support home improvements that increase accessibility or functionality for individuals with special needs. Conduct annual outreach to nonprofit organizations known to provide medical or social services to residents with special needs. Conduct biennial outreach to residents residing Orange County 180 25-29 Regional AFH
in Census Tracts 626.22 and 626.48 due to their comparatively lower economic domain scores from the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map.
5. Formalize a proactive code enforcement program that focuses on housingrelated rehabilitation needs, results in repairs, and seeks to mitigate potential cost, displacement, and relocation impacts on residents.
6. Improve pedestrian accessibility on sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and other public property connecting housing with transit stops, public buildings, businesses, and educational institutions. Prioritize improvements based on factors including:
a. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (“CalEnviroScreen”) scores for individual Census Tracts, with an emphasis on undertaking improvements in and around Census Tract 626.47 due to its comparatively higher CalEnviroScreen score, as feasible and economical; and
b. Education domain scores from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (“TCAC”)/HCD Opportunity Map, with an emphasis on undertaking improvements in and around Census Tract 626.22 due to its comparatively lower scores, as feasible and economical.
7. Pursue partnerships and seek funding to provide Laguna Woods-based housing mobility counseling services. If feasible and economical, implement such services.
8. Adopt an ordinance waiving or reducing City building permit fees, or providing other incentives, for housing projects that prepare and implement an affirmative marketing plan designed to attract renters or buyers of diverse demographics, including individuals of any race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Prioritize incentives based on factors including racial concentrations from U.S. Census Bureau data products, with an emphasis on avoiding the creation of geographically discernable patterns of segregation or racially concentrated areas of poverty.
9. Prepare and maintain a webpage with information on housing mediation, foreclosure assistance, tenant legal counseling services, and vocational counseling services. Train City staff to make referrals using the webpage.
10. Pursue partnerships and seek funding to provide Laguna Woods-based housing mediation, foreclosure assistance, and multilingual tenant legal counseling services. If feasible and economical, implement such services.
11. Investigate potential hazard mitigation measures that would reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of residential displacement as a result of future disasters. If feasible and economical, implement such hazard mitigation measures. Prioritize improvements based on factors including economic Orange County 181 25-29 Regional AFH
domain scores from the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map for individual Census Tracts, with an emphasis on undertaking improvements in and around Census Tracts 626.22 and 626.48 due to their comparatively lower scores, as feasible and economical.
12. Investigate potential incentives for property owners of apartment and cooperative housing units for which tenants pay usage-based energy costs to make energy efficiency improvements that exceed the minimum requirements set forth in the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
If feasible and economical, implement such incentives. Prioritize incentives for residents residing in Census Tracts 626.46 and 626.47 due to those areas being identified in this Housing Element as susceptible to displacement and having the highest renter vulnerability indices, as feasible and economical.
13. Investigate opportunities to provide rental relief for residents at risk of homelessness. If feasible and economical, implement such opportunities.
Prioritize rental relief for residents residing in Census Tracts 626.46 and 626.47 due to those areas being identified as susceptible to displacement and having the highest renter vulnerability indices, as feasible and economical.
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9. Los Alamitos
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunity and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of housing for special needs population.
2. Lack of knowledge of fair housing laws.
3. Local land use and zoning laws.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Encourage development of housing for special needs populations through the following actions:
a. The City shall encourage and facilitate development of housing for families and large households, the elderly, farmworkers, individuals experiencing homelessness and individuals with disabilities, including physical and developmental disabilities. b. The City will assist developers in identifying outside funding sources and support efforts to pursue those opportunities— either as group homes or in single family homes, when
appropriate and feasible.
c. The City will develop a menu to offer incentives such as density bonuses, regulatory concessions, and expedited processing. d. The City will develop and disseminate informational materials annually to developers regarding the incentive program and identified funding sources to potentially assist 5 special needs residents annually through the planning period.
Establish incentive
program and
publish on City
website by June
30, 2023.
2. Increase fair housing knowledge and enforcement through the following actions:
a. The City shall continue to provide referrals to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County for fair housing services including counseling services for tenant-landlord disputes and cases of alleged discrimination.
b. The City shall continue to publicize fair housing and complaint referral information at local community centers and in the Recreation & Community Services Schedule of Classes. The City will also provide information at City Hall and on the City’s website.
c. The City shall work with government agencies (e.g., Fair Housing Council of Orange County) and nonprofit groups (e.g., Habitat for Humanity) on anti-discrimination during housing processes for residents in protected classes, such as those with disabilities and families with children. Advertise workshops and events held by these organizations on anti-discrimination on the City’s email newsletter and Housing Element webpage.
Ongoing
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3. Collaborate and coordinate with government agencies and nonprofit groups such as the Fair Housing Council of Orange County to support outreach and expansion of lending programs for homeownership among minority populations.
Annually
4. The City currently requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for a residential care facility for seven or more individuals in the R-3 zone.
To remove any potential constraint to housing for individuals with disabilities, the City shall remove the CUP requirement for the R-3 Zone or allow residential care facility for seven or more individuals by right in another zone as appropriate.
By December 2022
5. The City will annually review its policies and zoning laws relating to fair housing and reach out to the community through surveys and workshops as appropriate. The outreach efforts will be advertised via multiple channels, such as City email newsletter, posting at City website, print material at City Hall, local community centers, and social media.
Annually
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10. Placentia
Issue: Segregation and R/ECAPs
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing limits housing mobility
2. Limited participation in Housing Choice Voucher Program
3. Land use and development practices
4. Lack of fair housing knowledge and enforcement
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Disseminate information on the City’s website and conduct community outreach meeting with local stakeholders and
affordable housing developers to promote affordable housing development throughout the city and discuss other Cityincentives to create affordable housing.
Annually beginning in
August 2024.
2. Conduct marketing to increase participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Ongoing
3. Collaborate with developers to develop a mechanism to develop affordable housing in highest-opportunity areas.
Annually
4. Annually review existing policies and programs for potential restrictive practices that would limit diversity within racially concentrated areas of affluence (RCAAs). If restrictive practices are identified, address prior to adoption of the new policies and programs or within six months for existing policies and programs.
Annually
5. Establish incentives for affordable developments (including ADUs and JADUs) in RCAA and high opportunity areas.
By March 31, 2025
6. Establish specific incentives for the development of affordable units the RCAAs and high opportunity areas.
By June 2025
7. Conduct Affirmative marketing to increase diversity within RCAAs. This may include, but is not limited to, noticing of affordable units/projects through direct mail targeted outreach to lower income Census Tracts, publishing advertising materials in multiple language, informing service agencies, outreach to community organizations or places of worship.
Every 2 years, beginning in
August 2024.
8. Facilitate the development and/or legalization of over 84 ADUs during the planning period by a variety of methods, including but not limited to:
2021-2029
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a. Annually pursuing funding to adopt permit-ready ADU
plans to minimize design costs, expedite permit
processing, and provide development certainty.
b. Developing an ADU Manual guiding applicants through
the construction of an ADU by December 2024.
c. Developing an ADU webpage informing the community
on ADU related codes, processes, and incentives
December 2024.
d. Developing and implementing a public awareness
campaign for construction of ADUs and the City’s
incentives utilizing all forms of media and outreach
distribution December 2024.
e. Establishing incentives for ADUs, with an emphasis on affordable ADUs by December 2024.
9. Research and establish home sharing program(s) and/or policies.
2025
10. Coordinate with local organizations to assist with matching tenants with existing homeowners. The City will assist with outreach, facilitate annual presentations, and conduct outreach to eligible and potential homeowners.
Annually
11. Facilitate the development of at least 30 units on publiclyowned properties, with an emphasis on areas with relatively higher opportunity, higher median income and RCAAs.
2021-2029
12. Increase fair housing knowledge and enforcement through the following actions:
a. In partnership the city's fair housing provider, conduct multi-faceted fair housing outreach to tenants,
landlords, property owners, realtors, and property
management companies. Methods of outreach should
include workshops, informational booths, presentations
to civic leaders and community groups, staff training,
and distribution of multi- lingual fair housing literature.
Ongoing
b. Provide general counseling and referrals to address
tenant-landlord issues and provide periodic tenantlandlord walk-in clinics at City Halls and other community locations.
Ongoing
c. Include testing/audits within the scope of work for each city's fair housing provider.
Annually
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d. Support enforcement activity and publicize outcomes of fair housing litigation.
Ongoing
e. Provide and maintain multi-lingual informational
materials on tenant legal counseling and resources.
Develop by August 2024;
disseminate annually;
update as needed.
f. Work collaboratively with local housing authorities to ensure affirmative fair marketing plans and deconcentration policies are implemented.
Ongoing
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunity and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. High cost of housing in high opportunity areas
2. Limited accessible housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities
3. High cost of housing repairs/rehabilitation
4. Displacement of residents due to economic factors
5. Lack of public investment in lower opportunity areas Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will seek to improve access to opportunity for lower-income households and other protected classes
through the following actions:
a. Providing adequate sites for affordable housing
development
Update candidate sites list
annually
b. Reduce governmental constraints to encourage
the production of ADUs
Review ADU procedures
annually and revise as needed to
reduce cost and time and comply
with state law.
c. Facilitating the production of housing for
individuals with special needs by providing
technical assistance to developers proposing
affordable housing.
Ongoing
d. Work with federal, state, and local agencies to try
to identify and secure funding for homeowners
who are interested in building an ADU and are
willing to offer it as an affordable rental.
Annually
2. Increase community integration for individuals with
disabilities.
Ongoing
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3. Continue to help develop housing projects for special needs households by providing technical assistance with tax credit applications, tax-exempt bond financing and
other public funds, including ESG, CDBG, and HOME.
Ongoing
4. Review reasonable accommodation standards and
procedures annually and update within 6 months of
annual review if not compliant with state or federal law. If not compliant, the City will process reasonable
accommodations in compliance with state or federal law
in the interim.
Annually
5. Enhance the proactive code enforcement program that
targets areas of concentrated rehabilitation needs,
resulting in repairs and mitigating potential costs,
displacement and relocation impacts on residents.
Review and revise annually
6. The City shall develop a program to collaborate with nonprofit housing providers and develop a preservation strategy. The preservation strategy will allow the City to act quickly if, and when, it receives notice of conversion. As part of the strategy, the City shall ensure compliance with noticing requirements; conduct tenant education and
pursue funding to preserve the units.
Develop strategy by 2024, apply
for funding annually thereafter.
7. Explore anti-gentrification policies and regulations to combat displacement, which especially affects lowincome residents and communities of color. These may include, but are not limited to foreclosure assistance, community land trusts, and housing trust funds.
Report to Council by October
2025.
8. Provide housing mobility counseling either directly or through referrals. This counseling may include, but is not limited to, information on opportunity areas, housing
search skills and tools, workshops, search assistance,
referrals, structured support for a time after a move to the City, landlord-tenant mediation, and retention counseling.
Ongoing
9. Engage community health workers to conduct ground
level site visits and meetings within areas of lower income to better understand resident and business barriers,
resources, and needs.
Ongoing
10. Seek funding and will review Capital Improvement
Program in order to prioritize projects in areas of lower income, to improve living environments and reduce the
risk of displacement. Examples of projects include street Annually
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improvements, multi- modal investments, safe routes to
school, parks, community facilities and amenities,
infrastructure, and other investment toward community
revitalization.
11. The City will continue to encourage and emphasize public art in areas of lower income and diversity.
Ongoing
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11. San Juan Capistrano
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Limited local private fair housing outreach and enforcement
2. Overcrowding in Capistrano Villas
3. Limited affordable and accessible low-income housing
4. Inability to afford and take advantage of local educational, recreational activities
5. Private discrimination against protected classes (in violation of federal Housing Law) directly limits housing choice and mobility.
6. Zoning standards that limit the ability to achieve the maximum permitted density.
7. Lower and moderate households may face displacement pressures as rents rise due to high overall housing costs.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Contract directly with a fair housing services provider to provide specific services for San Juan Capistrano residents
Annually
2. Continue increased bilingual translation and interpretation services as well as alternative events and workshops times, locations, and formats to enable and facilitate meaningful participation from the Community of Focus Ongoing
3. Provide tenant/landlord training about fair housing laws, requirements, services, and resources.
Annually
4. Pursue development of a program to increase maintenance and necessary repairs and safety of overcrowded rental units through voluntary owner certifications and randomized inspections in a manner that does not rely on tenant complaints or lead to increased threat of retribution or displacement.
Ongoing
5. Update Density Bonus Ordinance Ongoing
6. Continue to coordinate and support community-based organizations that support after school programs, self-help training, food-assistance and counseling and access to other resources.
Annually
7. As part of the Capital Improvement Plan, coordinate with Public Works to prioritize Environmental Justice / Community of Focus areas for actions and capital improvements.
Annually
8. Rezoning to permit high density residential development in higher resource areas,
Ongoing
9. Increase housing choices through removal of regulatory and procedural barriers to higher density housing; increased incentives and requirements for construction of affordable housing,
Ongoing
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10. Amend the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to increase the minimum percentage of lower-income affordable housing units (or in-lieu fees) to the extent feasible based on current economic analysis.
2023 and
ongoing
11. Review Architectural Control process to ensure objective design standards. 2024
12. Continue Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program. Ongoing
13. Continue to implement the mobile home park rent increase limits ordinance and the senior mobile home park overlay,
Ongoing
14. Consider new forms of rent stabilization and price control for older multifamily units to ensure existing residents are not priced out of their homes.
2024
15. Ensure compliance with and education regarding the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), including maximum annual rent increases, just cause evictions, and financial compensation requirements to stabilize residents living in areas at risk of displacement.
Ongoing
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12. Seal Beach
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing in high opportunity areas due to local land use and zoning laws.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will process zoning and General Plan
amendments for sufficient sites with appropriate densities as identified in the City’s Housing Element, to fully
accommodate the City’s remaining housing need.
2025
2. Create a mixed-use zone that meets state requirements for RHNA site designation, specifically to facilitate housing for lower income households. The zoning code update
process will accommodate all relevant state requirements regarding density and affordability and will engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the development
standards can result in the development of the maximum
number of units allowed and facilitate the inclusion of affordable units.
2025
3. Make information on available incentives and concessions available and evaluate their efficacy regularly.
Ongoing
4. Provide a streamlined and understandable process for the development of ADUs and JADUs, supported by
incentives and resources as they may be available. Adopt pre-approved plans. Permit 10 ADUs during the planning
period.
Revise ordinance by
September 2024 and adopt
pre-approved plans by June
2025.
5. Reduce barriers to housing development by streamlining permit processing consistent with SB 35.
By January 2024
6. Implement SB 9 requirements - Reduce barriers to housing development through simplified processing and creating
incentives to make units created affordable.
Process 2 SB 9 projects
between 2021-2029.
7. Amend the Zoning Code to allow employee housing
consistent with Health and Safety Code §17021.5 and
17021.6.
August 2025
8. Allow housing at select locations in the Main Street Specific Plan. Permit two residential units in the Main Street Specific Plan during the planning period.
By October 2025
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9. Reduce minimum unit size constraints to housing
development, especially to promote affordable housing.
By August 2025
10. Allow SROs as uses allowed by-right in the RHD Zone. By December 2026
11. Reduce Parking Requirements for Studios and 1-Bedroom Units.
By December 2026
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13. Stanton
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of resources for fair housing agencies and organizations.
2. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures.
3. Location and type of affordable housing, including availability of affordable units in a range of sizes.
4. Lack of access to opportunity due to high housing costs.
5. Quality of affordable housing information programs.
6. Access to transportation for individuals with disabilities.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Support fair housing services provider and efforts to minimize discriminatory housing practices.
Ongoing
2. Maintain and monitor the residential sites inventory to ensure sufficient sites remain to accommodate the RHNA allocation throughout the planning period. Receive and process development applications for residential projects.
2021-2029
3. Maintain adequate capacity to accommodate the City’s RHNA obligations at all income levels throughout the planning period. Report as required through the HCD annual report process.
2021-2029
4. Collaborate with the development community annually, including affordable housing developers, to evaluate the viability of developing city-owned land as affordable housing.
Annually
5. For all project applications, identify the need for replacement of affordable housing units and ensure replacement, if required, occurs.
Ongoing
6. Monitor the City’s existing affordable housing stock and support affordable housing developers in their efforts to develop new affordable units in Stanton. Monitor the City’s options for special needs housing and likewise support special needs housing developers.
2021-2029
7. Understand the potential for market-force economic displacement and consider programs to address the issue, if necessary.
2021-2029
8. Ensure that the City’s parking standards for residential uses are adequate while not unduly constraining housing development.
2021-2029
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14. Villa Park
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of local private fair housing outreach and enforcement may be a significant contributing factor to fair housing issues in Orange County. Although Orange County is served by two highquality private, nonprofit fair housing organizations, they are underfunded and understaffed in comparison to the total need for their services. Victims of discrimination would be more able to exercise their rights, thus deterring future discrimination, if the capacity of existing organizations grew to meet the scale of the problem.
2. Lack of local public fair housing outreach and enforcement may also be a significant contributing factor to fair housing issues in Orange County. There are no local public entities that conduct fair housing outreach and enforcement, with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and HUD constituting the only public enforcement bodies that operate in Orange County. Advocates across Orange County and the state of California have reported issues with the timeline of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s investigations and the standards that it applies in making probable cause determinations. A local public enforcement agency, if created, would have the potential to be more responsive to victims of discrimination in Orange County than either the state or HUD.
3. Lack of access to opportunity due to high housing costs may be a significant contributing factor to fair housing issues in Orange County. Increasing housing affordability would make it easier for low-income households to access the types of services and amenities that further social mobility.
4. General lack of a range of affordable housing opportunities, including limited affordable housing options for families
5. Limited opportunity for residential development in sites accommodating multiple family development.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will continue to disseminate information regarding fair housing in a variety of locations including City Hall, the City website and the library, and conduct ongoing, proactive outreach to engage members of all socio-economic groups and recruit members of underrepresented groups to participate in City meetings. The City will continue to seek funding to support the Fair Housing Council of Orange County (FHCOC), which provides community education, individual counseling, mediation, and low-cost advocacy with the expressed goal of eliminating housing discrimination and guaranteeing the rights of all people to freely choose the housing for which they qualify in the area they desire. The City will invite FHCOC to conduct annual fair housing outreach targeted to Villa Park residents and landlords.
Ongoing
2. The City will seek to improve access to opportunity for lower-income households and other protected classes by providing adequate sites for affordable housing development, encouraging the production of ADUs, Orange County 195 25-29 Regional AFH
and facilitating the production of housing for individuals with special needs.
3. Recruit at least five landlords to become a participating voucher property during three-year period.
4. Coordinate with the County to assist with improving voucher mobility at local level by:
2021-2024
a. Identifying local staff to commit to 25% administrative function to support voucher mobility programs.
June 2024
b. Establishing a customer service framework including dedicated phone number, email and contact information.
June 2024
c. Establishing an annual monitoring program to evaluate the success of voucher mobility program. Provide for annual program amendments, as necessary.
By June 2024,
annually thereafter
5. Annually review the Sites Inventory and the location of new, affordable housing development to ensure equal and fair housing development practices throughout the whole City.
Annually
6. Annual meetings with developers to explore affordable housing and non-traditional single-family housing opportunities.
Annually
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15. Yorba Linda
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of effective fair housing outreach to seniors due to digital divide
2. Private discrimination
3. Lack of knowledge of existing resources among the public
4. Low number of HCVs in the City compared to the County overall
5. Lack of affordable housing opportunities throughout the city, including in areas where rent and sale prices have become exclusive, and for special needs groups such as persons with disabilities and female-headed households
6. Need for more public investment in infrastructure and accessibility improvements in moderate resource opportunity areas
7. Challenges for housing/property upkeep due to financial/physical constraints and age of housing stock.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Increase the distribution of fair housing materials and increase awareness of fair housing options among residents, including special needs groups and low-income residents, through the following actions:
a. By the end of 2022 have additional fair housing information posted at the Yorba Linda Senior Center site and on their digital platforms.
Hold an informational workshop in 2023 and 2025
2022-2025
b. By December 2022, conduct a fair housing information session for the City Council. Invite local nonprofits (including the Orange County Human Relations Commission, the Kennedy Commission, Making Housing Happen and People for Housing O.C.) to attend
2022
c. Publish Fair Housing information, including any community meetings, on non-traditional media such as Facebook or Instagram, and conduct targeted outreach to tenants, mobile home park residents and other lower income populations.
Annually
2. Increase public and private investment in areas of Yorba Linda that have been identified as moderate resource areas and portions of the City with higher percentages of special needs groups, through the following actions:
a. Starting in 2022, work with the FHCOC to contact landlords of affordable multifamily complexes every two years and provide fair housing information and assistance. This outreach will focus on promoting the Section 8 voucher program to landlords who have not previously participated in the program and should include multilingual materials.
