RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE
RESPONSIBLE HOUSING INITIATIVE PURSANT TO
CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 9215 AS
SUBMITTED BY THE NEWPORT
STEWARDSHIP
AMENDMENTS
BEACH
WITHOUTASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, Section 1003 of the Charter of the City of Newport Beach (“City Charter") states that the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California (“ElectionsCode”), as the same now existor hereaftermay be amended, which governs initiatives,shall apply to the use thereof in the City of Newport Beach (“City")so far as such provisions of the Elections Code are not inconflictwith the provisions of the Charter; WHEREAS, on April30, 2025, pursuant to CaliforniaElections Code (“Elections Code”) Section 9202, the Citywas served with a Notice of Intention to Circulate Petition, a Proponent’s Signed Statement, and a copy of a proposed initiativetitled,the Responsible Housing Initiative(“Initiative”)which is attached hereto as Exhibit “1,” and incorporated herein by reference;
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2025, pursuant to Elections Code Section 9203, the City Attorney prepared a summary of the Initiativewith the followingballottitle:“Initiativeto Provide Affordable Housing for 2,900 Extremely Low-, Very Low-, Low- and Moderate- Income Households”;
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2025, certificationwas presented to the City Council that not less than ten percent of the registered voters of the City signed the petitionforthe Initiative;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215, ifan initiativepetitionis signed by not less than ten percent of the registeredvoters of a city,the cityshalleither adopt the proposed initiative,submit the proposed initiativeto the voters, or order a report pursuant to ElectionsCode Section 9212; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adopt the Responsible Housing Initiative pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215 as submitted by the Newport Beach Stewardship Association without amendment.
ATTACHMENT C
17-12
Resolution No. 2025-
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS;
The City Council does hereby adopt the Responsible Housing Initiative,attached hereto as Exhibit “1,"pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215 as submitted by the Newport Beach Stewardship Association without amendment.
Section 1:
The recitalsprovided in this resolutionare true and correct and are incorporated intothe operative part of thisresolution.
Section 2;
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolutionis,forany reason, held to be invalidor unconstitutional, such decision shall not affectthe validityor constitutionalityof the remaining portionsof thisresolution.The City Council hereby declares that itwould have passed this resolution, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespectiveof the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 3:
The CityCouncil findsthe adoption of thisresolutionis not subject to the CaliforniaEnvironmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(1) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(1) (the activitydoes not involve the exercise of discretionarypowers by a public agency), 15060(c)(3) (the activityis not a projectas defined inSection 15378), and 15060(c)(2)(the activitywillnot resultina direct or reasonably foreseeable indirectphysical change in the environment) of the CEQA Guidelines, CaliforniaCode of Regulations,Title14, Division6, Chapter 3.
Section 4;
The City Clerk shall certifythe passage and adoption of this resolutionand enter itintothe book of originalresolutions.
Section 5:
17-13
Resolution No. 2025-
Section 6: This resolutionshalltake effectimmediately upon itsadoption by the CityCouncil,and the CityClerk shallcertifythe vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this18th day of November, 2025.
Joe Stapleton
Mayor
ATTEST:
Lena Shumway
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Aaron C. Harp
City Attorney
Attachment(s): Exhibit1 - Responsible Housing Initiative 17-14
Exhibit 1
17-15
INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS The PeopleoftheCityofNewport Beach do herebyordainas follows; Section 1. Title
This initiativemeasure shallbe known as the"Responsible Housing Initiative”(the"Initiative”).
Section 2. Purpose and Findings.
Purpose. ThisInitiativeseeksto balanceresponsibleurban developmentwith protecting theenvironment,publichealthand safety,and thequalityof lifefortheresidentsand businesses oftheCityofNewport Beach (the'‘City”).Thisinitiativeamends theCity’sGeneralPlantoallow for more residentialhousingin a manner thatfullysatisfies,but does not unduly exceed,the requirementsofCaliforniahousinglaws,includingtheStateHousing ElementLaw and Housing AccountabilityAct.
Findings.The residentsof the City findthatthisInitiativepromotesthepublicinterestin lightofitsPurposeand thefollowingfactsand circumstances:
1. InNovember 2000,CityresidentsvotedtoapprovetheGreenlightInitiative,which added Section423 totheNewport Beach CityCharter.Section423 preventstheNewport Beach City Councilfrom amending the City’sGeneral Plan to significantlyincreaseallowed developmentwithoutfirstsecuringapprovalfrom City residents.Section 423 specifically requires,among otherthings,thatany amendment tothe City’sGeneralPlan allowingforthe developmentof more than 100 dwellingunitsmust be approvedby a majorityvote in a City election.