Every 2 years
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b. Adopt an ordinance to expand the housing supply in High Resource single-family zones by allowing for lot splits and duplexes under the parameters of SB 9. In coordination with research being conducted at the State level, evaluate opportunities to incentivize and provide funding assistance for homeowners to provide affordable units under SB 9.
Completed in
2023
c. Continue to improve access to persons with disabilities through ADA improvement to streets, sidewalks and public facilities. Dedicate or seek funding, including annual CDBG allocations, to prioritize infrastructure and accessibility improvements in the moderate resource opportunity areas
Annually
d. Coordinate with the Orange County Housing Authority in 2023 about utilizing the mobility counseling program in Yorba Linda. This OCHA program informs Housing Choice Voucher holders about their residential options in higher opportunity areas and provides holistic support to voucher holders seeking to move to higher opportunity areas.
2023
3. Increase affordable housing options throughout the city through the following actions:
a. Adopt the Affordable Housing Overlay, Commercial Mixed-Use Overlay and Congregational Land Overlay, providing geographically dispersed sites for over 600 lower income units which foster a more inclusive community. Initiate rezoning and the Measure B election in 2024 and pay for all costs associated with the ballot measure.
Completed in
2024
b. Increase the allocation of units in Savi Ranch from 200 to 790 high density units, creating a better geographic distribution of development between the eastern and western areas of the community.
Completed in
2024
c. Promote and support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including pursuing funding for rent-restricted ADUs, and seek to issue permits for over 50 units annually throughout Yorba Linda
Ongoing
d. Expand information available on affordable housing in Yorba Linda, including any community meetings on non-traditional media such as Facebook and Instagram.
Ongoing
e. Require affordable developers receiving public funds to prepare an affirmative marketing plan and encourage private developers with affordable units in their projects to prepare an affirmative marketing plan. The affirmative marketing plan shall ensure marketing materials Ongoing
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for new developments are designed to attract renters and buyers of diverse demographics, including persons of any race, ethnicity, sex, handicap, and familial status.
f. During the public hearing processes for the Affordable Housing Overlay, Mixed-Use Housing Overlay, and Congregational Land Overlay, as well as the outreach process for the Measure B election (in November 2024), utilize tools such as the “Myths and Facts About Affordable & High-Density Housing” currently on the City’s website to show what affordable housing means and who it benefits. Contact Kennedy Commission, Making Housing Happen and People for Housing O.C. for potential input. Conduct at least five educational events for the public in locations throughout the community.
Completed in
2024
g. By the end of 2022, research the development of a program that would provide low interest loans to single-family homeowners and grants to homeowners with household incomes of up to 80% of the Area Median Income to develop accessory dwelling units with affordability restrictions on their property. This research should also explore outside funds. If funding is available, establish a pilot program by December 2023 with a goal of achieving at least two deed-restricted ADUs annually; evaluate the program by the end of 2025.
2022-2025
4. Preserve the existing housing stock through the following actions:
a. Include information about rehab and maintenance resources (including the Residential Rehabilitation Program and Community Preservation Program) in City newsletters and on the website.
Include translated information when feasible. Seek to assist 10 households annually. Starting in 2022, conduct targeted outreach through annual mailings to Census Tracts 218.20 and 218.26. about available rehabilitation assistance.
Annually
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B. Aliso Viejo
Issue: Concentration
Most of the city is considered an area of high White concentration, except for a few neighborhoods with low-medium concentration (which are predominantly White) in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Since 1990, levels of concentration have been increasing but remain low.
Contributing Factors:
1. Location and type of affordable housing.
2. Limited access to opportunity due to high housing costs.
3. Insufficient fair housing outreach and enforcement.
4. Availability of affordable housing.
5. Availability of affordable units in a range of sizes.
6. Insufficient Housing Choice Vouchers.
7. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures.
Actions:
Expand access to opportunity for all protected classes
through the following actions:
1. Identify sites in high opportunity areas for new hous ing development.
2. Review policies and programs that increase the sup
ply.
3. Conduct a landlord/tenant education campaign on
fair housing laws.
4. Encourage development of a range of affordable
housing types.
5. Encourage the development of ADUs.
6. Promote Housing Choice Vouchers.
7. Educate renters about their rights.
Timeframe:
Annually and ongoing.
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities may disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of outreach and education regarding supportive services for individuals with disabilities.
2. Lack of education regarding resources available in the City and County, such as schools, transportation, and other in-home or community resources, for individuals with disabilities and single female-headed households.
Actions:
Bring existing resources to protected classes through
the following actions:
Timeframe:
Orange County 200 25-29 Regional AFH
1. Review and amend (if necessary) Reasonable
Accommodation regulations and procedures.
Review and amend regulations and
procedures by the end of FY 25/26.
2. Provide information on supportive services for
individuals with disabilities, single female-headed
households, and homeless individuals via the OC
Social Services Agency.
Conduct annually by Dec. 31st of each
year.
3. Partner with OCTA and publish public transit
program info (OC Flex, OC ACCESS Service, and
youth rider free pass).
Conduct bi-annually by Dec. 31st of each
year.
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
The City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element identified substandard housing conditions for low-income households as an issue facing low-income residents in the city. Additionally, housing cost burden is an issue for renters throughout Orange County.
Contributing Factors:
Substandard housing conditions due to:
1. Insufficient affordable and healthy homes for very-low incomes.
2. Lack of insufficient outreach and education on code enforcement.
3. Insufficient funding for repairs or rehabilitation.
4. Via Iglesia neighborhood has homes in need of repairs Actions:
Reduce existence of substandard housing
conditions through the following actions:
Timeframe:
1. Add information about the City's Code
Enforcement service on the City's website
for renters and owners.
Information added on City’s website to be
completed by the end of FY 25/26. Annually,
conduct one informational campaign on Code
Enforcement services with the goal of reaching at
least 10 renters and 10 owners.
2. Create educational materials about
healthy homes, and post information on
the City's website.
Educational materials to be completed by the end
of FY 25/26 and posted to the
City’s website annually.
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C. Anaheim
Issue: Segregation, including R/ECAPs; and Disproportionate Housing Needs.
While segregation levels overall in Anaheim are low, the city has neighborhoods considered to be areas of high POC segregation north of downtown and along SR-91, and south of downtown and adjacent to Disneyland. These areas are predominantly Hispanic. The neighborhoods north and south of downtown also have a higher percentage of overcrowded units than other neighborhoods in the city, and the areas north of downtown are home to multiple publicly supported housing developments. Additionally, housing cost burden is an issue for renters throughout Orange County. Anaheim also has one R/ECAP to the northeast of Disneyland, along Ball Rd and I-5. This Census Tract is predominantly Hispanic, as are all the surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, Anaheim Hills is considered an area of high White segregation.
Contributing Factors:
Historic practices of redlining and legal racial segregation have created many of the residential patterns that still exist today. Additionally, the high cost of land and existing housing in Anaheim (and throughout Orange County) are significant constraints to the development of new affordable housing and access for families to existing housing.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase the supply of affordable housing in high
Opportunity areas through the following actions:
1. Disseminate on the City’s website,
information material to promote and facilitate
implementation of state and City regulations
and incentives to create affordable housing.
2. Develop and maintain a database of
affordable housing developers working in
California; and hold an annual workshop to
engage and collaborate with affordable
housing developers on these topics.
Develop webpage, including housing element
candidate site list, and developer database
and hold first annual workshop by October
2024.
Update housing element candidate site list
annually in conjunction with Housing
Element Annual Progress Report.
Review by October 2025, and revisions, if
necessary, by October 2026.
3. Disseminate on the City’s website,
information material to promote and facilitate
AMC 18.38.215 Residential Uses of Motels,
Commercial, and Office Structures.
4. Develop and maintain a database of existing
motels, commercial, and office structures for
which conversion could be feasible.
Develop information and database and
participate in annual affordable housing
workshop by October 2025.
5. Encourage the production of ADUs.
6. Continue to seek opportunities to defray costs
associated with construction to homeowners.
Continue to refine existing review process for
ADUs not using pre-approved plans.
Orange County 202 25-29 Regional AFH
7. Develop, subject to funding availability, a
program to facilitate the construction of deedrestricted ADUs.
Continue to refine existing review process for
ADUs using pre-approved plans and expand
pre-approved plan catalog.
Continue to support and promote programs
such as the Orange County Housing Finance
Trust’s Affordable ADU Loan Program, when
offered.
Continue to seek potential local, state, and/or
federal funds to establish an Anaheim
Housing Authority affordable ADU grant/loan
program.
In conjunction with Annual Progress Report,
identify and track ADU construction in high
and highest resource areas/Racially
Concentrated Areas of Affluence (RCAAs).
Conduct review by October 2025, and if ADU
construction is disproportional to the number
of units, develop targeted outreach with a
goal of improving the ADU/overall dwelling
unit metric for the areas relative to other
residential areas in the City.
8. Continue to regularly monitor deedrestricted, affordable housing units that exist citywide.
9. Collaborate with nonprofit housing providers
and develop a preservation strategy to meet
the City’s Quantified Objective for preserving
60 At-Risk Units (30 Very Low- and 30 LowIncome).
Continue monitoring all deed-restricted
affordable housing units annually and add
new properties as applicable.
Develop preservation strategy for 60 units
converting in 2027 – 2031.
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Hispanic residents have the least access to low-poverty neighborhoods, neighborhoods close to high performing schools, and neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital. Geographically, neighborhoods near the downtown have low environmental health, low education scores, low economic scores; but good access to HQTAs. Conversely, Anaheim Hills, which is a predominantly White area, has the best access to environmentally healthy neighborhoods with low poverty rates, high education scores, and high economic scores.
Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Orange County 203 25-29 Regional AFH
Contributing Factors:
A lack of affordable housing in high opportunity areas (due to the factors discussed above) contributes to the disparities in access to opportunities. Additionally, specific groups in the city face the unique housing challenges that impact access to opportunity, including:
• Seniors:
o Having limited and fixed incomes.
o Disproportionately higher healthcare costs, adding monthly living costs. o Require customized housing features due to mobility and self-care limitations. o Transit dependency.
o Limited in-home support, due to living alone.
• Individuals with physical and developmental disabilities:
o Need for specialized housing to accommodate disabilities. o Higher incidence of dependent living needs.
o High incidence of unemployment and having fixed income. o Need for supportive services.
• Large person households:
o Lack of affordable housing with sufficient bedroom counts. o Options for larger bedroom counts in rental units.
o Higher monthly cost burden.
o Affordable options for large family households.
o Childcare needs for working families.
• Single parent households
o Affordable housing options.
o Rental and for sale housing options.
o Higher monthly cost burdens with single-income families. o Childcare needs for working families.
• Farmworker households
o Affordable housing options.
o Higher incidents of cost burden for housing.
o Rental and for sale housing options.
• Extremely Low-Income households:
o Need for increased affordable housing options.
o Markedly higher incidents of cost burden for housing. o Need for smaller housing unit options such as SRO’s.
o Rental assistance.
o Higher incidents of homelessness.
o Higher likelihood for transitional and supportive housing. • Residents experiencing homelessness:
o Need for increased affordable housing options.
o Need for smaller housing unit options such as SRO’s.
o Rental assistance.
o Higher likelihood for transitional and supportive housing. o Need for emergency shelters.
o Need for stable health care.
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Actions: Timeframe:
The city will ensure equal access to housing, expand access to opportunity for all protected class groups, and increase community integration for individuals with disabilities through the following actions:
1. Continue to provide an estimated 6,500 Section 8 Rental Assistance Vouchers annually, subject to federal funding availability, to qualified tenants.
2. Develop and maintain a database of existing housing in high and highest resource areas/Racially Concentrated Areas of Affluence (RCAAs) which has the potential to provide
voucher-based unit(s), including ADUs.
3. Develop a targeted outreach program to recruit potential additional landlords in these areas.
Continue to award all funded
Section 8 Rental Assistance
Vouchers annually.
Develop database and conduct
first annual outreach program
by October 2025.
Target and increase the portion
of Section 8 Rental Assistance
Vouchers leased in high and
highest resource areas/Racially
Concentrated Areas of
Affluence (RCAAs) in planning
period.
4. In partnership with the Fair Housing Council of OC,
disseminate and display for public viewing information
regarding fair housing law applicable to landlords, tenants, sellers, buyers, real estate professionals and others in the housing industry at City Community Centers / Family
Resource Centers/ Youth Centers.
Include in Scope of Services for
Fair Housing Council of OC no
later than October 2026.
5. Continue to implement the Homelessness Action Plan,
including the four overarching principles:
• Housing First: The City of Anaheim commits to following nationally recognized best practices in addressing
homelessness including Housing First practices and the
belief that housing and housing support services are the solutions to homelessness.
• Person-Centered: All programs funded by the City strive to be person- centered, including prioritizing traumainformed care and acknowledging that people experiencing homelessness understand best what
services and supports are needed to help them gain and
keep housing that will resolve their homelessness.
• Equity: The City commits to incorporating equity into service delivery systems and using data to evaluate gaps in service and identify areas of improvement so that
every household in City- funded programs receives
Ongoing with update to the
Homeless Action Plan for July
2024 – June 2028.
The Homeless Action Plan has
the following metrics:
Decrease unsheltered
homelessness by 70% and
overall homelessness by 50%.
Orange County 205 25-29 Regional AFH
relevant and affirming support from the City’s network of providers.
• Data-Driven Solutions: The City commits to the
utilization of data to drive funding decisions and
solutions to homelessness. This includes evaluating the efficacy of programs and continual monitoring of the
City’s portfolio of interventions to ensure collective
efforts are meeting the needs of the community while
making gains against agreed upon community goals.
The Plan identifies Unsheltered Households, Chronically Homeless Individual Households, Families, Veterans,
Transition-Aged Youth, and Seniors as unique
populations experiencing homelessness within the City.
6. Increase community integration for individuals with
disabilities by continuing to assist in the development of housing projects for special needs households by providing technical assistance with tax credit applications, tax-exempt bond financing and other public funds, including, ESG,
CDBG, and HOME.
On-going, with annual review
and adjustments, if
adjustments are required and
applicable.
7. The City shall continue to monitor to ensure the
effectiveness of reasonable accommodation standards and procedures and maintain compliance with federal and state housing laws.
On-going, with annual review
and adjustments, if
adjustments are required and
applicable.
8. In partnership with the Fair Housing Council of OC, provide and maintain multi-lingual informational materials on
tenant legal counseling and resources with the goal of
eliminating housing discrimination and guaranteeing the rights of all people irrespective of race religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, color, age, family size or disability to freely choose the housing for which they qualify in the area they desire.
9. Continue to participate in City of Anaheim Neighborhood Services Mobile Family Resource Centers as well as
agencies and associations who specialize in supporting
disabled tenants including those with hearing, vision,
cognitive, ambulatory, self- care, and independent living difficulties consistent with data from Anaheim residents reporting a disability.
Continue to provide estimated
annual allocation of $100,000,
based on program funding
availability.
Annually evaluate program
effectiveness and adjust Scope
of Services as appropriate and
based on available funding.
Target an increase in the
number of households served
per funding dollar.
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D. Buena Park
Issue: Segregation
Segregation levels in the city have increased since 1990 but remain low overall. However, the following areas in the city are considered to have high POC segregation: the northeast corner of the city, which is predominantly AAPI; and the neighborhood between I-5, Artesia Blvd, Beach Blvd, and the LA County line, which is predominantly Hispanic.
Contributing Factors:
1. Concentration of Hispanics/Latinos of any race and non-Hispanic Asian groups experiencing limitation to housing opportunities.
2. Barriers to mobility.
3. Lack of opportunities for residents to obtain housing in higher opportunity areas.
4. Housing Choice Vouchers.
Actions: Timeframe
The city will increase affordable housing opportunities in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
1. Amend the city's Zoning Ordinance to establish provisions for Low Barrier Navigation Centers (LBNC) consistent with state law.
By the end
of 2023
2. Continue to annually monitor and facilitate the preservation of at-risk affordable housing units throughout the community. Facilitate new housing developments accessible to the elderly and disabled individuals throughout the community.
Through these steps, the city's goal will be to preserve 130 units considered to be "at-risk" of market-rate conversion.
3. Facilitate new housing developments accessible to the elderly and disabled individuals throughout the community, with efforts targeting Census Tracts 086801, 086803, 110201, 110202, 110302, and 110500. Through this step, the city's goal will be to increase the supply of accessible units by at least 25 percent.
4. Continue to administer city-operated programs to assist households with disabilities with architectural modifications to their homes and continue to implement the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
5. Provide information in public places regarding the city's reasonable accommodation ordinance and make information available on this program more widely available.
6. Continue to facilitate/process Reasonable Accommodation requests to ensure equal housing opportunities. Through this step, the city's goal is to ensure approval of 100 percent of the reasonable accommodation applications submitted.
7. Support Infill, Site Recycling and ADU construction throughout the community.
Through this step, the city's goal will be to reach its RHNA obligation to meet the community's needs.
Ongoing
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8. Continue to provide outreach and education to housing providers and potentially qualified residents regarding Housing Choice Voucher program, with efforts targeting Census Tracts 086801, 110110, 110116, 110201, 110202, 110303, 110401, 110402, 110500, 110603, and 110606. Through these steps, the City's goal will be increasing participation in the voucher program by 20 percent.
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities, including Homeownership.
Hispanic and Black residents have less access than other groups to neighborhoods with low poverty rates and high performing schools. Geographically, the neighborhoods in the center of the city, between I-5 and the Artesia Freeway (SR-91), have poor environmental health, lower educational scores, and lower economic scores.
Large disparities in homeownership rates exist between White households, who have the highest rate, and Black households, who are least likely to own their own home. Additionally, housing cost burden is an issue for renters throughout Orange County.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing in a range of sizes.
2. Land use and zoning laws.
Actions: Timeframe:
The city will increase affordable housing opportunities in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
1. Amend the zoning code to enable and promote residential development through use of the mixed-use overlay zones, religious congregation and fraternal site overlay zones, and housing opportunity overlay zones, among other planning tools. These initiatives provide new opportunities for a variety of residential development types and prices and includes areas where residential development was previously not allowed.
By end of
2024
2. Prepare educational material, develop pre- approved site/floor plans, and establish a monitoring program to ensure city is on track to meeting ADU construction goals. Through these steps, they will be to facilitate construction of at least 16 ADUs throughout the community.
By early
2025
3. Provide technical and financial (subject to availability) assistance for singlefamily residential additions to eliminate overcrowding conditions, with efforts targeting Census Tracts 110402, 110603, and 110606. Through these steps, it will be the city's goal to provide residential rehabilitation assistance to approximately 160 units.
4. Continue to promote use of the state Density Bonus Law through website materials and counter assistance.
5. Promote, increase, maintain homeownership for LMI households, as well as residential rehabilitation assistance for senior and down payment assistance Ongoing
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programs for young families with assistance throughout the community, with efforts targeting Census Tracts 086803, 110201, 110202, 110302, 110401, 110402, 110500, 110603, 110607). Through these steps, the city's goal will be to increase assistance to eligible residents by 25 percent.
6. Continue to enforce city codes to eliminate and prevent unsightly or hazardous conditions in residential areas throughout the community, with efforts targeting Census Tracts 110603, 110500, 110301, 110302, and 110401 located adjacent to limited access freeways. Through these steps, the city's goal will be to reduce blighted conditions by 20 percent.
7. Continue to participate in Orange County assessments and programs as a participating city in the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
8. Continue to promote fair housing among all income categories throughout the community.
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E. Costa Mesa
Issue: Segregation and R/ECAPs
There is moderate segregation between Hispanic and White residents in the city, though these levels declined slightly between 2000-2010. Geographically, the neighborhoods between downtown and the Costa Mesa Country Club are areas of high POC segregation, with a predominantly Hispanic population. The largest number of publicly supported housing units and the highest concentration of vouchers in the city is in this area. The city’s one R/ECAP is also located here, in the neighborhood between Newport Avenue and Placentia Avenue, south of 19th Street. The neighborhoods in East Side Costa Mesa (east of SR-55 and south of Mesa Drive) are all areas of high White segregation, as are the neighborhoods north of the Country Club and the neighborhoods between Estancia High School and Canyon Park.
Contributing Factors:
1. Housing discrimination.
2. Lack of affordable housing due to governmental and market constraints.
Actions: Timeframe:
The City will take the following meaningful actions, in addition to resisting discrimination, to overcome patterns of segregation based on protected characteristic, as defined by California law:
1. Continue to contract with the Fair Housing Foundation or other fair housing service provider and provide information regarding the Public Law Center to address Housing Discrimination and unfair lending, including promoting mediation services, foreclosure assistance and/or multilingual tenant legal counseling services. Promote available services on the City’s webpage.
Ongoing
2. Continue to enforce the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which was approved on August 6, 2024, and became effective on September 6, 2024.
Ongoing
3. Support the development of affordable housing through the following efforts:
• Continue to evaluate programs and incentives to encourage the development of affordable housing.
• Make materials available to applicants regarding the City’s affordable housing ordinance.
• Develop additional incentives and materials as state
legislation provides additional incentives.
• Continue to pursue funding and partnerships with affordable housing builders.
Ongoing
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4. Amend the City’s Zoning Code to meet requirement set forth in the California Health and Safety Code Sections 17021.5 and 17021.6, which requires the City to permit farmworker housing by‐right, without a conditional use permit, in single‐family zones for six or fewer individuals and in agricultural zones with no more than 12 units or 36 beds. Until the zoning code is updated, the City will process any proposed farmworker housing by-right in single-family zones pursuant to State Law.
Revise Zoning Code in
2025
5. Review and update the Zoning Code to comply with the State Density Bonus Law as part of the City’s rezone program. In the meantime, continue to process State Density Bonus Law
requests and project in compliance with state law.
Revise Zoning Code in
2025
6. Review planning application fees to avoid creating a constraint to the development of affordable housing, as part of the City’s rezone program.
Revise Zoning Code in
2025
7. Reduce barriers to construction of housing for extremely low and lower-income households through the following actions:
• Subsidize up to 100 percent of the City’s application processing fees for qualifying developments where all units are affordable to 80 percent AMI or lower, as funding is available.
• Annually promote the benefits of this program to the
development community by posting information on its
webpage and creating a handout to be distributed with land development applications regarding development
opportunities and incentives.
• Proactively reach out to developers at least once annually to identify and promote development opportunities.
• Adopt priority processing and streamlined review for
developments with units affordable to lower income
households.
• Support funding development applications throughout the planning period for projects proposing units affordable to lower income households.
Ongoing
8. Review and revise the Zoning Code’s requirements for residential off‐street parking for multi‐family projects to facilitate the development of multi‐family housing, and specifically affordable housing.
Revise Zoning Code in
2025
9. Promote the development of ADUs through the following actions:
Complete the update to
ADU regulations in
municipal code by April
Orange County 211 25-29 Regional AFH
• Review and revise the City’s ADU ordinance as necessary to comply with state law.
• Maintain a dedicated web page that promotes ADU
development.
2025. Maintain web page
on ongoing basis.
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Hispanic residents have the least access to low-poverty neighborhoods, neighborhoods close to high performing schools, and neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital. Geographically, the neighborhoods downtown and west of downtown are less environmentally healthy and have lower education and economic scores. These are also predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. Conversely, neighborhoods east of Newport Boulevard (SR-55), which are predominantly White, have higher education and economic scores, are more environmentally healthy, and have lower poverty rates. Additionally, Black, Hispanic, and Native American residents are less likely to own their home than White and AAPI residents.
Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. Unfair lending practices
2. Approximately 86 percent of housing units were built prior to 1989 before the Fair Housing Act and state laws regarding accessibility requirements for individuals with disabilities were adopted.
Actions: Timeframe:
The City will take the following meaningful actions, in addition to resisting discrimination, to foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to
opportunity based on protected characteristic, as defined by California law:
1. Continue to contract with the Fair Housing Foundation or other fair housing service provider and provide
information regarding the Public Law Center to address
Housing Discrimination and unfair lending, including
promoting mediation services, foreclosure assistance
and/or multilingual tenant legal counseling services.
Promote available services on the City’s webpage.
Ongoing
2. Continue operating the Owner-Occupied Housing
Rehabilitation Program, which may be used to assist
qualified property owners in improving single-family
residential properties, including health and safety
repairs such as mechanical plumbing, electrical,
roofing, security, medical emergency requirements,
On an annual basis, provide
informational materials on the
Owner‐Occupied Housing
Rehabilitation program; encourage
the participation of seniors,
veterans, and disabled residents in
Orange County 212 25-29 Regional AFH
and/or aid the mobility of the physically disabled and/or elderly.
this program; and evaluate the
effectiveness of this program and,
if necessary, modify program
characteristics.
3. Increase the availability of accessible housing for
individuals with disabilities through the following
actions:
• Review and revise the Reasonable Accommodation
procedure to promote access to housing for
individuals with disabilities, address potential
constraints and establish potential objective
standards, and provide guidance and amend as
necessary to promote greater certainty on how
approval findings will be implemented.
• Meet with local organizations and developers to
promote access to housing for individuals with
disabilities and address potential constraints.
The City is currently in the process
of reviewing its Reasonable
Accommodation procedures and
anticipates bringing any
recommendations to Planning
Commission and City Council in
2025. Other efforts are ongoing.
4. Increase the availability of transitional and supportive housing through the following actions:
• Amend the Zoning Code to include transitional and
permanent supportive housing within the City’s
land use matrix in compliance with Senate Bill 2 and
Government Code Section 65651.
• Monitor the inventory of sites appropriate to
accommodate transitional and supportive housing.
• Proactively engage relevant organizations to meet
the needs of individuals experiencing
homelessness and extremely low‐income
residents, including the Costa Mesa Network for
Homeless Solutions, which aims to provide a
comprehensive system programs and services for
residents experiencing homelessness and those at
risk of homelessness.
Revise Zoning Code in 2025. Other
efforts are ongoing.
5. Review and revise the City’s Zoning Code and
application procedures applicable to group homes to
promote objectivity and greater approval certainty
similar to other residential uses.
The City is currently in the process
of reviewing its Group Homes
procedures and anticipates
bringing any recommendations to
Planning Commission and City
Council in 2025.
Orange County 213 25-29 Regional AFH
F. Fountain Valley
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters throughout Orange County, including Fountain Valley.
Contributing Factors:
1. Stigma associated with Housing Vouchers: A large percentage of rental households in Fountain Valley spend more than 30 and 50 percent of household income on monthly rent and utilities. While this may be due in part to residents being willing to pay more for access to high performing school districts, there may also be a stigma associated with the use of Housing Vouchers, both by property owners and tenants.
2. Lack of additional housing options. The City’s housing supply has not increased at a rate commensurate with regional demand, driving costs higher and limit housing choices for existing residents looking to remain in Fountain Valley (adult children eager to move out of their parent’s house and older adults looking to downsize) and potential new residents looking for more affordable options in Fountain Valley.
Actions: Timeframe:
Expand voucher use by 50 tenants by 2028, and extend affordability term of 70 units in the Guadalupe Manor an additional 20-30 years by 2029, through the following actions:
1. Coordinate with OCHA to generate a detailed understanding of where overpayment rates are highest in the city (as of latest available Census data), where vouchers are and are not used, and how many tenants could potentially qualify at each multifamily property in target areas.
By 2028
2. Update Development Code consistent with state law and produce residential project flow-chart and/or informational sheets, consistent with SB 35 and SB 330.
By 2026
3. Coordinate with OCHA and FHCOC to develop an outreach plan and materials to communicate the benefits of vouchers.
By 2026
4. Complete study of options to augment/adjust affordable housing preservation program for possible application of funds for those overpaying.
By 2026
5. Distribute outreach materials through means that reach target populations (e.g., those receiving subsidized school lunches). Conduct direct outreach to five properties (tenants and owners) in Census Tracts illustrating high rates of rental overpayment.
By 2026
6. Secure extended affordability for Guadalupe Manor through at least 2058. By 2029 Orange County 214 25-29 Regional AFH
Increase supply of affordable housing through the following efforts:
1. Evaluate options to apply affirmative advertising requirements to incomerestricted units in the Slater Avenue project.By 2026
2. Adopt Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. By 2024
3. Establish procedures and requirements that will ensure affirmative advertising requirements are applied to and conducted for all future income-restricted housing developments.
By 2026
4. Adopt 2045 General Plan. By 2024
5. Adopt appropriate pre-vetted ADU site plans, with the goal of permitting 100 ADUs affordable to lower income households in high and highest resources areas by 2026 (as measured from June 30, 2021).
By 2026
Orange County 215 25-29 Regional AFH
G. Fullerton
Issue: Segregation
Areas of the city considered to have high POC segregation include most of the neighborhoods west of Harbor Blvd and north of Malvern Ave, which have predominantly AAPI populations.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of resources for fair housing agencies to conduct more rigorous testing and audits, outreach, training, public education campaigns.
2. Lack of language access.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Provide informational seminars to area residential real estate agents and brokers on fair housing laws and regulations.
Provide training to at least
15 real estate agents and
brokers annually.
2. Work with tenants, tenant advocates to identify violations of fair housing federal and state fair housing laws and support prospective and existing tenants who are experiencing
discrimination.
Annually
3. Provide trainings for property owners/managers on the requirements of federal and state fair housing laws to prevent discrimination.
Provide training to at least
15 property owners and
managers annually.
4. With the Fair Housing Foundation, support an annual Fair Housing Audit Report that assesses typical or timely marketbased suspected areas of discrimination.
Review methodology for a
Fair Housing Audit by
January 2025
5. Affordable Rental Housing Counseling Services: Provide funding for information and referral services that direct families and individuals with financial resources for housing rental or purchase, locating suitable housing, and obtaining housing with special needs facilities such as disabled-accessible units.
Hold at least four
informational events
between 2025-2029; assist
at least 50 residents and
landlords annually.
6. Create a Language Access Plan based on HUD guidelines and publish on the City’s website: The goal of the Language Access Plan is to survey, maintain and publish a list of multi-lingual staff capacity at City Hall so that staff may respond to the needs of Limited English Proficiency households.
Create a Language Access
Plan by January 2025.
Maintain multilingual staff
capacity at City Hall on an
ongoing basis.
7. Ensure that local housing programs respond to the needs of a culturally diverse community that includes multi-generational families, a variety of living arrangements, and Limited English Proficiency households. Collaborate with community groups, including faith-based and nonprofit organizations, to provide Review the existing fair
housing marketing plan
every two years to ensure
compliance with current
City policy to Affirmatively
Further Fair Housing and
Orange County 216 25-29 Regional AFH
outreach on housing resources to all types of households and those households with Limited English Proficiency.
make necessary changes
within six months.
8. Add information on fair housing laws and resources on the City’s website regarding housing programs in several
languages.
By January 2025
9. Seek opportunities to expand outreach and public education strategies on available tenant protection, fair housing services, and homeownership education to reach vulnerable households by offering information in multiple languages, targeted social media efforts, combining information with other assistance programs, distributing resources through local schools and colleges, and partnering with community-based organizations. 2021-2029
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Hispanic residents have the least access to low-poverty neighborhoods, neighborhoods close to high performing schools, and neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital. Geographically, neighborhoods in southeast Fullerton (which are predominantly Hispanic), have relatively low economic and education scores, poor environmental quality, and relatively high poverty rates. Conversely, neighborhoods in the northern part of the city, which are predominantly White or AAPI, have higher education and economic scores, better environmental health, and lower poverty. Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. Location, type, and supply of affordable housing.
2. Land use and zoning laws.
3. The availability, type, frequency, and reliability of public transportation.
4. Location of environmental health hazards
5. Lack of investment in community-based infrastructure and services
6. Lack of access to housing mobility
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Implement changes to the in-lieu fee
structure and the desire and ability of
developers to contribute to an affordable
housing trust fund. Adopt incentives such as
increased densities, increased height limits,
reduced parking standards, and ministerial
review for projects that incorporate increased
affordable units or deeper levels of
affordability.
Complete a feasibility study on in-lieu
payments to a Housing Trust Fund by
January 2026. If feasible, amend the
municipal code to allow for an in-lieu fee
structure by December 2027 and implement
an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance by
December 2029.
Orange County 217 25-29 Regional AFH
2. Facilitate the development of housing for
individuals with disabilities (including
developmental disabilities) through
incentives for affordable housing
development with services, resources, and
assistance.
Develop 25 housing units for special needs
households between 2021-2029.
3. Provide financial support to organizations
that provide supportive housing for
emancipated foster youth (ages 18-21) who
are homeless or at immediate risk of
becoming homeless.
Assist at least 10 foster youth with
supportive housing between 2021-2029.
4. In compliance with recent updates to the
Surplus Land Act (AB 1255, 2019-Rivas; AB
1486, 2019-Ting), identify City-owned land for
the development of affordable housing. If
surplus properties are identified, pursue
development via a competitive Request for
Proposals or other processes.
Annually, assess the list of surplus sites and
solicit development via a competitive RFP
process or other forms of partnership such
as land lease agreements.
5. Acquire funds from local, state, and federal
grant opportunities, including the HCD Infill
Infrastructure Grant Program, to support the
development of affordable housing, housing
for special needs, and support service
projects. When a critical mass of state
(various HCD programs) and/or federal
(CDBG, HOME) funding is available, the City
will issue a competitive Notice of Funding
Availability with objective criteria to
transparently identify the best non-profit
affordable housing developer to partner with
on new affordable housing developments in
the city.
Partner with at least one nonprofit housing
developer biennially throughout the planning
period and support the entitlement of at least
400 subsidized housing units affordable to
extremely low-, very low-, and low-income
households in the city during the planning
period.
6. Partner with Orange County Housing Finance
Trust to secure funding for affordable
housing in Fullerton.
Conduct feasibility study for an affordable
housing trust fund by January 2027.
7. Develop a web-based Housing Development
Toolkit that outlines a step-by-step process
for residential development, including
identifying steps in the entitlement and
building permit process, detailed information
on development incentives, and funding
Publish Housing Development Toolkit on
City’s website by December 2026.
Orange County 218 25-29 Regional AFH
programs and resources for affordable
housing development.
8. Review the General Plan, applicable Specific
Plans, and Zoning Code and Zoning Map to
evaluate opportunities for removing barriers
to housing production such as adding
housing capacity and accommodating a
greater mix of dwelling types and sizes in
High and Highest Resource areas identified
by the California Tax Credit Allocation
Committee (TCAC), focusing efforts in
northeastern and northwestern Fullerton.
Recommend amendments, as necessary, to
accommodate added housing capacity in
these areas. Additionally, review the Zoning
Code to identify opportunities to increase and
encourage a greater mix of dwelling types
and sizes, specifically housing types that may
accommodate moderate-income households
(e.g., duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes,
townhouses, courtyard buildings), in lowerdensity residential areas and mixed-use zones citywide and amend the Zoning Code
as needed (i.e., implementation of LTD).
Review the General Plan, applicable Specific
Plan, and Zoning Code and Zoning Map by
June 2025 and implement any changes by
January 2026. Following adoption of zoning
code changes, monitor at least 1,801
moderate-income units and 2,238 lowerincome units to be constructed annually in High and Highest Resource areas as
designated by TCAC. Permit the
development of at least 150 moderateincome dwelling types in the neighborhoods of E Las Palmas Dr/N Sunnywood Dr, Craig
Park, Sunny Hills, Bastanchury Rd/Fairway
Isles Dr, Acacia Park, and Byerrum Park
(Racially Concentrated Areas of Affluence) by
the end of 2029.
9. Identify and advertise housing opportunity
sites within one-quarter mile of public transit
stops in northern Fullerton. Educate
developers on the Transit Oriented
Development (TOD) Housing Program,
and/or pursue funding to increase transit
infrastructure in northern Fullerton.
On an ongoing basis, consult with interested
developers on the TOD Housing Program.
Conduct a study with OCTA to identify capital
projects to increase transit infrastructure by
2026. Apply for TOD Housing Program funds
as NOFA becomes available.
10. Monitor lot splits and two-unit developments
under SB 9, provide technical assistance to
homeowners, and develop or adjust
development standards as needed. Provide
easily accessible information and resources
about SB 9 on the City website. Conduct
outreach to homeowners’ associations in the
neighborhoods of E Las Palmas Dr/N
Sunnywood Dr, Craig Park, Sunny Hills,
Bastanchury Rd/Fairway Isles Dr, Acacia Park,
and Byerrum Park, and the neighborhoods in
Beginning in 2025, meet with at least one
homeowners’ association annually in the
areas of northwest Fullerton and the
neighborhoods of E Las Palmas Dr/N
Sunnywood Dr, Craig Park, Sunny Hills,
Bastanchury Rd/Fairway Isles Dr, Acacia Park,
and Byerrum Park to provide education on
SB 9 implementation. Amend the Zoning
Code to comply with SB 9 by December
2025.
Orange County 219 25-29 Regional AFH
northwest Fullerton, and provide information
on SB 9.
11. Conduct outreach to religious institutions and
provide technical assistance for interested
parties to develop affordable housing on sites
zoned religious institution.
Starting in 2025, annually mail or email
resources on developing affordable housing
to all religious institutions in the city with
underutilized land. Conduct follow up calls
with institutions with sites that hold the most
potential based on location and size,
prioritizing potential sites in the
neighborhoods of E Las Palmas Dr/N
Sunnywood Dr, Craig Park, Sunny Hills,
Bastanchury Rd/Fairway Isles Dr, Acacia Park,
and Byerrum Park since they are Racially
Concentrated Areas of Affluence. By
December 2026, present information during
at least one meeting with the board and/or
members of OC United. By the end of 2027,
provide technical assistance for the potential
development of at least one affordable
housing development on a religious
institution site.
12. Conduct outreach to people experiencing
homelessness with the Illumination
Foundation and the OC Health Care Agency,
focusing efforts in areas where there is a high
concentration of homeless individuals in the
neighborhoods of Independence Park, Santa
Fe District/SoCo, and Gilbert Park, and along
arterial boulevards and commercial centers.
Provide resources to connect individuals with
shelter space in Fullerton and as needed, to
services in surrounding cities.
Annually allocate funding and City resources
to support outreach efforts in coordination
with the Illumination Foundation and the OC
Health Care Agency to provide information
and resources to those experiencing
homelessness. Annually fund the Fullerton
Police Department’s Homeless Liaison
Officer Unit, and as funding is available and
based on need, increase the number of
officers to provide services for residents
experiencing homelessness.
13. Adopt an ordinance for new development
standards to allow additional ADUs that meet
basic setbacks and square footage
requirements on properties exceeding one
acre in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. The
ordinance shall allow at least two ADUs on
qualifying properties if such properties can
safely accommodate two ADUs (e.g., that the
properties have adequate sewer/septic and
water capacity, can construct the ADUs in
Adopt the ordinance by July 2025.
Orange County 220 25-29 Regional AFH
compliance with all building code and fire
prevention requirements, and can meet
parking requirements).
14. Reduce minimum unit sizes and update the
Zoning Code, as necessary, to accommodate
alternative housing types such as housing cooperatives, Single-Room Occupancy (SROs), dormitories, tiny homes, and collective home
ownership models in more areas of the city,
including religious sites and publicly owned
land. Stakeholder outreach shall include
discussions with for-profit and non-profit
housing developers.
Amend the Zoning Code by July 2025.
Conduct stakeholder outreach with
developers and community groups and
service providers on alternative housing at
least once by January 2026, with the goal of
achieving 30 units of alternative housing
types by the end of 2029, with at least half of
those units in the neighborhoods of E Las
Palmas Dr/N Sunnywood Dr, Craig park,
Sunny Hills, Bastanchury Rd/Fairway Isles Dr,
Acacia Park, and Byerrum Park since they are
Racially Concentrated Areas of Affluence.
15. Encourage the development of both smaller
rental and owner units (studio and onebedroom) and larger rental units (3 to 4- bedroom units) in residential and mixed-use
development. In consultation with
developers, identify and provide incentives
and reduction of constraints to encourage the
construction of these housing types and
develop a work plan to implement any
proposed changes to development
standards, City programs, and so forth.
Develop incentives and mitigations to
constraints by July 2025. Starting in 2025,
hold an annual workshop with developers
and provide education about technical
assistance and incentives for larger and
smaller rental units, with a goal of
supporting the development of 50 large (3-4-
bedroom) units and 100 studio/1-bedroom
units by December 2029. At least 50 percent
of large and small rental units should be in
neighborhoods of greater degrees of
overcrowding, including Woodcrest Park,
Artesia Blvd/N Gilbert St, Valencia Park, W
Oak Ave/Lambert Dr, E Wilshire Ave/N
Raymond Ave, Rancho La Paz.
16. Prioritize public health, education, economic,
and safety programs in lower resource areas
as defined by TCAC in coordination with area
public health entities, school districts,
workforce development groups, and the
police department. Identify addresses and
compile mailing list and email addresses to
focus outreach to neighborhoods with higher
concentrations of low-income and minority
residents to prioritize services in these areas.
Increase participation in the City’s first-time
homebuyer seminars and owner-occupied
housing rehabilitation grant program 5
percent annually from lower income and
minority concentration areas between 2021-
2029 (data collection via surveys conducted
at the seminars).
Orange County 221 25-29 Regional AFH
17. Assess potential preference policy for
affordable housing opportunities, land use,
transportation, urban design, public facilities
and services, and economic development
strategies. The City will seek involvement
from community organizations and
advocates, business councils, and residents
to further refine the program scope.
Establish a community working group that
meets annually to prioritize funding for
community investments.
18. Apply for funding and coordinate with the
OCTA Safe Routes to School program to
establish at least one partnership in the city
for active transportation projects and/or
safety education campaign, prioritizing
school routes within and from the
neighborhood of E Imperial Highway and N
Harbor Boulevard.
Establish partnership for Safe Routes to
School and apply for grant funding by the
end of 2025. Initiate at least one project or
campaign by the end of the planning period.
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Fullerton. More than 20% of all units are overcrowded in the neighborhoods south of downtown, which are predominantly Hispanic.
Contributing Factors:
1. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures.
2. Location, type, and supply of affordable housing
3. Land use and zoning laws
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Develop an outreach strategy in multiple
languages for property owners who own
fewer than 10 residential units (either in
single-family or multi-family rental housing)
to assess needs and connect them with
resources, such as housing unit rehabilitation
and financing programs. The intent of this
program is to preserve Naturally Occurring
Affordable Housing (i.e., not currently
regulated with affordability restrictions),
particularly in the neighborhoods of
Woodcrest Park and Rancho La Paz. The
program will seek to prioritize communities
vulnerable to displacement, generally in the
Develop an outreach strategy for “mom and
pop” property owners by January 2026.
After the strategy is adopted, conduct
outreach to at least 15 property owners with
less than 10 units and assist at least 5
property owners with a combined total of 20
units or more by December 2029.
Orange County 222 25-29 Regional AFH
southern areas of the city, a focus on
neighborhoods with lower median income.
2. Review the City’s Tenant-Based Rental
Assistance program with input from tenants
and property owners/managers, ensuring
representation across the economic
spectrum, and update as appropriate.
Outreach to be conducted to all vulnerable
communities during the update process and
after final adoption in 2027. Fill any gaps
between Section 8 assistance and rent, or to
aid those who may not qualify for Section 8
but need one-time emergency assistance, to
provide relief to tenants to avoid the
displacement in vulnerable communities.
Update the City’s Tenant-Based Rental
Assistance program by January 2027.
Prepare and present a report on
recommendations for programs that would
provide relief to tenants and landlords to
avoid the displacement in vulnerable
communities by December 2026. If a rental
assistance program is approved and
implemented as a result, the program will
assist at least 10 lower income renter
households annually.
3. In consultation with fair housing service
providers and community-based
organizations, evaluate existing state and
federal “just cause for eviction” (AB 1482;
2019-Chiu) and other similar legislation with
provisions to determine if additional
protections through a local ordinance is
warranted.
Assess if additional protections are needed
by January 2026. If warranted, recommend
adoption of a local tenant protection
ordinance to City Council by December 2026.
4. Partner with Cal state Fullerton to develop a
plan to address the need for off-campus
affordable housing for students.
Develop a city-wide student housing plan by
December 2029.
5. Prioritize public health, education, economic,
and safety programs in lower resource areas
as defined by TCAC in coordination with area
public health entities, school districts,
workforce development groups, and the
police department. Identify addresses and
compile mailing list and email addresses to
focus outreach to neighborhoods with higher
concentrations of low-income and minority
residents to prioritize services in these areas.
Increase participation in the City’s first-time
homebuyer seminars and owner-occupied
housing rehabilitation grant program percent
annually from lower income and minority
concentration areas between 2021-2029
(data collection via surveys conducted at the
seminars).
Orange County 223 25-29 Regional AFH
Issue: Disparities in Access to Homeownership
Homeownership rates are lower for all groups than the County overall, except for AAPI households. Racial/ethnic disparities exist, with Native American households the least likely to own their home, and AAPI households most likely.
Contributing Factors:
1. Racial discrepancies in loan origination.
2. Lack of funding for consumer rights and responsibility education on Fair Lending practices and identification of predatory lending practices.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Work to promote fair lending practices throughout the city, including:
a. Ensure that low-income and minority residents
have fair access to capital resources needed to
acquire and maintain housing.
b. Prevent predatory lending through information
and referrals to the Fair Housing Foundation.
Annually conduct and publish
third party review of City or
regional HMDA data to identify
areas of need regarding fair
access to lending.
2. Add information on fair housing laws and resources on the City’s website regarding housing programs in several languages.
By January 2025
3. Seek opportunities to expand outreach and public
education strategies on available tenant protection, fair housing services, and homeownership education to reach
vulnerable households by offering information in multiple languages, targeted social media efforts, combining
information with other assistance programs, distributing resources through local schools and colleges, and
partnering with community-based organizations.
2021-2029
4. Partner with the County and/or community-based
organizations to increase participation in homeownership education and assistance programs for historically
underrepresented residents in the homeownership
market. Organizations may include teachers’ associations, school districts, and community-based service providers to increase awareness of, and access to, housing
resources and financial planning services.
Facilitate homeownership
workshops, counseling, and/or
education campaigns by January
2025. By October 31, 2029,
connect at least 30 residents to
education on homeownershiprelated topics.
5. Prioritize public health, education, economic, and safety programs in lower resource areas as defined by TCAC in
coordination with area public health entities, school
districts, workforce development groups, and the police department. Identify addresses and compile mailing list Increase participation in the
City’s first-time homebuyer
seminars and owner-occupied
housing rehabilitation grant
program 5 percent annually from
Orange County 224 25-29 Regional AFH
and email addresses to focus outreach to neighborhoods
with higher concentrations of low-income and minority
residents to prioritize services in these areas.
lower income and minority
concentration areas between
2021-2029 (data collection via
surveys conducted at the
seminars).
Orange County 225 25-29 Regional AFH
H. Garden Grove
Issue: Segregation and R/ECAPs, Disparities in Access to Opportunities, and Disparities in Access to Homeownership
The majority of the city is considered an area of high POC segregation except for West Garden Grove. In West Garden Grove, the residential neighborhoods west of Knott St are considered areas of high White segregation. In the high POC segregation areas, AAPI residents are the predominant group west of 9th St and Hispanic residents are the predominant group east of there.
Additionally, there are lots of publicly supported housing units in the center of city along Garden Grove Boulevard, which is a high POC segregation area. There are no publicly supported housing units in West Garden Grove, which is an area of high White segregation.
There is a R/ECAP in the northern part of the city to between Brookhurst St and Gilbert St, north of Chapman Ave. The R/ECAP tract is predominantly Hispanic and is surrounded by Census Tracts that are predominantly AAPI.
Hispanic and AAPI residents have the least access to low poverty neighborhoods and neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital. Additionally, Hispanic residents also have the least access to neighborhoods with high performing schools.
Geographically, the neighborhoods with access to the most opportunities are in West Garden Grove, where education and economic scores are high, environmental quality is high, and poverty is low. West Garden Grove is a predominantly White area.
The Black and Hispanic homeownership rate in the city is half the White homeownership rate.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable, accessible housing in a range of unit sizes.
2. Inadequate supply/production of affordable housing.
3. Displacement of residents due to regional economic pressures.
4. Housing discrimination.
5. High land and development costs in the region.
6. Public opposition to new development and land use and zoning laws.
7. Access to financial services.
8. Lack of meaningful language access for individuals with limited English proficiency.
9. Lack of private investment in specific neighborhoods.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Continue to contract with the Fair Housing Foundation to promote public awareness of federal, state, and local regulations regarding fair housing.
Provide information to the public about local, state, and federal housing programs and fair housing law. Maintain referral information on the City’s website, social media, newspaper ads, and at a variety of other locations such as community and senior centers, local social service offices, in City utility bills, and at other public locations including City Hall and the library. Add or Ongoing
Orange County 226 25-29 Regional AFH
translate resources and information in Vietnamese, Korean, and Spanish and make available to the public through communications materials and online.
2. Direct homebuyers and property owners with property deeds, covenants, and other real estate property documents that contain restrictions intended to limit where certain people could live or buy property, based on race, religion, or other characteristics, to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Office to have such discriminatory language removed at no charge.
Ongoing
3. Continue to target dissemination of Fair Housing Outreach information and notices of available services and workshops in neighborhoods identified with disproportionate housing needs and displacement risks. Fair Housing Foundation holds regular workshops and 1-on-1 counseling sessions at the City’s Senior Center and Family Resource Centers.
Ongoing
4. Ensure that all development applications are considered, reviewed, and approved without prejudice to the proposed residents, contingent on the development application’s compliance with all entitlement requirements.
Ongoing
5. Pursue funding and target neighborhoods of concentrated poverty for investment in rehabilitation, parks, transit, active transportation, and other needs identified in the City’s Environmental Justice Element. To the extent possible, ensure funding plans reflect the needs of lower-opportunity neighborhoods.
Annually
6. Continue to implement the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and HUD Consolidated Plan.
Annually
7. Annually monitor building and home sales activities in historically undermarket neighborhoods to identify any adverse trends.Annually
8. Investigate ways to incentivize housing developers to increase the number three-bedroom units in their developments.
Ongoing
9. In concert with Code Enforcement, develop a proactive cooperative code compliance program that targets areas of concentrated rehabilitation needs, results in repairs, and mitigates potential cost, displacement, and relocation impacts on residents.
Ongoing
10. Implement programs to increase housing choices and affordability (e.g., duplex, triplex, multifamily, accessory dwelling units, SB 9 housing developments, transitional and supportive housing, and group homes), with a particular focus in High Opportunity Areas. Establish a protocol to annually monitor development progress towards housing creation that increases housing choices and affordability in High Opportunity Areas. Should monitoring reveal a shortfall in development progress towards housing creation of increased housing choices and affordability, the City will commit to developing additional actions, as necessary, including, but not limited to Ongoing
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incentives, waivers, concessions, expedited processing, and other regulatory approaches, including examination of development standards) to ensure the City satisfies its identified housing need (RHNA).
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I. Huntington Beach
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities and Disproportionate Housing Needs In Huntington Beach, Hispanic residents have relatively low access to neighborhoods with good environmental health, low poverty, high education scores, and high economic scores. Overall, access to opportunities in the city is high compared to the region.
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Huntington Beach.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of knowledge of fair housing and associated laws.
2. High cost of housing limits access to lower income households of all races/ethnicities.
Actions: Timeframe:
Promote fair housing practices through the following actions:
1. Continue to contract with the Fair Housing Foundation to provide fair housing services, including fair housing and discrimination investigations, tenant and landlord counseling, education and outreach activities, and affirmatively further fair housing activities.
Ongoing
Preserve quality and affordability of existing housing through the following actions:
1. Provide financial assistance to low-income households for home repairs through the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program.
2. Provide rental assistance to extremely low (ELI) and very low income (VLI) households through the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program.
Ongoing
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J. Irvine
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunities, and Disproportionate Housing Needs There are several Census Tracts considered to be areas of high POC segregation, including the neighborhoods between I-405 and UC Irvine, the Westpark community north of I-405, the neighborhoods between Como Channel and I-5, and the Northwood community north of I-5.
There are also areas of high White segregation in Irvine, including the neighborhood bounded by Turtle Rock Dr, the area surrounding the Strawberry Farms Golf Club, the Woodbridge community north of I-405, and the neighborhood west of the Oak Creek Golf Club.
Based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Irvine.
Homeownership rates are lower for all racial/ethnic groups compared to the County overall, and racial/ethnic disparities are similar to the County, with Black and Hispanic households having the lowest homeownership rates (15.7% and 18% respectively).
Contributing Factors:
1. Shortage of affordable rental and homeownership options due to market and governmental constraints
2. Underutilized properties (i.e., retail centers and hotels) could provide new affordable housing opportunities for Irvine residents, but current land use and zoning laws inhibit this development
3. Lack of supportive housing in community-based settings
4. Lack of renter protections and economic uncertainty from pandemic increased risk of displacement for lower income households
Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will continue to pursue alternative options for meeting the RHNA through preservation, legislative changes, and regional cooperation. The City will apply for all available funding to pursue acquisition/rehabilitation of affordable housing projects and preservation of at-risk housing.
Annually
2. The City will incorporate changes in State law (particularly affordable housing, employee housing, emergency shelters, and
transitional/supportive housing, ADUs) into the Land Use Element and Zoning Ordinance. This will involve allowing for increased densities or FAR in both residential and non- residential areas to adhere to RHNA requirements. Other General Plan elements will be updated to ensure consistency with the updated Housing and Land Use Elements, as well as the Zoning Ordinance
Completed
3. The City will establish zoning overlays to allow for multifamily residential in nonresidential areas (which may include properties By October 2024
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designated for religious institutions and schools) to provide flexibility in land use and development standards, including mixeduse developments. These flexible standards shall be directed toward meeting the physical, social, and economic needs of the community.
The City will adhere to the requirements of California Government Code, Section 65583.2, subdivisions (h) and (i), as part of the rezoning program, including applicable by-right provisions, and the residential overlay zones in nonresidential areas will allow for densities of 30 units/acre, allow for 100 percent residential use, and will require residential use to occupy 50 percent of floor area on mixed use projects.
4. The City will encourage the subdivision of sites that are 10 acres or more to provide more opportunities for development of affordable housing, which the HCD has determined is more feasible on sites between 0.5 and 10 acres in size.
City will conduct a
review every 2 years
5. The City will work with UCI to draft an agreement regarding approving, permitting, certifying occupancy, and/or reporting new units to the California State Department of Finance (DOF). The agreement will involve documentation from UCI on planned housing that has been approved to be built as well as information on the timing of the project construction and unit affordability by household income category.
By January 2022, and
ongoing
6. The City will seek to amend the fee collection process for land divisions and lot line adjustments resulting in parcel sizes that facilitate multifamily developments affordable to households with lower incomes (including extremely low income and farmworkers) in light of State, Federal, and local financing programs (i.e., 2–10 acres).
Within 12 months of
Housing Element
certification
7. The City will also identify potential property owners and nonprofit developers by the end of FY 2022-23 and work with them on an annual basis to target and market the availability of sites with the best potential for development. In addition, the City will offer incentives for the development of affordable housing.
Within 12 months of
Housing Element
certification
8. The City will expedite development of housing projects for seniors, people with disabilities, and lower-income people and/or households As projects are
proposed
9. The City will review the current Development Standards and update as appropriate to encourage residential, mixed-use, and transitoriented developments By October 2022
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10. To expedite the process of finding resources and incentives, the City will gather information on the available incentives/concessions for developers within a year of the City’s Housing Element Update certification. The City will then develop and post an overview of the available incentives/concessions for developers on the City’s website and updates will be performed on an annual basis. The goal of this program is either expedite the time it takes to obtain development approvals and/or incentives that provide cost savings on housing projects, thereby improving and increasing the financial feasibility of affordable housing projects
Within one (1) year of
Housing Element
certification
11. To decrease the entitlement and construction process, following the adoption of the Housing Element the City will designate a dedicated planner, plan checker, and building inspector(s) to provide expedited processing for affordable housing projects, with an emphasis on projects that include extremely low-income units. The goal of this program is to expedite the affordable housing development process to accelerate the availability of affordable housing units in the community, which also has the effect of reducing development costs By October 2022
12. Hold one (1) outreach meeting or survey with affordable housing developers and providers each year after the state budget funding for the next fiscal year are made public (by October of each year) to discuss available funding sources (City, state and federal), sites identified in the Housing Element sites inventory that are available, developer needs and opportunities for affordable housing projects.
Provide technical assistance to developers regarding City’s lower income sites, funding opportunities, as well as mixed use zoning and density bonus incentives
October of each
program year
13. The City will establish streamlined, ministerial review procedures and processes for qualifying multi-family residential projects consistent with SB 35
By May 2023
14. The City will update the current Zoning Ordinance to establish higher density in areas with underdeveloped/underutilized property, such as Planning Areas 32 (adjacent to the Irvine Station served by Amtrak/Metrolink passenger rail services and Orange County Transportation Authority bus services), 33, and 36 (a.k.a., Irvine Business Complex or “IBC” near John Wayne Airport). This update will maximize land utilization for residential development to accommodate RHNA requirements, including allowing residential overlays in commercial areas to allow for residential to be added to commercial areas or to allow existing underutilized commercial uses to be converted to residential (i.e., hotels)
By October 2024
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15. Multiple State laws have been passed since 2019 establishing statewide standards for local regulations governing ADU development. State law requires that ADUs be allowed in residential and mixed-use areas despite local ordinances or homeowner’s association rules and requirements. Additionally, State law requires jurisdictions to develop a plan to encourage and incentivize ADUs in an effort to address the current California housing crisis.
By January 2023
16. Assembly Bill (AB) 671 requires local agencies’ Housing Elements to include a plan that incentivizes and promotes the creation of ADUs that can offer affordable rents for households with very-low-, low-, or moderate-income households. As part of the ADU ordinance update (including public outreach), the City will research feasible options to facilitate affordable housing options for ADUs
By October 2024
17. Housing Elements to include a plan that incentivizes and promotes the creation of ADUs that can offer affordable rents for households with very-low-, low-, or moderate-income households. As part of the ADU ordinance update (including public outreach), the City will research feasible options to facilitate affordable housing options for ADUs
By the end of 2022
and begin providing
incentives by January
2023
18. The City will provide financial and other available assistance to affordable housing property owners to preserve units. The committed assistance may consist of both financial and nonfinancial, in-kind services to incentivize the preservation of affordable units. The total number of units to be preserved are seven extremely low, 517 very low and 299 low-income units
By June 30, 2025
19. The City will continue to monitor and preserve the affordability of all publicly assisted housing units, and support applications by nonprofits
Ongoing
20. The Sites Inventory includes four non- vacant sites with existing residential uses. The sites are currently combined and house an 880- unit apartment building. In considering a demolition and new construction of residential development at the site (that increases the total number of units), the City is proposing the incorporation of 465 deed- restricted units affordable to very low- and low-income households on this site, generating replacement units for any units that may be inhabited by very low- and low-income families.
As development
projects are proposed
(timing dependent on
development
community)
21. In addition to providing funding opportunities related to HUD programs on the City’s website, funding opportunities will be disseminated via targeted email notifications and may also be posted Ongoing
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on all City social media accounts and include information on vacant land currently owned by the City.
22. The City will access information from HCD and other State agencies to identify grant application opportunities for affordable housing.
When grant opportunities are known, the City will reach out to affordable developer stakeholders to identify projects and/or opportunities to include on grant applications. The City will apply or support a minimum of three (3) grant application each year. The goal of this program would be to increase the amount of funding available for affordable housing projects, which require public subsidies to be built.
Timing dependent on
State HCD and other
departments
23. The City will retain a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on increasing the inclusionary housing requirement from 15 percent (5 percent very low, 5 percent low, and 5 percent moderate) to 20 percent (9 percent very low, 6 percent low, and 5 percent moderate).
The policy changes proposed to Planning Commission and City Council, if deemed feasible in the study, will include increasing the inclusionary requirement to 20 percent with corresponding updated in-lieu fee
By October 2024
24. The City will identify and analyze local funding options for affordable housing and monitor new funding and financing resources each year.
This program will also include using State and Federal funding received by the City to partner with nonprofit organizations (such as the ICLT), as the commitment of City funding can enhance the scoring of 100 percent affordable projects to secure important funding sources, such as low- income housing tax credits (LIHTCs) that have become highly competitive.
Annually
25. The City will identify and utilize State programs and/or potential public/private partnerships with major employers to acquire existing market rate housing units or develop new housing units to create moderate or workforce housing (available to households with incomes at 80 percent to 120 percent of AMI)
Ongoing
26. The City will follow all requirements of the Surplus Land Act, Article 8 (commencing with Section 54220) of Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, including holding a public hearing designating the properties as “surplus properties” under California Law. The City will also conduct an analysis to determine, based on market conditions, if selling or leasing the properties would maximize the development of affordable units. The City will then send a Notice of Availability to all required parties regarding the availability of County-owned land available for purchase or lease. It is the City’s intent to facilitate the Surplus Land Act
activities to be
completed by October
2024 and Notice of
Availability by
December 2025
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development of 100 percent affordable housing projects on vacant or underutilized City- owned sites. The City will also coordinate with the public entities that own a site (or sites) to ensure that the legally mandated surplus property process is followed
27. The City seeks to continue to strengthen its relationship with the ICLT to collaborate and partner on efficiently and effectively maximizing affordable housing opportunities.
As opportunities arise
for acquisition,
development, and
legislative initiatives
the City will work with
ICLT. Additionally,
City will meet at least
quarterly with ICLT
starting in November
2021 to coordinate
efforts. City will
document progress
on these items in its
Annual Progress
Report.
28. The City will coordinate with public agencies to facilitate the development of affordable housing projects on vacant and underutilized sites, including sites owned by the County of Orange, the State, and the Irvine Ranch Water District. Activities could include collaboration with public agencies on master-planning and disposition efforts for large vacant and underutilized sites.
Coordination with
County of Orange, the
State, and the Irvine
Ranch Water District
and any other
relevant public
agencies in
connection with the
Land Use Element
Update and Zoning
Ordinance
amendment from
2022
through October 2024
29. The City’s Land Use Element allows for the entitlement of affordable housing units beyond the maximum unit counts established in the Zoning Ordinance, thus considered additive to the General Plan intensity thresholds, which allows additional units to be developed under the City’s established land use designations.
As development
projects are proposed
(timing dependent on
development
community).
30. The City will amend the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance By October 2024
31. Encourage and incentivize ADUs through various programs By January 2023 Orange County 235 25-29 Regional AFH
32. Encourage innovative design prototypes and/or construction, such as smaller units with increased energy efficiency (i.e., sustainable designs and operations), modular units or other innovative building types
On an ongoing basis
33. Streamline permitting to encourage a diverse housing stock On an ongoing basis
34. The City will make appropriate zoning changes as part of the General Plan - Land Use Element Update and Zoning Ordinance Amendment to bring the City’s Zoning Ordinance in compliance with State law changes related to parking, by right uses, and other requirements.
By October 2024.
35. The City will work with UCI to draft agreement regarding approving, permitting, certifying occupancy, and/or reporting new units to the California State Department of Finance (DOF).
By January 2022 and
ongoing tracking.
36. The Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program extends rental subsidies to extremely low and very low-income households, including families, seniors, farmworkers, and the disabled.
Ongoing
37. The City will study the benefits associated with creating an Irvine Housing Authority with the ability to allocate Federal Housing Choice Vouchers
By January 2023
38. The City will analyze incentives to encourage affordable housing developers to consider extending the terms of affordability in perpetuity
By January 2023
39. The City will monitor legislative changes to ensure that City policies and regulations comply with State and Federal laws
Annually
40. The goal of this program is to ensure that fees (both the dollar amount and timing), incentives, development standards/review processes do not constrain the development of housing units or render housing development infeasible
Annually
41. The City will develop and establish specific written procedures for requesting and granting a reasonable accommodation for housing for persons with disabilities.
6/30/2023
42. The City will update the Zoning Ordinance and related policies pertaining to emergency shelters, Low- Barrier Navigation Centers (LBNCs), transitional and supportive housing, and group care facilities to conform to State requirements, as established by AB 139, AB 2162, and Senate Bill 48. Generally, this update would allow these land uses in all of the City’s residential zones and with fewer conditions.
Completed by
October 2024
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43. Any funding sources have specific eligibility criteria or other requirements that may not always align with potential projects in Irvine. The City will pursue relevant State and Federal funding sources to provide additional options for developers of lower-income housing that serve veterans, individual, and families at-risk of and currently experiencing homelessness in the City. The City will ensure that such housing options will include reasonable accommodations and transitional and supportive services for people with disabilities.
Ongoing as funding is
released and
available.
44. The City will explore the feasibility of joining the Orange County Housing Finance Trust (OCHFT), a joint power authority composed of many Orange County cities.
Explore by October
2023
45. The City will ensure that housing options will include reasonable accommodations and supportive services for people with
disabilities.
Explore by October
2023
46. The City will continue to make information about services for people experiencing homelessness available on the City’s website and at City facilities.
Ongoing
47. The City will continue to provide resources for non-profits that provide transitional housing, motel vouchers, food pantry, emergency rent and utility payment assistance, life-skills counseling and clothing.
Ongoing
48. The City will continue to provide CDBG grant funding to non-profits such as Families Forward, South County Outreach, Human Options, and Stand Up for Kids that provide these services. Information on these resources is included in the City’s Affordable Housing Guide and the City’s website.
Ongoing
49. The City will explore establishing a crisis response protocol for local service providers to render rapid crisis support, including after-hour services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
By October 2022
50. The City will reach out to other California cities currently implementing shared housing programs that help match individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and seniors for a mutually beneficial living situation. Individuals in need of housing can provide needed physical assistance around the home for seniors.
Explore by October
2024
51. Compile a list of local organizations and reach out to inquire about possible collaborations. This will help the City cooperate with community-based organizations that provide services or information about services to any special needs or linguistically isolated groups.
Ongoing
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52. The City’s primary (and very effective) effort in displacement prevention is facilitating the development of affordable housing in the community, as referenced in the AFFH section of this HEU.
Displacement prevention activities will also include connecting residents to resources to minimize the displacement of households with lower incomes and special needs whenever possible and where necessary to ensure that displacement is carried out in an equitable manner.
Ongoing
53. The City will participate in the Orange County United Way’s Eviction Task Force and associated study. This work includes identifying and coordinating community resources to support households facing eviction.
Ongoing
54. The City will provide a link on its website to landlord/tenant meditation services and landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, which may include information from service providers such as the Fair Housing Foundation. The City will also add information on the City’s website and provide resources on non-profits such as Community Legal Aid SoCal and the Legal Aid Society of OC.
Annual
55. The City will encourage homeownership through education, sharing information, and links to existing nonprofit, County, State, and Federal resources on the City’s website
Ongoing basis and
updated annually for
accuracy
56. This existing program provides financial assistance to lower-income Irvine homeowners for critical home improvement projects.
Ongoing basis and
updated annually for
accuracy
57. The City will update its Land Use Element and amend the Zoning Ordinance
Ordinance by October
2024
58. The City will continue implementation of its One Irvine program to revitalize individual neighborhoods through a work program uniquely developed with community input for each neighborhood.
By January 2023.
59. The City will reach out to community organizations and collaborate with them on outreach to different communities
By January 2023.
60. The City will provide links to Fair Housing Foundation (a nonprofit the City currently contracts with) to provide Irvine residents with information regarding fair housing law, tenant and landlord rights (including information on mediation services)
Within six months of
Housing Element
certification.
61. Compile a list of local organizations and set up an annual meeting or meetings to discuss community housing needs and potential solutions. Cooperate with community-based organizations that Within six months of
Housing Element
certification.
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provide services or information about services to any special needs and linguistically isolated groups.
Meet annually with
identified
organizations starting
in fiscal year 2022- 23
(meetings will be
conducted by June 30
of each year).
62. The City will connect developers of projects with affordable density bonus units and local non-profits/community organizations to coordinate efforts and determine if the units could be set aside, where feasible, for special groups including but not limited to veterans and special need adults.
Within three months
of a density bonus
project application.
63. The City will provide translations or interpretation in all applicable languages to ensure access to programs, services, and materials Ongoing
64. The City will conduct an internal audit at a minimum of every other year to evaluate that we are addressing all language needs for the City.
Annually or as
needed
65. The City is in the process and has taken several steps to identify climate impacts, reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and prepare for a climate resilient future
Completed by
December 31, 2022
66. Continuing to require added greenery throughout the City to reduce exposure to environmental pollution such as vehicle emissions through the City’s Zoning Ordinance (Section 3-15-4)
Annually
67. Irvine Cool City Challenge will reduce climate emissions and utility bills while building resiliency and local emergency preparedness against climate disasters such as extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and extreme storm events.
The Cool Block
Challenge was
initiated in January
2022 and will be 2
years in length. There
will be a new team
established roughly
every 4.5-5 months. In
year 3 of the Cool City
Challenge, the City
will present a game
plan to the
Empowerment
Institute. After that,
the City will work to
implement the carbon
Orange County 239 25-29 Regional AFH
neutrality plan.
68. Provide adequate parks and open space to all parts of the community, the City will prepare a comprehensive design strategy to include passive urban park setting for every project and include other placemaking strategies. This program, as implemented, will reduce unsustainable energy use, reduce pollutants, improve air quality, reduce extreme heat events and improve the health outcomes of residents, employees and others in the community.
By December 2024.
69. The City will contact the Irvine Unified School District to inquire about expanding access to enrollment in the district’s schools for residents that may not be within the district’s boundaries
Within six months of
Housing Element
certification.
70. The City will conduct a bi-annual survey of homeowners to obtain input on existing programs and to identify additional ways to support the City’s homeowners and their unique needs
At least one survey
every two years
71. The City shall strengthen its relationship with the local fair housing provider and explore ways to expand services and mutually pursue additional funding resources for that expansion.
Ongoing with check in
meeting one time per
year
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K. La Habra
Issue: Segregation
There are various neighborhoods considered to have high POC segregation, including neighborhoods in the center of the city north of Guadalupe Park and between Idaho St to the west and Sonora High School to the east. These neighborhoods are predominantly Hispanic. Publicly supported housing units are in the city’s center and north neighborhoods, which are all lowmedium or high POC segregation areas.
Contributing Factors:
1. Zoning Code regulations and land use controls that constrain/ restrict housing opportunities.
2. Historic limited available land for new development of multiple- family housing.
3. General lack of affordable housing for low-and moderate-income residents.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase production of affordable housing through the following actions:
1. Adopt streamlined ministerial approval process to expedite the development of housing.
2. Revise density bonus ordinance and remove CUP requirement to facilitate higher density housing.
3. Remove 1-acre minimum for mixed use projects and 20% standard for multiple-family on a block.
4. Adopt objective design standards to facilitate multi-family and mixed-use production.
5. Remove the CUP neighborhood compatibility finding in the design review process.
6. Adjust story height and parking requirement to facilitate multiple-family housing production.
7. Allow transitional, supportive housing, and low barrier navigation centers in accordance with state law.
8. Allow residential care facilities req. by state law and remove filing fee for reasonable acc. request.
Adopt 8 ordinances by
2024. By 2025, approval of
at least 2 multiple-family
residential projects and
permitting of at least 2 care
facilities.
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Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Neighborhoods in the city’s center and southeast of the center have poor environmental quality, low education scores, and low economic scores. These neighborhoods are also predominantly Hispanic.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lower ranking schools compared to wealthier districts in the County.
2. Lower graduation rate among Hispanics and other groups compared to County results.
3. Lower incomes due to either under- employment and or unemployment.
4. Need to continue investments in the children and youth of La Habra.
Actions: Timeframe:
Improve access to opportunities in low resource areas through the following actions:
1. Operate the Child Development Division programs and assist up to 600 La Habra children from lower-income families
Ongoing
2. Administer City workforce training and employment programs for 600 participants in the County; increase staff fourfold
Ongoing
3. Continue to support La Habra Boys and Girls Club, serving 3,000 La Habra residents each year
Ongoing
4. Continue to work with housing, employment, and community service partners, as needed, evaluate, and expand partnerships and resources Quarterly or as
needed
5. Retrofit two parks or recreation facilities (e.g., El-Centro-Lions, Vista) in low-mod resource areas in central La Habra
By end of 2025
6. Remediate landfill hazards with vapor devices underneath the Vista Grande Park
Ongoing
7. Continue to support the children’s museum, accommodating nearly 95,000 visits each year
Ongoing
8. Update safety element to address climate change, EJ, and resiliency; implement programs to address hazards
By June 2023
9. Operate the Hillcrest Health and Wellness Center to serve residents in need, including Central La Habra
Ongoing
10. Ensure 25% Love La Habra projects in Central La Habra Complete NTMP projects in K, M, F Neighborhoods
Annually
11. Expend $2.5 million to install East Bishop storm drain By end of 2024
12. Apply for SR2S grants citywide for all schools; if received, develop plan, make improvements during planning period
By 2029
13. Market services to eligible lower income residents through affirmative marketing at Hillcrest Center
By end of 2023
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Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in La Habra. More than 10% of homes have incomplete kitchen facilities in one Census Tract in the north central part of the city.
Contributing Factors:
1. High levels of overcrowding and overpayment; mismatch with housing needs.
2. Rising prices and rents for housing far exceed recent increases in incomes.
3. Several affordable housing projects remain at risk of conversion.
4. Age of housing stock; most homes were built more than 50 years ago.
5. Housing rehabilitation and repairs are expensive, especially for retirees.
6. Limited staff for building/ code compliance make it difficult to address needs.
Actions: Timeframe:
Reduce housing instability through the following
actions:
1. Encourage ADUs, including 20% in higher
resource areas through annual publication
citywide.
Permit 30 ADUs; 20% in high resource
areas by the end of 2022
2. Support and advertise HCV program to increase
participants.
Ongoing
3. Assist up to 200 lower-income households over
the planning period with ARPA-funded bill
assistance.
Assist 200 households by the end of
2023.
4. Retain affordability and condition of mobile home
parks and deed-restricted apartments affordable to
lower income households.
Preserve affordability of 50% of units in
the two city-owned mobile home parks
between 2021-2029.
5. Require replacement units per Gov’t Code 65915
for lower income units demolished.
Ongoing, as projects are proposed
6. Implement inclusionary housing ordinance and
prioritize funding (fees) for affordable housing.
Develop all 100 inclusionary units, 25%
of which are in highest income tracts,
between 2021-2029.
7. Target affirmative marketing in low resource areas
at the Hillcrest Center, Boys & Girls Club, and
others.
Prepare and distribute fliers on City
programs by 2023.
Improve quality of existing housing through the
following actions:
8. Hold regular Love La Habra events to assist
income- qualified residents with home repairs
Annually in September
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9. Hire additional code enforcement staff to address
backlog and provide capacity for proactive work
By end of 2023
10. Purchase Land Management System (LMS) to
track code compliance, building and planning
permits
By end of 2023
11. Issue housing rehabilitation grants/loans for 25
households over the planning period
Make 3 grants per year
12. Evaluate feasibility of rental housing inspection
program and, if feasible, develop program
By end of 2023
13. Seek collaborative partnership which can assist in
addressing local housing rehabilitation needs
Annually
14. Target affirmative marketing in low resource areas
at the Hillcrest Center, Boys & Girls Club, and
others
By end of 2023
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L. Laguna Niguel
Issue: Concentration
Most of the city is considered an area of high White concentration, except for a few neighborhoods with low-medium concentration (which are predominantly White) in the northeastern and eastern parts of the city.
Contributing Factors:
1. Historical land use development patterns and zoning, environmental constraints, and lack of vacant land limit opportunities for larger and higher density project types.
2. Current high cost of housing limits access to lower income households of all races/ethnicities.
3. Lack of affordable housing and need for greater access to opportunities.
4. Regional coordination affects transit services, funding sources, and allocation of housing resources including vouchers.
5. Community resistance to development.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase fair housing knowledge through the following actions:
1. Promote Fair Housing Council programs and expand knowledge of first-time homebuyer programs on the City’s website, newsletters, and through social media.
By December 2025,
review annually
thereafter
2. Promote affirmative marketing plans in all new housing developments that are designed to attract renters and buyers of diverse demographic backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, income, disability, and familial status.
Ongoing
3. Develop an outreach plan and materials to communicate the benefits of vouchers and tenant rights regarding just cause evictions, limitations on rent increases, and replacement housing requirements if any existing residential units would be removed, based on state law.
By December 2025
Increase housing opportunities in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
4. Incentivize multi-family and mixed- use development in the Gateway Specific Plan area (northeast portion of city) through the following actions:
a. Amend the Gateway Specific Plan to mandate that any public benefit provided to achieve a density of higher than 50 du/ac shall include a provision of affordable housing, and to encourage the production of workforce housing and missing middle housing.
By July 2025
Orange County 245 25-29 Regional AFH
b. Allocate CDBG or other available funding assistance to projects in the Gateway Specific Plan area that include multi-family units targeted for extremely-low-income households, as feasible.
Annually
c. Provide administrative assistance to affordable housing developers in preparing grant applications.
Ongoing
d. Post and maintain a current inventory of vacant sites in the Gateway Specific Plan area suitable for multi-family residential or mixed-use development on the City website.
Ongoing
e. Contact local developers and publicize development
opportunities within the Gateway Specific Plan area at least once each year.
Annually
f. Assist in facilitating subdivision of large parcels where necessary to create building sites through concurrent
processing and project coordination.
Ongoing
5. Contact the property owners of vacant properties to assist development of the site for residential purposes.
Annually
6. Continue to implement state Density Bonus Law as amended from time to time.
Ongoing
7. Engage and assist developers seeking funding and/or tax credits for the construction of low- and moderate-income housing.
Annually
8. Incentivize affordable housing development through modified development standards, expedited processing, or other financial incentives for affordable housing projects.
Ongoing
9. Provide administrative assistance to developers of low- or moderateincome projects.Ongoing
10. Promote options for assistance to developers on the City website. Ongoing
11. Prioritize funding assistance for Extremely Low-Income units. Ongoing
12. Review City-owned properties annually to identify any surplus land that could be made available for affordable housing development and distribute list of suitable sites to regional affordable housing developers.
Annually
13. Work cooperatively with the County of Orange and other local cities to create a regional housing bond program to help fund affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.
Ongoing,
consultation with
County at least
annually
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Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. Insufficient fair housing monitoring and limited outreach capacity
2. Lack of resources for fair housing agencies and organizations
3. Limited understanding of fair housing laws
Actions: Timeframe:
Improve fair housing education and outreach through the following actions:
1. Direct fair housing inquiries to the Fair Housing Council of Orange County (FHCOC).
Ongoing
2. Post and update information annually regarding fair housing and request that FHCOC conduct a presentation every two years about the services available.
Annually
3. In cooperation with the FHCOC, contact all low-income apartment complexes annually to provide education and materials about the Section 8 program, including multi- lingual materials.
By July 2025 and
annually thereafter
4. Publish and update fair housing information on the City website and via social media annually.
Annually
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Laguna Niguel.
Contributing Factors:
1. Historical land use development patterns and zoning, environmental constraints, and lack of vacant land limit opportunities for larger and higher density project types.
2. Current high cost of housing limits access to lower income households of all races/ethnicities.
3. Lack of affordable housing and need for greater access to opportunities.
4. Community resistance to development.
5. Regional coordination affects transit services, funding sources, and allocation of housing resources including vouchers.
6. Age of housing stock.
7. Cost of repairs/rehabilitation.
Actions: Timeframe:
Encourage the development of ADUs and SB 9 units through the following actions:
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1. Monitor the production and affordability of ADUs every three years to ensure the City is meeting ADU production targets and act if projections are not consistent.
Perform review in
December 2026
2. Conduct increased outreach and education on ADU and SB 9 unit/lot split opportunities.
Ongoing
3. Continue to promote ADUs on the City’s website, social media, and at City offices.
Ongoing
4. Promote SB 9 units and lot splits on the City’s website, social media, and at City offices.
Ongoing
5. Expedite ADU permit processing. Ongoing
Provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness through the following actions:
6. Participate in meetings of the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force as they occur
Ongoing
7. Allocate an appropriate level of CDBG funding in relation to the local need.
Annually
8. Explore and consider Project Homekey and opportunities to work with the County.
Ongoing
9. Assist applicants proposing permanent or interim supportive housing by helping to apply for funding.
Ongoing
Expand the use of Housing Choice Vouchers through the following actions:
10. Contact all low-income apartment complexes annually to provide education and materials about the Section 8 program including multilingual materials.
By July 2025 and annually
thereafter
11. Encourage the development of missing middle housing types and evaluate specific methods to encourage their production in RCAAs, areas of higher density, and in the central areas of the City.
Between 2021-2029,
facilitate 80 “missing
middle” units, with at least
20% located in targeted
areas, including RCAAs,
higher density areas,
central areas of the City.
Preserve existing affordable housing units and prevent
displacement through the following actions:
12. Monitor assisted units to assess the risk of conversion to market rate.
Annually
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13. Offer financial incentives to encourage owners of at-risk properties to maintain their rental units as affordable housing.
Three-year, twelve-month,
and six-month
coordination with at-risk
property owners and
OCHCS.
14. Allocate a portion of CDBG funds to assist in extending affordability covenants for at-risk units.
Annually
15. Provide educational materials to tenants of properties with expiring covenants regarding options for securing other affordable housing.
Ongoing
16. Continue the City’s active property maintenance program run by the Code Enforcement Division of the Community Development Department.
Conduct windshield
surveys covering all
properties in the City every
six months.
17. Seek CDBG funding for housing rehabilitation. Facilitate rehabilitation of 15 housing units between
2021-2029.
18. Survey older areas of the City and connect property owners to rehabilitation programs.
Six property owner
contacts per year.
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M. Lake Forest
Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
While residents overall have relatively good access to opportunities, compared to the region, residents living below the FPL in the city generally have less access to opportunities than the rest of the population.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of opportunity due to high housing costs.
2. Lack of access to public transportation.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase housing supply in high opportunity areas through the following actions:
1. Implement Program 1: Land Use Policy, Entitlements, and Development Capacity (Shortfall Program), to rezone sites to accommodate new residential and mixed-use
development at densities consistent with the City’s General Plan (adopted in 2020) to meet the City’s RHNA at all
income levels.
2. Implement Program 2: Monitor Residential Capacity (No Net Loss), to ensure that replacement sites identified to continue to accommodate the City’s remaining RHNA
throughout the planning period are consistent with the
City’s duty to affirmatively further fair housing.
3. On an ongoing basis, actively recruit residents from neighborhoods of concentrated poverty to serve or
participate on boards, committees, and other local
government bodies as positions are made available due to the regular appointment process or vacancies.
Between 2021-2029, the City’s
goal is to promote the
development of 1,648 new
units (including 303 lower
income units and 167 moderate
income units, consistent with
the City’s Quantified Objectives
for 2021-2029) with 75% of the
new units located in areas of
moderate or high opportunity;
rezone 158 acres to allow for
the development of up to 2,965
multifamily units, with 75% of
the units located in areas of
moderate or high opportunity;
and increase the number of
applications from residents
living in low or moderate
resource areas for open Board
and Commission positions by
20%.
Preserve existing affordable housing opportunities and prevent displacement through the following actions:
4. Implement Program 4: Replacement of Affordable Units, to ensure that affordable units that are removed from the
City’s housing stock are replaced in accordance with state law.
5. Implement Program 5: Facilitate Affordable and Special Needs Housing Construction, to encourage the
development of housing units to serve the needs of larger Between 2021-2029, the City’s
goal will be to maintain at least
202 affordable housing units in
the City; increase the
proportion of new multifamily
units that are 3 or more
bedrooms by 10%; promote the
develop of 70 new extremely
low income housing units
(consistent with the City’s
Quantified Objectives for 2021-
Orange County 250 25-29 Regional AFH
households, including large extremely low-income
households.
6. Implement Program 23: Economic Displacement Risk
Analysis, to proactively identify potential issues related to economic displacement as a result of new development.
2029); and commit $70,500 to
implement programs and
improvements serving the
Southwest Lake Forest
neighborhood with a focus on
programs and improvements
that protect existing residents
from displacement.
Increase access to opportunities for individuals with disabilities through the following actions:
7. Implement Program 1: Land Use Policy, Entitlements, and Development Capacity (Shortfall Program), to rezone sites adjacent to transit corridors and activity centers to allow for higher density residential development, suitable for
affordable and special needs housing, including new
opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
8. Implement Program 5: Facilitate Affordable and Special Needs Housing Construction, whereby the City will
proactively reach out to developers of housing for special needs populations to share details about special needs
groups in Lake Forest and promote the development of
housing for special needs groups in areas of moderate and high levels of opportunity.
9. Implement Program 6: Monitor and Implement Changes in federal and state Housing, Planning, and Zoning Laws to proactively identify changes in federal and/or state
regulations required to be implemented at the local level to improve access to opportunity for individuals with
disabilities.
Between 2021-2029, the City’s
goal will be to rezone 158 acres
to accommodate the
development of up to 2,965
new units with a focus to
promote the development of
units affordable to lower
income households in areas of
moderate or high opportunity;
increase the number of local
individuals with disabilities
taking transit by 10% by
encouraging the development
of new housing for individuals
with disabilities to be located
close to transit routes; increase
the proportion of new
multifamily units that are 3 or
more bedrooms by 10%; and
resolve 100% of reasonable
accommodation requests
consistent with the
requirements of state law.
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N. Mission Viejo
Issue: Concentration and Disproportionate Housing Needs Most of the city has a high concentration of White residents, although there are neighborhoods in the southern, northern, and western parts of the city where there's more diversity. Overall, residents have good access to opportunities, though getting around on public transit or finding affordable transportation can be a challenge. Additionally, data on fair housing complaints shows that people with disabilities often face challenges when it comes to housing. Renters across Orange County, including in Mission Viejo, are also struggling with housing costs.
Contributing Factors:
1. Limited affordable housing overall due to land use designations and zoning regulations.
2. Limited availability of affordable units in a range of sizes and types.
3. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures.
4. Lack of affordable, integrated housing for individuals who need supportive needs.
5. Regulatory barriers to providing housing and supportive services for individuals with disabilities.
6. Lack of private investments in specific neighborhoods.
7. Housing discrimination in the private market.
Actions: Timeframe:
Increase housing opportunities through the following actions:
1. Proactively outreach to developers about development opportunities.
Annually
2. Actively market Site 3 and reach conclusion regarding the importation of dirt to be able to deliver a Pad-ready site to potential developers.
By July 2026
3. For Site 3 development, establish a priority processing procedure, with fee waivers and grant other incentives and concessions as appropriate, including the need and
applicability for CDBG Funding.
By July 2026
4. Conduct an outreach and education program regarding SB 4 opportunities for religious facilities and nonprofit colleges.
By December 2025
5. Promote funding available from Orange County Housing Finance Trust’s Affordable ADU Loan Program.
Annually
6. Apply for funding available at the state to assist lower and moderate-income homeowners to develop ADUs.
Annually
7. Prioritize funding for projects that set aside units for special needs populations and those with extremely low incomes.
Annually
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8. Assist OCHA, FHF, and United Way in promoting the HCV program
Hold promotional workshops
annually.
9. Study and pursue a home sharing program Establish program in 2025 and begin implementation in 2026.
Improve conditions in neighborhoods through the following actions:
10. Assess and expand MV Shuttle services and Safe Routes to School program to serve new developments and
underserved neighborhoods.
Assess transit services at least
every three years. Assess and
expand Safe Routes to School
program to align with new
developments.
11. Target outreach to two neighborhoods where there are issues of housing conditions.
Annually
12. Study and develop appropriate strategies for adaptive reuse of underutilized commercial properties.
By the end of 2026.
Preserve existing affordable housing units through the
following actions:
13. Monitor status of all affordable units. Annually
Increase fair housing education and enforcement through the following actions:
14. Provide fair housing and tenant/landlord dispute resolution services
Annually
15. Expand promotion of housing resources, including fair housing services, via a multi-media approach, such as
eNewsletter with circulation of 20,000, message boards, senior newsletter, and other social media outlets.
Annually
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O. Newport Beach
Issue: Segregation and Disparities in Access to Opportunity Residents across the city have relatively high access to opportunities, however, all of the city’s neighborhoods are predominantly White and are classified as areas of high White segregation.
Homeownership rates are lower for all groups compared to the County overall, except for AAPI households, who have slightly higher homeownership rate in the city. Housing cost burden is also an issue for renters in the city.
Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. High cost of housing and limited supply of affordable housing.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Adopt and codify accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
regulations that facilitate and incentivize ADU
development beyond state law minimum requirements,
create new housing development incentives and fee
waivers, and that provide for access into areas of high opportunity that contribute to the following community
development actions:
a. Increase residential development opportunities;
b. Maximize infill development in “built out”
neighborhoods; and
c. Increase affordable housing options.
2. Conduct two community workshops that will accomplish the following:
a. Identify local issues that are influencing access to opportunity;
b. Identify potential solutions to address those local
issues;
c. Identify opportunities to increase the housing
supply for all income levels; and
d. Establish economic development priorities to help
stimulate the creation of jobs and access to
services.
By June 2023, the City will adopt
revised ADU regulations. By
December 2023, the City will
conduct two community
workshops. The City will seek to
produce 20 to 30 ADUs per
calendar year within higher
resource areas.
3. Adopt an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to ensure lower income units are developed in conjunction with new
market-rate development equitably throughout the City
and higher resource Census Tracts.
By December 2026, the City will
aspire to have approved
between 750 and 1,000
affordable housing units or to
have collected a commensurate
in-lieu affordable housing fee for
Orange County 254 25-29 Regional AFH
use to subsidize future
affordable housing projects.
4. Maintain and promote the City’s Business Ambassador
Program to residents to support local businesses and
entrepreneurship.
5. Target outreach to two low-access Census Tracts via
mailers or by other means including social media to
provide website information about local entrepreneurship and educational opportunities.
The City will improve upon its
existing Business Ambassador
Program and will seek to assist
at least 35-45 individuals
annually with establishing their
own business opportunities.
The Business Ambassador
Program will be advertised
within the lower-opportunity
Census Tracts with a goal of
reaching at least 50% of the
households.
6. Continually update the City’s housing-related webpages to ensure current available data.
Starting 2023, the City will
annually review and update its
housing-related webpages.
7. Improve access to mortgage loans through the following actions:
a. Disseminate online information to the community
about home loans and the loan application and
approval process.
b. Conduct biannual affordable housing workshops
with invited guests from the local lending industry
and local affordable housing advocates.
c. Conduct annual report of loan dispositions in the
City and identify any trends or issues. Provide
findings to local lenders and financial institutions.
By June 2023, the City will
provide information to the
community about home loans
and the loan process. By
December 2023, the City will
conduct its first biannual
affordable housing workshop
with affordable housing lenders
and local affordable housing
advocates. The City will seek to
reach between 10,000 and
15,000 households with loan
information and will further seek
to reduce any occurrence of loan
disposition discrimination, if
found to be prevalent.
Orange County 255 25-29 Regional AFH
P. Orange
Issue: Segregation and Disparities in Access to Opportunities Most of the city to the north and east of Villa Park is considered an area of high White segregation, and there are concentrations of predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods west of Glassel Street.
Additionally, all publicly supported housing units and households with vouchers are located to the west and south of Villa Park. There are no publicly supported housing units or vouchers in use to the east of Villa Park, where it is a high White segregation area.
Geographically, the neighborhoods west of Glassel Street, have lower education and economic scores, and worse environmental quality. Conversely, neighborhoods to the north and east of Villa Park, have high education and economic scores, and good environmental quality. Related to this geographic distribution of opportunities, Hispanic and Black residents (especially Black residents living below the FPL) have relatively low access to neighborhoods close to high performing schools, and to neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital.
Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of public investment in certain neighborhoods
2. Lack of sufficient affordable housing due, in part, to community opposition to affordable housing and land use and zoning regulations
3. Lack of fair housing knowledge
Actions: Timeframe:
Improve access to opportunity through the following actions:
1. The City will continue to utilize the Public Works and Community Services Departments for the as‐needed removal of graffiti and other deferred maintenance issues on public property, including sidewalks, parks, bus shelters signs and other structures adjacent to the public right‐of‐way, to enhance the quality of Orange’s residential neighborhoods.
Ongoing
2. Provide public information related to housing development and how the provision of affordable housing benefits the community.
Ongoing
3. The City will continue gathering community input on affordable housing, housing for special needs populations, and ADUs. The continued outreach will be City‐wide with a focus on traditionally under‐represented communities.
Ongoing
4. Continue to follow current state Density Bonus law. Ongoing
5. Update the Transitional Housing Ordinance that establishes guidelines and regulations for the development and operation of transitional housing in the city.
2025
Orange County 256 25-29 Regional AFH
6. Prepare and adopt a Single Room Occupancy Ordinance that sets regulations for buildings designed for single room occupancy.
2025
7. Prepare and adopt a Residential Care Facility Ordinance that establishes regulations and standards for non-medical care facilities providing care to individual requiring assistance.
2025
8. Prepare and adopt a Farmworker and Employee Housing Ordinance that sets standards and regulations for housing provided to farmworkers by their employers.
2025
9. Adopt a program to subsidize application processing fees for qualifying developments where all units are affordable to 80% AMI or lower when funding is available.
Ongoing
10. Continue providing CDBG funds to the Fair Housing Foundation to provide fair housing activities to the community.
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in the City of Orange.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of sufficient affordable housing
Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will assist in preserving at‐risk units by, but not limited to, supporting non‐profit applications for funding to purchase at‐risk units, work with property owners to maintain affordability and develop preservation strategies, and assist with funding when available.
Ongoing
2. The City will continue to seek qualified non‐profit organizations for acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Funds will be available annually, contingent on funding availability.
Annually
3. The City will continue to encourage through outreach to private and non‐profit housing developers, the development of rental and for‐sale housing for larger (5 or more individuals) families. The City will support developers/builders that incorporate larger bedroom counts (3 or more bedrooms) to accommodate the needs of larger families and reduce incidents of overcrowding in the existing housing stock. The City will evaluate providing regulatory incentives such as density bonuses that encourage and support the development of housing for large families on a project‐by‐project basis.
Ongoing
4. The City will develop a program to subsidize application processing fees, when funding is available, for qualifying developments where all units affordable to 80% AMI or lower. The City will also promote the benefits of this program to the Ongoing
Orange County 257 25-29 Regional AFH
development community by posting information on its webpage and creating a handout to be distributed with land development applications.
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Q. Rancho Santa Margarita
Issue: Concentration
Most of the City’s population is predominantly White, with greater diversity in the neighborhoods east of SR-241. There are no publicly supported housing units. Some vouchers are in use in the northeast part of the city, which is a low-medium concentration area.
Contributing Factors:
1. Location and type of affordable housing available
2. Land use and zoning laws that limit affordable housing development
3. Limited resources for fair housing agencies and organizations.
4. Lack of local private fair housing outreach and enforcement.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Continue to serve as a liaison between the public and appropriate agencies in matters concerning housing discrimination within the City.
Ongoing
2. Provide annual fair housing literature to schools, libraries, and post offices.
Make information available via the City’s fair housing service provider. Review annually to ensure that the posters and literature being provided are up to date.
Annually
3. In coordination with OCHA and fair housing services provider, conduct biennial landlord education campaign to educate property owners about state law prohibiting discrimination based on household income. Provide public information and brochures regarding fair housing/equal housing opportunity requirements, including how to file a complaint and access the investigation and enforcement activities of the state Fair Employment and Housing Commission. Make said information available on the City’s website and at City Hall. Review information annually to ensure that any materials, links, and information provided are current.
Biennial
campaigns;
annual
review of
information
on website
4. In collaboration with the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA):
a. Attend quarterly OCHA Housing Advisory Committee to enhance the exchange of information regarding the availability, procedures, and policies related to the Housing Assistance Voucher program and regional housing issues.
b. Support OCHA's affirmative fair marketing plan and de-concentration policies by providing five-year and annual PHA plan certifications.
Ongoing
5. Monitor FBI data annually to determine if any hate crimes are housing-related and if the City’s fair housing service provider can take action to address potential discrimination linked to the bias motivations of hate crimes.
Annually
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Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Residents across the city have relatively high access to opportunities, except for access to transit.
Homeownership rates in the city are higher for all groups when compared to the County.
However, Hispanic households have the lowest homeownership rate, and it is 20 percentage points lower than the AAPI homeownership rate, which is the highest rate in the city.
Contributing Factors:
1. Location of employers
2. Availability, type, frequency, and reliability of public transportation
3. Location and type of affordable housing available
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Request the Orange County Transportation Authority explore bus route options to ensure neighborhoods with concentration of low-income or protected class populations have access to transportation services.
Ongoing
2. Update the City’s Circulation element to better facilitate multimodal transportation to/from the lower opportunity Census Tracts to goods and services.
By mid-March
2025.
3. In cooperation with the Orange County Transportation Authority, provide community education regarding transport services for individuals with disabilities.
Ongoing
Orange County 260 25-29 Regional AFH
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Contributing Factors:
1. Economic displacement
2. Environmental hazards such as wildland fires and the interface with urban areas Actions: Timeframe:
1. Support local eviction prevention strategies
to reduce the number of homeless
individuals and families (homelessness
prevention services).
Annually
2. Update the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation
Plan by December 2024 to ensure
community resiliency from hazards.
By mid-2025
3. Conduct outreach to landlords and support
OCHA’s mobility counseling program to
increase Housing Choice Vouchers in the
city.
Increase Housing Choice Vouchers through the
Orange County Housing Authority by 5%
between 2021-2029.
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R. San Clemente
Issue: Concentration, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, and Disproportionate Housing Needs The majority of the city is considered an area of high White concentration, except for one Census Tract encompassing neighborhoods north and east of Max Berg Plaza Park, which is classified as low-medium concentration. There is a cluster of publicly supported housing units in this lowmedium concentration area.
Based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities may disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in San Clemente.
Contributing Factors:
1. Unaffordable rents and sales prices in a range of sizes, the location and type of affordable housing, and an overall shortage of subsidized housing units
2. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures
3. Cost of repairs or rehabilitation
4. Dominance of single-family housing, which is typically more expensive than multi-family housing
5. Lack of fair housing education and outreach
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Annually promote equal access to fair housing information for all residents. Expand outreach methods beyond traditional media (newspaper or City website) to include other social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Focus fair housing outreach efforts in the area along the western side of Interstate 5 where racial/ethnic minorities and LMI households are concentrated.
Annually, with the goal to
increase distribution of
information by 20%
between 2021-2029
2. Continue to work under contract with the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) and/or other qualified fair housing service providers to provide fair housing services for all segments of the community.
Serve at least 50
households each year.
Annually evaluate and
adjust the scope of services
to ensure the City address
any emerging trends in fair
housing issues.
3. In coordination with OCHA and fair housing services provider, provide outreach and education to landlords and tenants regarding the state’s new source of income protection (SB 329 and SB 229) that recognizes public assistance such as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and Veterans Assistance Supportive Housing (VASH) as legitimate source of income for rent
Conduct outreach and
education annually;
increase vouchers from
Orange County Housing
Authority by 10% between
2021-2029.
Orange County 262 25-29 Regional AFH
payments. Specifically, provide fair housing responsibility to new ADU applicants.
4. Help non-profits acquire and convert market-rate housing to affordable housing
Ongoing
5. Work to preserve the City’s affordable housing inventory Ongoing
6. Offer a variety of housing opportunities to enhance mobility among residents of all races and ethnicities by facilitating affordable housing throughout the community through the following actions:
Goal of creating 446
affordable units for lower
income households
between 2021 and 2029
a. Promote by-right approvals to facilitate at least one new multi-family housing project with at least 20% of units for lower income households
2021-2029
b. Promote Lot Consolidation program and incentives to
at least three developers.
2021-2029
c. Implement the City’s Affordable Housing Overlay to
facilitate at least one new multi-family housing project 2021-2029
d. Promote the City’s Inclusionary Housing Program to
facilitate at least one multi-family housing project with units affordable for lower income households
2021-2029
7. Provide rehabilitation financing assistance through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program and advertise this
program to the western and southern areas of the City with older housing units and overpaying households.
Assist at least two
homeowners per year
8. Increase public outreach to at least once a year and encourage residents to learn about available housing programs.
Annually
9. Through the City’s fair housing service provider (FHF) increase materials distribution by 25% through the following actions:
a. Provide fair housing education and information to
apartment managers and homeowner associations on
why denial of reasonable modifications/
accommodations is unlawful through fair housing
service contract at least once a year.
Annually
b. Conduct multi-faceted fair housing outreach at least once a year to tenants, landlords, property owners,
realtors, and property management companies.
Methods of outreach may include workshops,
informational booths, presentations to community
Annually
Orange County 263 25-29 Regional AFH
groups, and distribution of multilingual fair housing
literature.
c. Provide general fair housing counseling and referral services to address tenant landlord issues and
investigate allegations of fair housing discrimination
and take appropriate actions to reconcile cases or refer to appropriate authorities.
Ongoing
d. Periodically monitor local newspapers and online
media outlets to identify potentially discriminatory
housing advertisements.
Annually
e. Include testing/audits within the scope of work with fair housing provider.
Ongoing
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S. Santa Ana
Issue: Segregation and R/ECAPs
There is moderate segregation between Hispanic and White residents, and between AAPI and White. The majority of the city is considered an area of high POC segregation and has a predominantly Hispanic population except for the Riverview West community which is predominantly AAPI. There are lots of publicly supported housing units downtown and southeast of downtown, which are high POC segregation areas. There is a higher concentration of vouchers, as well as some publicly supported housing units, west of the Santa Ana River, which is also a high POC segregation area.
There is a R/ECAP covering multiple Census Tracts in the downtown area. These tracts are predominantly Hispanic, as are all the surrounding neighborhoods.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of fair housing education and outreach
2. Lack of affordable housing
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Ensure all City programs and activities relating to housing and community development are administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.
Ongoing
2. Hold annual small apartment managers’ workshop to train and educate property owners, HOAs, property managers, and tenants about best practices in property management, neighborhood safety, and landlord/tenant responsibilities.
Annually
3. Periodically prepare the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice to identify, remove, and/or mitigate potential impediments to fair housing in Santa Ana.
Every 5 years
4. Partner with legal assistance organizations to provide legal clinics for tenants on tenants’ rights and recourse for intimidation and unjust evictions.
Annually
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Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Hispanic residents are more likely than other groups to be exposed to poverty in their neighborhoods and are less likely than other groups to live in close proximity to high performing schools, or in neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital.
Geographically, neighborhoods downtown, west of downtown, and southeast of downtown have low economic scores, low education scores, high poverty rates, and poor environmental quality.
Neighborhoods in the north and south of the city have better economic and education scores.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing
2. Lack of public investment in low opportunity areas
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Publish preapproved ADU plans and publicize ADU program through dedicated web page in various languages to facilitate ADU construction.
Facilitate
construction of
723 ADUs
between 2021-
2029
2. Enforce the City’s inclusionary housing ordinance, known as the Affordable Housing Opportunity & Creation Ordinance (AHOCO), to require eligible housing development projects of five or more units, including condominium conversions, to include at least 15 percent of the units as affordable to low-income households; or 10 percent of the units affordable to very low-income households; or 5 percent to extremely lowincome households; or a minimum of 10 percent available affordable households with five (5)5 percent to low- income, 3 percent to very lowincome, and 2 percent to extremely low-income households, for rental housing. Require 5 percent of the units as affordable to moderate-income households for for-sale housing.
Ongoing
3. Establish guidelines as part of the Comprehensive Zoning Code Update for new housing development projects to include a variety of unit sizes, including units for large families, that are affordable to extremely low-, very low-, and low-income families.
By December 2025
4. Annually monitor the status of at-risk housing projects, specifically the Warwick Square, Highland Manor, and other projects that may come due.
Contact owners of properties at risk of conversion within one year of expiration to discuss City’s desire to preserve projects as affordable housing.
Annually
5. Assist low-income households with down payment assistance loans of up to $120,000 and moderate-income households with loans of up to $80,000.
Annually
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6. Create, assist, and support neighborhood associations, especially in R/ECAP and TCAC Census Tracts, to collaborate on projects and sponsor and hold annual events.
Annually
7. Complete infrastructure improvements in residential neighborhoods consistent with the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Ongoing
8. Through the City’s RFP process for Affordable Housing Development (see program 2), facilitate and encourage the development in the Transit Zoning Code plan area of varied housing types at a mix of affordability levels, including for lower income households using appropriate incentives, such as awarding bonus points to developers whose projects provide at least 75% or more for the units for extremely low-income families at 30% Area Median Income.
Annually
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Santa Ana.
Additionally, more than 20% of housing units are overcrowded in most of the city’s neighborhoods.
Contributing Factors:
1. High cost of housing in the private market
2. High cost of housing repairs/rehabilitation
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Implement the City’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance for tenants facing housing instability, including ongoing outreach and education, a program monitor system, and a schedule of penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance. Provide tenant protections beyond state mandates.
Annually
2. Provide housing assistance payments to eligible households participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and adhere to policies and procedures in the federal regulations and the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan. Administer 100 percent of the funding provided to the Housing Authority annually for eligible households. This includes Special Purpose Vouchers including the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program; Mainstream Voucher Program; Foster Youth to Independence Program; and Emergency Housing Voucher Program. The objectives are to:
1) Utilize 100 percent of the Annual Budget Authority provided by HUD for each CY; 2) Apply for new funding opportunities for additional vouchers; 3) Retain High Performer SEMAP status; 4) Communicate on a regular basis with active landlords by providing information on key program updates.
Ongoing
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3. Contract with a local nonprofit organization (currently Habitat for Humanity) to implement the City’s Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program. Provide grants for the repair and rehabilitation of single-family and mobile homes, prioritizing applicants in R/ECAP and TCAC Census Tracts and low-income households.
Annually
4. Enhance local preferences program for residents working and living in Santa Ana who are seeking affordable housing. Explore a right-of-first-refusal ordinance for mobile home parks and publicly supported multifamily residential properties to minimize tenant displacement and preserve affordable housing stock. Evaluate and pursue collective ownership models for mobile home parks as a tool to prevent displacement.
Ongoing
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T. Tustin
Issue: Segregation
There is moderate segregation between Hispanic and White residents. There is a concentration of publicly supported housing units in the south, in neighborhoods that are predominantly AAPI.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing opportunities.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Engage linguistically isolated communities by translating official City announcements (i.e., community meeting, hearings, etc.) to Spanish and disseminating printed copies of information to renters, property owners, and via social media, to expand knowledge of affordable housing options in High Opportunity Areas.
Ongoing
2. Conduct at least one community informational meeting in areas that lack affordable housing opportunities and that exhibit high segregation, on an annual basis.
Annually
3. Improve housing conditions in segregated areas establishing a multi-family quality rental housing inspection program that focuses on high segregation areas. The City will receive at least one monthly referral from the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Task Force (NITF) (NITF includes Code Enforcement, Police, Social Service/County, School District representatives, City staff form various Departments) to identify households in need of this tenant protection and anti-displacement focused program; focused on improving the quality of single family and multi-family residential dwellings by providing technical assistance and funds to repairs substandard housing conditions. The City will conduct at least five multi-family quality rental housing inspections in the program’s first year and will increase the number of annual inspections by 2, each year thereafter, until 2029.
2025
through
2029
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Issue: Disparities in Access to Opportunities
Hispanic residents (especially those living below the FPL) are less likely than other groups to live in close proximity to high performing schools, or in neighborhoods with high labor force participation and human capital; and are more likely to be exposed to poverty in their neighborhoods. Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
Homeownership rates are very low for Black and Hispanic households, equaling less than half of the homeownership rate for AAPI and White households.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing in high opportunity areas.
2. Lack of public and private investment in low-resource neighborhoods.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Create an ADU/SB 9 accelerator program and focus in
High Opportunity Areas within the northeast portion of
the City where there are predominately single-family
residences to expand housing choices. This program
could include a permit fee waiver for affordable housing units, permit fast tracking, and technical assistance.
By 2025, the City will adopt a
program and mail out
information pertaining to the new
accelerator program for ADUs
and SB 9 developments,
specifically to high opportunity
areas.
2. Provide technical assistance and permit fast-tracking for new ADU/SB9 development proposals and at least six
projects that include housing affordable to lower income households annually through 2029.
Fast track a minimum of 10 ADU
and/or SB 9 developments in
high opportunity areas on an
annual basis; reduce review
times by 25% compared to year
2022.
3. Translate the City’s Tustin Housing Authority website and factsheets promoting affordable housing opportunities
and ancillary support services, such as transit and
childcare, into Spanish, and distribute to low resource areas.
Annually, 2023 through 2029
4. Tustin Legacy (Tract 744.15) is a Master Planned
Community being developed. Although the tract has
been identified as low resource, it has been substantially enhanced with new resources within recent years. The
area comprises 1,500 acres, of which 800 acres remain for future development of a diverse housing stock,
community amenities, and resources. By 2029, the City
will continue to implement projects that increase assets in the Specific Plan area as proposed by developers and identified in the Tustin Legacy Backbone Infrastructure By 2029, the City anticipates the
Tustin Legacy (Tract 744.15) to be
identified as a “high resource”
area according to TCAC/HCD
Opportunity Map criteria.
Orange County 270 25-29 Regional AFH
Program. Improvements will provide increased access to
safe and decent housing, transportation, recreation, and a healthy environment.
5. Create a “Financial Assistance for Child Care” webpage with information and links to Children’s Home Society of California (CHS) and the Orange County Department of
Education (OCDE). These programs provide funding to
low-income families for childcare services. The City will work with Tustin Preschool, Kiddie Academy of Tustin, or other local preschool programs within Census Tract
755.14 to advertise and promote financial assistance
through pamphlets, e-blasts, and other applicable online community forums (such as Facebook and NextDoor).
By December 2022; update
annually thereafter
Issue: Disproportionate Housing Needs
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Tustin.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing.
2. Substandard housing in low-resource areas.
3. High cost of housing repairs/rehabilitation.
Actions: Timeframe:
1. The City will partner with a non-profit to develop and launch a CDBG funded Housing Rehabilitation Program
to facilitate the repair of dilapidated housing to address lack of plumbing, kitchen facilities and repairs to provide relief of overcrowding. Program participants will be
provided grants and/or loans to conduct necessary
housing updates.
Starting in July 2024, the program
will facilitate four (4) rehabilitation
projects to assist with reducing
overcrowding per year and
another four (4) projects will assist
with general habitability repairs,
with a total of eight (8) dwellings
assisted annually.
2. The City will amend the zoning code to require all new multi-family projects to provide at least five (5) percent large family units (3+ bedrooms) which will prevent
overcrowding and further cost burden, by addressing
demand for such units and increasing the large units
into the local housing inventory.
Zoning code amended by January
2024. Four (4) large family units
will be generated annually, and 32
total by 2029.
3. Improve housing conditions in segregated areas
establishing a multi-family quality rental housing
inspection program that focuses on high segregation
areas. The City will receive at least one monthly referral 2025 through 2029
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from the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Task Force
(NITF) (NITF includes Code Enforcement, Police, Social
Service/County, School District representatives, City
staff form various Departments) to identify households
in need of this tenant protection and anti-displacement focused program; focused on improving the quality of
single family and multi-family residential dwellings by providing technical assistance and funds to repairs
substandard housing conditions. The City will conduct at least five multi-family quality rental housing inspections in the program’s first year and will increase the number of annual inspections by 2, each year thereafter, until 2029.
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U. Westminster
Issue: Segregation, Disparities in Access to Opportunities, and Disproportionate Housing Needs The majority of the city is considered an area of high POC segregation and has a predominantly AAPI population with a few exceptions. The northwestern corner of the city, between I-405 and Bolsa Chica Rd is an area of high White segregation. The location of publicly supported housing units and areas with highest concentration of vouchers aligns with the high POC segregation areas in the central part of the city. There are no publicly supported housing units, and fewer vouchers in use, in the western parts of the city that are high White segregation, racially integrated, and low-medium segregation areas.
AAPI residents are more likely than other groups to be exposed to poverty in their neighborhoods and are less likely than other groups to live in close proximity to high performing schools or jobs.
Native American residents living below the FPL are also less likely to live in close proximity to high performing schools or jobs. Additionally, based on analysis of fair housing complaint data, individuals with disabilities disproportionately experience discrimination in housing.
There are large racial/ethnic disparities in homeownership. Black, Hispanic, and Native American households have the lowest rates (around 30%), and these rates are less than half the homeownership rate for White households, which is the highest in the city. The AAPI homeownership rate in the city is lower than in the County overall and is nearly 20 percentage points lower than the White homeownership rate in the city.
Housing cost burden is an issue for renters across Orange County, including in Westminster.
Contributing Factors:
1. Lack of resources for fair housing agencies and organizations
2. Land use and zoning laws.
3. Displacement of residents due to economic pressures.
4. Location and type of affordable housing.
5. Lack of private investment in specific neighborhoods.
6. Lack of community revitalization strategies
Actions: Timeframe:
1. Maintain an inventory of the available sites for residential development and post it online (with annual updates) and provide it to prospective residential developers upon request. Monitor development trends to ensure continued ability to meet the RHNA.
Ongoing
2. Continue to perform project-by-project evaluation to determine if adequate capacity remains for the remaining RHNA.
Ongoing
3. Adopt new mixed-use zoning districts and rezone all sites identified in the City’s most recent Housing Element to accommodate shortfall housing need, consistent with the densities, acreages, and capacity Completed
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levels identified in the Housing Element. Complete all rezoning pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2, subdivisions (h) and (i).
4. Encourage and facilitate construction of ADUs through the following actions:
a. Update the City’s ADU Ordinance to reflect state law. 2025 b. Prepare pre-approved ADU design templates, tailored to meet specific zoning and building standards. Use of these design templates by a potential developer would ensure that the proposed ADU meets most, if not all, required standards at the outset of the development process, minimizing and streamlining the review process. This is expected to significantly incentivize production of ADUs by removing costs, reducing approval timeframes, and providing high application certainty.
Completed
c. Promote development of ADUs by continuing to provide written information at the City’s planning counter and on the City’s website and update it annually.
Ongoing
d. Monitor ADU permit applications and approvals annually through the Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR) process; identify and implement additional incentives or other strategies including rezoning, as appropriate, to ensure adequate sites during the planning period. Should ADU production fall short of projections for three consecutive APR reporting periods then new incentives, strategies, and/or rezoning shall be implemented within six months of the third submitted APR.
Annually
e. Promote the City’s ADU Process Guide (available on the City’s website).
Ongoing
f. Host an annual workshop on accessory dwelling units, including guidance for development and common questions and answers.
Annually
g. Continue requesting information on rental rates to determine their affordability and review this information annually against the projects identified in the Housing Element.
Annually
5. For all project applications, identify need for replacement of affordable housing units and ensure replacement, if required, occurs.
Ongoing
6. Use HOME Funds and Housing Successor Funds to increase affordable housing production through the following actions:
a. Provide HOME Funds and Housing Successor Funds to assist development such as for the purpose of acquisition and/or 2021-2029
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subsidizing the cost of land acquisition and off-site improvements for construction of 100 new affordable housing units.
b. Use HOME Funds and Housing Successor Funds to acquire 16 multifamily or single-family units to be rehabilitated by a nonprofit and restricted to low-income rental housing.
2021-2029
c. Contact local service providers and developers annually and inform them of the potential partnerships with the Housing Division through paperless methods such as phone calls, email, and online postings.
Annually
7. Encourage development of affordable and special needs housing opportunities
a. Contact affordable housing providers (including non-profit providers) annually to encourage them to develop affordable housing for low-/very-low-income households and the disabled in Westminster.
Annually
b. Maintain on the City’s website an inventory of sites suitable for the development of affordable housing for low-income households and households with special needs and update it annually.
Ongoing
c. Support and prepare applications for funding annually. Annually d. Provide incentives and concessions to developers to assist in the development of housing for lower income households or
households with special needs, such as flexible development standards, expedited processing, and support from state funding including SB 2 Planning Grants and Permanent Local Housing Allocation. The preparation of flexible development standards and expedited processing for projects including affordable units will be addressed through the City’s Zoning Code Update.
2022-2025
e. Explore additional funding sources and strategies such as boomerang funds and financing districts to assist the development of housing for lower income households on a biennial basis.
Ongoing
8. Continue to make available the City’s application submittal packet to provide interested builders or service providers with Density Bonus information through paperless methods such as online postings.
Provide printed copies at the front counter. Meet with developers to explain the process and requirements.
Ongoing
9. Maintain a Zoning Code that is consistent with state law regarding low barrier navigation centers, supportive housing, employee housing, and Ongoing
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farmworker housing; and update the Zoning Code as needed to comply with future changes.
10. If an application to convert a residential development to a condominium/stock cooperative is submitted to the City, the provisions of the City’s condominium conversion ordinance shall be implemented and enforced.
Ongoing
11. Implement the mobile home park conversion ordinance by requiring applicants to (a) identify the quantity and conditions of each lowerincome household/unit, and (b), upon approval of a permit to convert a mobile home park, implement mitigation measures that fully mitigate the net loss of low-income households.
Ongoing
12. Conduct a Displacement Risk Analysis Study to identify the local conditions that lead to displacement and develop and implement an action program based on the results. Identify potential partners to participate in the study that specialize in eviction-related topics related to displacement, such as the Fair Housing Foundation. Annually monitor program effectiveness.
2021-2029
13. Implement incentives that will facilitate lot consolidation and increase the overall feasibility of affordable housing projects; as part of the City’s Zoning Code Update, incorporate specific development standards that support lot consolidation, such as a reduction in parking standards, shared parking arrangements in mixed-use projects, a reduction of minimum unit size, and modification of setback requirements. Apply annually for grant funding to prepare conceptual development plans on consolidated lots.
2022-2025 for code
update and
annually for grant
funding
14. Address substandard housing through the following actions:
a. Using the land use data generated from the General Plan Update, adopted in 2020, combined with the data generated from the 2007 Housing Conditions Survey, identify multifamily projects with the most significant level of deterioration for the purpose of providing loans for rehabilitation of multifamily units, subject to the applicable funding source requirements.
2021-2029
b. Provide funding through the Neighborhood Pride Multi-Family Rental Rehabilitation Program to bring at least 14 substandard units up to code.
2021-2029
c. Continue to conduct annual community workshops explaining code compliance issues. Prepare and distribute a Good Neighbor Guide describing how residents can maintain a healthy, safe, and appealing property.
2021-2029
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d. Continue to utilize the Community Preservation Unit to assist with community education and neighborhood maintenance.
2021-2029
15. Increase fair housing knowledge and enforcement through the following actions:
a. Continue to make available a program directory or list of housing resources (including resources and regulatory opportunities such as the Secondary Unit Ordinance) to the public through the City’s website and in City Hall.
Ongoing
b. Continue to advertise the City’s reasonable accommodations provisions using the City’s website, brochures, and other forms of appropriate media. Ensure continued use of the City’s reasonable accommodation provisions, by processing in a timely manner any application requesting a reasonable accommodation.
Ongoing
c. Continue the City’s commitment to working with the Fair Housing Foundation and disseminating fair housing information at City Hall, public libraries, the Chamber of Commerce, and on the City’s website. Include within the annual budget adequate funding to continue the contract with the Fair Housing service provider.
Annually
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 5/6/2025
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
SUBJECT:
NOISE ORDINANCE UPDATE
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
1. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE NOISE
SECTION AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS SECTION OF THE
GENERAL PLAN 2040 PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT AND FINDING SAID
ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT. (Attachment 2);
2. Conduct a first reading of an Ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING CHAPTER 11.16 OF THE LAKE FOREST MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO NOISE CONTROL AND FINDING SAID ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
(Attachment 3);
3. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST AMENDING THE CITY’S LOCAL
THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE GUIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) TO ESTABLISH
REVISED NOISE THRESHOLDS AND FINDING SAID ACTION TO BE
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
(Attachment 4)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As part of the 2023-2030 Strategic Business Plan, the City identified the need to update the City’s noise policies and standards under Initiative SP #26 – Noise Ordinance Update. The purpose of this update is to develop and implement noise mitigation strategies to address excessive exposure to noise in the community.
This staff-initiated update of the City’s noise policies and standards includes modifications to three City documents:
1. General Plan;
2. Municipal Code; and
3. Local Thresholds of Significance Guide for Implementing California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Amendments.
These three documents guide land use decisions, set limits on noise from various sources, and establish thresholds for determining the significance of a proposed project’s environmental impacts.
The amendments implement action items listed in the current General Plan, which call for updating the City’s noise ordinance and establishing vibration and mixed-use standards. Additionally, the amendments provide greater consistency between the three documents and ensure that the City limits the community’s exposure to excessive noise and vibration levels in sensitive areas and during sensitive times of day. The amendments also include new potential mitigation measures that may be used to reduce potential noise and vibration related impacts of development projects to less than significant levels. The Planning Commission staff report, which describes the proposed amendments in detail, is provided as Attachment 1.
Updates to the General Plan Public Safety Element (“GP-PSE”) (Attachment 2) include:
• New Noise Contours Maps for determining land use compatibility; • Updated policies and actions, including deletion of actions addressed by this amendment;
• Deletion of noise standards table (that is redundant with the Lake Forest Municipal Code);
• Technical corrections and “wordsmithing.”
Updates to Lake Forest Municipal Code (“LFMC”), Chapter 11.16 - Noise Control (Attachment 3) include:
• New exterior noise limits for mixed use zones;
• Sets 60 dBA (the level of typical non-amplified conversation) as the daytime 15-minute average noise limit in residential zones, instead of 55 dBA plus 5 dBA for cumulative periods of more than 15 minutes;
• New limits on construction noise and vibration;
• New Permit to Temporarily Exceed Noise Limits (replacing noise variance and variance board);
• Deletes graduated exterior noise limits, and interior noise standards.
Updates to the CEQA Thresholds Guide (Attachment 4) include:
• New thresholds for construction noise and vibration;
• Revised list of potential mitigation measures;
• Eliminates 5 dBA CNEL increase from noise levels below 60dBA CNEL as a significant impact.
The Planning Commission considered the proposed update at a public hearing on April 3, 2025, and unanimously adopted three resolutions (Attachment 5) recommending approval of the draft documents. No public comments on the item update were received at or prior to the Planning Commission meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The 2040 Lake Forest General Plan Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) (State Clearinghouse No. 2019090102) was certified by the City on June 2, 2020. In accordance with CEQA, if an EIR has been certified for a project, the lead agency shall not require preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR unless one of three triggering conditions exists: (1) substantial changes are proposed in the project that will require major revisions of the EIR, (2) substantial changes occur in circumstances under which the project is being undertaken that will require major revisions in the EIR, or (3) new information of substantial importance to the project that was not known and could not have been known when the EIR was certified as complete becomes available, and this condition (1, 2, and/or 3) also would lead to new or more significant impacts. (State CEQA Guidelines § 15162; Pub. Resources Code § 21166.)
Staff recommends that no further environmental review be required because the proposed amendments to the GP-PSE, LFMC, and the CEQA thresholds are within the scope of the 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR and were contemplated as future actions in the EIR. Moreover, none of the conditions in Public Resources Code Section 21166 and/or State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 are triggered by the proposed amendments to the GP-PSE, LFMC, or CEQA Thresholds. The actions would not:
1. Constitute a substantial change to the project that will require major revisions of the certified 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102) due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;
2. Constitute a substantial change with respect to the circumstances under which the project is administered that will require major revisions of the certified 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102) due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of the previously identified significant effects; and
3. Involve new information of substantial importance that was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102) was certified that shows any of the following: (a) the project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the certified 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102); (b) significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the certified 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102); (c) mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or (d) mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the certified 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (SCH #2019090102) would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative.
The new ordinance levels are within the limits of the 2040 General Plan, as analyzed in the corresponding EIR, since footnote 1 provides for a 5 dBA reduction to the standard in the event the noise is impulsive noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, etc. — which effectively keeps the noise standard at 55 dBA for many of the common noise sources. Moreover, the GP EIR anticipated that the City's noise policies and standards would be updated to address contemporary standards and practices and that is what the proposed updates do.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the proposed amendments to the GP-PSE, LFMC, and CEQA Thresholds would not require the preparation of subsequent environmental documentation, and that a Notice of Determination be filed within five (5) working days of the approval of the Resolutions.
PUBLIC NOTICING:
In addition to the public notice provided for the Planning Commission hearing, a public hearing notice corresponding to the May 6, 2025 City Council hearing was published in a newspaper of general circulation on April 24, 2025. To date, no public comments have been received.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is minimal fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report to Planning Commission (April 3, 2025).
2. Draft City Council Resolution Amending General Plan Public Safety Element.
3. Draft Ordinance Amending LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control.
4. Draft City Council Resolution Amending CEQA Significance Thresholds.
5. Planning Commission Resolutions Recommending Adoption of Ordinance and Resolutions
Initiated By: Ron Santos, Senior Planner
Submitted By: Gayle Ackerman, AICP, Director of Community Development Approved By: Debra Rose, City Manager
$77$&+0(17
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82 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC ATTACHMENT 1
Item: 3
83 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKE FOREST APPROVE A RESOLUTION
AMENDING THE NOISE SECTION AND EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS SECTION OF THE GENERAL PLAN 2040
PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT AND DETERMINING THE
RESOLUTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element implementation action PS-6a calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to: (1) ensure that the noise standards are consistent with the General Plan; (2) require that new residential, mixed-use with a residential component, and other noise-sensitive development be designed to minimize noise exposure to noise sensitive uses through incorporation of site planning and architectural techniques; and (3) include noise standards for residential uses within a mixed-use development; and WHEREAS, General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element implementation action PS6e calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to require certain measures for construction, including: restricting construction activities to certain hours; requiring a construction management plan; requiring noise reduction measures related to equipment and trucks and impact tools; standards for stationary noise sources and delivery of materials; and minimization of vibration impacts; and WHEREAS, the City Council will, concurrently with proposed amendments to the Noise section of the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element, consider adopting related updates to Lake Forest Municipal Code Chapter 11.16 and the City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide, which modify the City’s noise policies and standards and thereby implement implementation actions PS-6a and PS-6e; and WHEREAS, implementation of General Plan implementation actions PS-6a and PS-6e, by amending Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code and the City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide, necessitates concurrent amendments to the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element to maintain consistency between the three documents, and to incorporate further refinements which update, clarify, simplify, address certain omissions and incorporate certain contemporary best practices for regulating noise; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element provide for consistency with concurrently proposed amendments to Chapter
11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code and the Noise Thresholds of Significance; and Item: 3
84 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report WHEREAS, on September 3, 2024, the City Council approved a revised Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (“LHMP”) in coordination with FEMA and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (“CalOES”) and, pursuant to AB 2140, the City can opt to incorporate the approved LHMP into the Safety Element of its General Plan. Taking that action allows the City to become eligible for additional state funding after a disaster occurs; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the Emergency Operations section of the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element Public is to comply with the optional requirements of AB 2140; and
WHEREAS, the draft amendments to the General Plan Public Safety Element were made available for public review and comment for 30 days prior to the public hearing at which the Planning Commission considered the draft amendments; and NOW, THEREFORE, following a public hearing process, the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1. The recitals are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the Planning Commission.
SECTION 2. In its advisory capacity to the City Council, the City of Lake Forest Planning Commission has evaluated the proposed revisions to the General Plan Public Safety Element to determine whether the revisions are subject to environmental review under Public Resources Code, section 21000 et seq.: “CEQA”. The Planning Commission recommends that no further environmental review be required because the proposed revisions to the General Plan Public Safety Element are within the scope of the 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse No. 2019090102) that was certified by the City on June 2, 2020, and were contemplated as future actions in the EIR.
Moreover, none of the conditions in Public Resources Code Section 21166 and/or State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 are triggered by the proposed amendments to the Lake Forest Municipal Code. Further, as the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan has already been approved and adopted, this is merely an administrative activity to ensure compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, and as such is not a project subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060, subd. (c)(2-3), and 15378(a), (b)(5). For these reasons, the proposed revisions to the General Plan Public Safety Element are not subject to further environmental review under CEQA.
SECTION 3. Based upon substantial evidence set forth in the record of proceedings, including but not limited to the April 3, 2024, Planning Commission Staff Report on the proposed amendments to the General Plan Public Safety Element, Chapter
11.16 Lake Forest Municipal Code, and the Noise Thresholds of Significance, the Planning Commission for the City of Lake Forest hereby recommends adoption of the draft resolution amending the Noise section of the 2040 General Plan Public Safety Element, as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
Item: 3
85 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the Planning Commission, and the Director of Community Development shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Resolution for any reason is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution. The Planning Commission hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at City Hall for the City of Lake Forest, located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings.
SECTION 7. Notice of Determination. Staff is directed to file a Notice of Determination with the County of Orange within five (5) working days of approval of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest, California on April 3, 2025 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
__________________________________ ____
THOMAS LUDDEN DATE
CHAIR
LAKE FOREST PLANNING COMMISSION
ATTEST:
______________________________________ ____________________
GAYLE ACKERMAN, AICP DATE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Item: 3
86 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report
EXHIBIT A
(begins on following page)
Item: 3
87 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report Introduction to Public Safety
The goal of Lake Forest’s Public Safety Element is to reduce the risk of death, injury, property damage, economic loss, and harm due to natural and manmade disasters. This element will view risks on both a short-term and long-term basis, and will place a special emphasis on local and regional risk factors.
The Public Safety Element closely relates to the Public Facilities Element and supports the City’s Emergency Management Plan. The long-term risks associated with Climate Change are also addressed in here.
Organization of Element
The Public Safety Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to Lake Forest. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
Seismic and Geologic Hazards
Fire Safety
Flooding
Hazardous Waste and Materials
Emergency Operations
Noise
Climate Change and Resiliency Planning
…
Contents:
Seismic and
Geologic
Hazards
Fire Safety
Flooding
Hazardous
Waste and
Materials
Emergency
Operations
Noise
Climate Change
and Resiliency
Planning
Item: 3
88 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report GOAL PS-6 NOISE
A comfortable community environment that is free from excessive noise pollution.
PS-6 Policies
PS-6.1 Land Use Planning. Require development and infrastructure projects to be consistent with the maximum allowable noise exposure criteria identified in Error! Reference source not found. to ensure acceptable noise levels for future development.
PS-6.2 Noise-Sensitive Land Uses. Ensure appropriate features are incorporated into the design of noise-sensitive land uses to prevent unacceptable noise exposure.
PS-6.3 Site Design. Require site planning and project design techniques to minimize noise impacts adjacent to sensitive uses in order to comply with City standards.
PS-6.4 Noise Control. Ensure that noise levels do not exceed the limits established in Error! Reference source not found. by incorporating sound-reduction design in new construction and retrofit projects impacted by non-transportation-related noise sources.
PS-6.5 Roadway Noise. Encourage nonmotorized transportation alternatives for local trips and the implementation of noise sensitivity measures in the public realm, including traffic-calming road design, lateral separation, natural buffers, and setbacks to decrease excessive motor vehicle noise.
PS-6.6 Highway Noise. Continue to coordinate with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) to achieve maximum noise abatement in the design of new highway projects or improvements along I-5 and CA-241.
PS-6.7 Vehicles and Trucks. Monitor and enforce speed limits and motor vehicle codes requiring adequate mufflers on all types of vehicles traveling through the City.
PS-6.8 Commercial Noise. Require the use of noise attenuation measures, including screening and buffering techniques, for all new commercial development expected to produce excessive noise; in existing cases where the City’s noise standards are exceeded, work with Code Enforcement to require compliance.
PS-6.9 Interjurisdictional Coordination. Coordinate with neighboring cities to prevent and minimize exceedance of noise standards along the City's boundaries.
PS-6.10 Airplane Noise. Maintain communication with John Wayne Airport and other relevant air transportation agencies to minimize the noise-related impacts of air travel on the City.
Item: 3
89 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PS-6 Actions
PS-6a (reserved)
PS-6b To ensure that noise does not adversely affect new sensitive receptors, the City will use land use compatibility noise criteria for various land use types in Table PS-1 when making planning and development decisions. The criteria in Table PS-1 represent the acceptable noise level for new sensitive receptors.
Existing and future noise contours from transportation noise in the City are provided in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The future noise contours in Figure 2 will be used as a guide for land use and development decisions. If the noise level at a project does not exceed the outdoor activity area allowable noise level in Table PS-1, the project is considered compatible with the noise environment.
If the project will exceed the allowable outdoor activity area and interior space noise levels in Table PS-1, the project proponent shall be required to demonstrate (with an acoustical analysis) that the project is designed to attenuate noise to meet the criteria in Table PS-1, and California Building Standards Code, and California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24) interior noise standards. If the project is not designed to meet the noise criteria, noise reduction measures may be recommended in the analysis. If the analysis demonstrates that the noise criteria can be met with implementation of the noise reduction measures, the project may be approved with the noise reduction measures required as conditions of project approval.
PS-6c To ensure that noise from new development does not adversely affect existing sensitive receptors, the City will require acoustical studies for all new discretionary projects, including those related to development and transportation, which have the potential to generate stationary noise impacts which exceed the criteria identified in the Municipal Code. The studies shall include existing ambient noise measurements, estimates of projected noise levels, and noise reduction measures necessary to ensure compliance with this element.
PS-6d In making a determination of traffic noise impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a significant impact will occur if ambient noise levels have a substantial increase and the resultant noise levels are in excess of the City’s criteria. Generally, a 3 A-weighted decibel (dBA) increase in noise levels is barely perceptible. Therefore, increases in noise levels shall be considered significant when the following occurs:
When existing noise levels are between 60 dBA and 65 dBA CNEL, a 3 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant;
When existing noise levels exceed 65 dBA CNEL, a 1.5 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant.
PS-6e (reserved)
PS-6f The City should require new residential projects located adjacent to freeways or rail lines to follow applicable Caltrans-adopted vibration criteria to ensure that residential uses are not exposed to vibrations exceeding annoyance thresholds. When required, this shall be accomplished through a vibration study estimating vibration levels at the habitable buildings of the vibration-sensitive use and providing reduction measures necessary to ensure compliance with applicable criteria.
Table PS-1: Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise Environment 5, 6 Item: 3
90 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report Interior Spaces
Land Use
1 Outdoor
Activity Areas 2, 3
Ldn, dBA Ldn, dBA Leq, dBA 4
Residential 60 45 –
Motels/Hotels 65 45 –
Mixed-Use 65 45 –
Hospitals, Nursing Homes 60 45 –
Theaters, Auditoriums – – 35
Places of Worship 60 – 40
Office Buildings 65 – 45
Schools, Libraries, Museums 70 – 45
Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks 70 – -
Industrial 75 – 45
Golf Courses, Water Recreation 70 – –
1. Where a proposed use is not specifically listed, the use shall comply with the criteria for the most similar use as determined by the City.
2. Outdoor activity areas for residential development are considered to be the private exterior living area of single-family homes and the main common areas where people generally congregate for multi-family and residential components of mixed-use developments.
Outdoor activity areas for non-residential developments are the common areas where people generally congregate, including community centers, pool areas, and outside lunch facilities. New multi-family developments and residential components of mixed-use developments with balconies or patios that are exposed to noise that exceeds the outdoor criteria in this table are required to provide occupancy disclosure notices to all future tenants regarding potential noise impacts.
3. In areas where it is not possible for a new project to reduce exterior noise levels to achieve the outdoor activity area criteria using a practical application of the best noise-reduction technology, as determined by a qualified acoustician, an increase of up to 5 dBA Ldn over the outdoor standard will be allowed provided that available exterior noise reduction measures have been implemented and interior noise levels are in compliance with this table
4. Determined for a typical operating hour during periods of use.
5. In accordance with Policy PS-6b, this table shall be used for land use compatibility noise criteria when making planning and development decisions. These criteria represent the acceptable noise level for new sensitive receptors. These criteria are not to be retroactively applied for existing uses. These criteria are also not generally intended for use as CEQA significance thresholds for noise generated by new projects to existing receptors; that purpose is achieved by compliance with Municipal Code standards.
6. Abbreviations: dB = decibel; Leq = equivalent noise level; Ldn = Day-Night Average Level …
Item: 3
91 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report Item: 3
92 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report Item: 3
93 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report GOAL PS-5 Emergency Operations
A community that is highly prepared and equipped to handle emergency situations, in order to minimize loss of life, injury, property damage, and disruption of vital services.
PS-5 Policies
PS-5.1 Critical Facilities. Coordinate with service providers to ensure the resilience of critical facilities, lifeline services, and infrastructure, and plan for the use of critical facilities during post-disaster response and recovery.
PS-5.2 Emergency Preparedness Plans. Maintain an updated Emergency Operations Plan specific to Lake Forest.1
PS-5.3 Local Coordination. Coordinate with local key stakeholders (officials, schools, businesses, and organizations) within the community to make them aware of their role in the emergency plan and the necessary requirements in case of emergency.
PS-5.4 Automatic and Mutual Aid. Continue to participate in automatic and mutual aid agreements with adjacent service providers to ensure efficient and adequate resources, facilities, and support services during and after emergencies.
PS-5.5 Communications. Evaluate the potential to utilize a comprehensive emergency communication system that allows for efficient connection in case of emergency.
PS-5.6 Emergency Evacuation Routes and Access. Work with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sherriff’s Department to maintain, update, and regularly exercise emergency access, protocols, and evacuation routes to assess their effectiveness.
PS-5.7 Emergency Shelters. Periodically coordinate with emergency shelter providers to ensure that necessary equipment supplies are available in case of emergency.
PS-5.8 Community Training Programs. Continue to support community-based emergency training programs as a valuable asset to the community.
PS-5.9 Public Awareness. Prepare residents for emergency situations by making emergency strategies, including evacuation routes, publicly-known and easily accessible.
PS-5.10 School Safety. Coordinate with local schools related to their programs and practices regarding emergency preparedness.
PS-5 Actions
PS-5a Explore grant funding for the preparation of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Lake Forest.
PS-5b Regularly practice implementation of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and update it regularly.
PS-5c Regularly review County and State emergency response procedures that must be coordinated with City procedures.
1 The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the City of Lake Forest was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The LHMP is a separate document adopted into the Safety Element of the General Plan by Resolution No. 2024-36, in compliance with AB 2140. It is available electronically at https:lakeforestca.gov/en/LHMP.” Item: 3
94 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC ATTACHMENT 2
Item: 3
95 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11.16 OF THE
LAKE FOREST MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO NOISE
CONTROL AND DETERMINING THE RESOLUTION TO BE
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element implementation action PS-6a calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to: (1) ensure that the noise standards are consistent with the General Plan; (2) require that new residential, mixed-use with a residential component, and other noise-sensitive development be designed to minimize noise exposure to noise sensitive uses through incorporation of site planning and architectural techniques; and (3) include noise standards for residential uses within a mixed-use development; and
WHEREAS, General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element implementation action PS-6e calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to require certain measures for construction, including: restricting construction activities to certain hours; requiring a construction management plan; requiring noise reduction measures related to equipment and trucks and impact tools; standards for stationary noise sources and delivery of materials; and minimization of vibration impacts; and
WHEREAS, the draft ordinance (“Exhibit A” attached hereto) implements General Plan Public Safety Element implementation actions PS-6a and PS-6e by amending Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code accordingly, and includes further refinements which clarify, simplify, address certain omissions and incorporate certain contemporary best practices for regulating noise.
WHEREAS, in addition to the updates to the Lake Forest Municipal Code identified above, the City Council will concurrently consider adopting related updates to the Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element and the City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide, which modify the City’s noise policies and standards; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code, in addition to implementing General Plan implementation actions PS-6a and PS-6e, provide for consistency with the proposed amendments to the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element and the Noise Thresholds of Significance; and WHEREAS, the draft amendments to Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code were made available for public review and comment for 30 days prior to the public hearing at which the Planning Commission considered the draft ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, following a public hearing process, the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest hereby resolves as follows:
Item: 3
96 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC Resolution 2025-XX
LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control Update
SECTION 1. The recitals are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the Planning Commission.
SECTION 2. In its advisory capacity to the City Council, the City of Lake Forest Planning Commission has evaluated the proposed revisions to Lake Forest Municipal Code Chapter 11.16 to determine whether the revisions are subject to environmental review under Public Resources Code, section 21000 et seq.: “CEQA”. The Planning Commission recommends that no further environmental review be required because the proposed amendments to the Lake Forest Municipal Code are within the scope of the 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse No. 2019090102) that was certified by the City on June 2, 2020, and were contemplated as future actions in the EIR. Moreover, none of the conditions in Public Resources Code Section 21166 and/or State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 are triggered by the proposed amendments to the Lake Forest Municipal Code. For these reasons, the revised noise standards are not subject to further environmental review under CEQA.
SECTION 3. Based upon substantial evidence set forth in the record of proceedings, including but not limited to the April 3, 2025, Planning Commission Staff Report on the proposed amendments to Chapter 11.16, the General Plan Public Safety Element, and the Noise Thresholds of Significance, the Planning Commission for the City of Lake Forest hereby recommends adoption of the draft ordinance amending Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the Planning Commission, and the Director of Community Development shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Resolution for any reason is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution. The Planning Commission hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at City Hall for the City of Lake Forest, located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings.
SECTION 7. Notice of Determination. Staff is directed to file a Notice of Determination with the County of Orange within five (5) working days of approval of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest, California on April 3, 2025 by the following vote, to wit:
Item: 3
97 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC Resolution 2025-XX
LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control Update
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
__________________________________ ____
THOMAS LUDDEN DATE
CHAIR
LAKE FOREST PLANNING COMMISSION
ATTEST:
______________________________________ ____________________
GAYLE ACKERMAN, AICP DATE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Item: 3
98 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC Resolution 2025-XX
LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control Update
EXHIBIT A
Item: 3
99 Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC Resolution 2025-XX
LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control Update
Chapter 11.16
NOISE CONTROL
Sections:
11.16.010 Declaration of policy.
11.16.020 Definitions.
11.16.030 Measurement of noise levels.
11.16.040 Exterior noise standards.
11.16.050 Exemptions.
11.16.060 Loud noises.
11.16.070 Motor vehicle racing.
11.16.080 Construction.
11.16.090 Vibration.
11.16.100 Enforcement.
11.16.110 Permit to temporarily exceed noise limits.
11.16.010 Declaration of policy.
In order to control unnecessary, excessive and annoying sounds, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the City to prohibit such sounds generated from all sources as specified in this chapter.
It is determined that certain sound levels are detrimental to public health, welfare, and safety, and contrary to public interest.
11.16.020 Definitions.
The following words, phrases and terms as used in this chapter shall have the meaning as indicated below:
“Ambient Noise Level” shall mean the all-encompassing noise level associated with a given environment, being a composite of sounds from all sources, excluding an alleged offensive noise, at a location and approximate time at which a comparison with an alleged offensive noise is to be made. “A-weighted Decibel (dBA)” means the overall frequency-weighted sound level in Decibels that approximates the frequency response of the human ear as represented by the A-weighted network.
The reference pressure is 20 micropascals.
“Chief” shall mean Chief of Police Services.
“Construction” shall mean any demolition or building construction requiring a building permit, and any excavating or filling of earth material requiring a grading permit, or any combination thereof conducted at a site to prepare said site for construction or other improvements thereon. “Decibel (dB)” shall mean a unit which denotes the ratio between two quantities which are proportional to power: the number of decibels corresponding to the ratio of two amounts of power is ten times the logarithm to the base ten of this ratio.
“Director” shall mean the Director of Community Development. “Domestic Power Tool” means a mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snow blower, or similar device that is used in residential areas for work that is typically done by or for residential occupants.
“Dwelling Unit” shall have the same meaning as in Section 9.04.030(D). “Emergency Machinery, Vehicle or Work” shall mean any machinery, vehicle or work used, employed or performed in an effort to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility service. “Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Leq)” means the value of an equivalent, steady sound level which, in a stated period, has the same sound energy as the time-varying sound. Thus, the Leq metric is a single numerical value that represents the equivalent amount of variable sound energy received at a location over the specified duration.
“Impulsive Noise” shall mean noise of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay, such as a sudden bang.
Item: 3
100
Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report PC Resolution 2025-XX
LFMC Ch. 11.16 – Noise Control Update