A.
B.
When theCitywas preparingits2021 - 2029 6thCycleHousing Element (the •‘HousingElemenf’)inresponsetoStatelaw,theCityrepeatedlyassuredthecommunity itwould allownew developmentonlytoextentrequiredby Statelaw. Under State law, theCitywas asked to updateitsHousing Elementto allowfor4,845 new dwellingunitsat varying levelsof affordability(e.g.,low income,moderateincome). This iscommonly referredto as the City’s RegionalHousingNeeds Allocationor“RHNA.”
InSeptember2022,theCityadoptedtheHousingElement.That Housing Element specifiedthatimplementationof the Housing Element"willrequirea companion Land Use Element amendment that willbe subjectto a vote ofthe electoratepursuantto Charter Section 423.” In October 2022, the CaliforniaDepartment of Housing and Community Development ("HCD”) reviewedtheCity^’sHousing Elementand informedtheCitythatitmust implement all programsidentifiedintheHousingElement,including‘initiatinga BallotMeasure for aCharter Section 423 Vote ”
2. j.
1 17-16
Between October 2022 and April 2024, City officialsand staff worked to implementtheHousing Element. The Citystatedthatsuch implementationwould requireseveral major landuseapprovals,includingsignificantamendments to theLand Use Element of theCity’s GeneralPlan, theCity’sZoning Ordinance,and theCity’sLocal CoastalProgram.These approvals were referredto collectivelyas the“Housing Element ImplementationProgram Amendments.”
4. Throughouttheprocessto implementtheHousing Element,the City consistently toldresidentstheywould have an opportunityto voteon proposedamendments to theLand Use Element,as requiredby Section423. Priorto July2024, the Cityneversuggestedto votersthat theNewport Beach CityCouncil(“CityCouncil”)would not send this issue to a vote under Charter Section 423.
0. In April2024, the Housing Element ImplementationProgram Amendments were presentedto theNewport Beach PlanningCommission for review and recommendation. The PlanningCommission recommended approvalof theHousing Element ImplementationProgram Amendments. The Resolutionadopted by the PlanningCommission statedthatfinaladoption would “requirea majority vote ofthe electorate”under Section423. (ResolutionNo. PC2024- 006.)
6. The Housing Element ImplementationProgram Amendments presentedto the PlanningCommission proposed allowingfordevelopment of at least8,174new dwellingunits.
That proposalreflected a68% increaseabove the RHNA requirement,or 3,329excessdwelling units.
7. On July 23, 2024, the City Council held a meeting purportingto approve the proposedHousingElement ImplementationProgram Amendments and purportingto authorizea dramaticincreaseinthescale,heightand densityof residentialdevelopmentinNewport Beach.
The CityCouncilalsopurportedtoadoptproposedamendments to the Land Use Element. Those purportedamendments includethe additionof PolicyLU 4.4,which isintended to exceed the City’sRHNA throughtheadoptionof Housing Opportunity(HO) OverlayZoning Districtsand otherlanduse policies.Local voters did notapprove of any of thosepurportedamendments.
8. Duringthatsame July23 meeting,theCityCouncilassertedwithout legalsupport thata CharterSection423 vote on theproposed Land Use Element amendments was purportedly “precluded”by Statelaw.
9. again, without voter
approval—OrdinanceNo. 2024-16, which purportsto amend the City’sZoning Code and associatedmaps toadd HO OverlayZoning Districts.These HO Overlay Zoning Districtsalone purporttoallowformore thaneightthousandadditionaldwellingunitstobe developedthroughout six largeareasofNewport Beach.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted10.
2 17-17
The decisionto adopt any major amendment authorizingthousands of additional dwellingunitsbelongstothe voters,nottheCityCouncil.
11. UnlikeNewport Beach, the City of Yorba Linda chose to honor its local voter approvalrequirementswhen adoptingitsHousingElementimplementationstrategy.InNovember 2024, Yorba Linda votersoverwhelming approved Measure JJ,a measure the Yorba Linda City Council placed on the ballotin June 2024 to comply with Yorba Linda’s '‘Right-to-Vote Amendment” (MeasureB). Under Measure JJ,Yorba LindawillsatisfyitsRHNA of 2,415 units by relyingon pipelineprojects(181 units)and underutilizedsites(569 units),and then rezoning specificpropertiestoaccommodate additionalunits(1,747units).In total,Yorba Linda plansto accommodate 2,497unitsthroughitsHousing Element and associatedimplementationprogram.
This willresultinno more than 82 unitsbeyond what Statelawrequires, oran approximatelythree percent(3%) increaseaboveYorba Linda’sRHNA of2,415units.
Liketheapproachtakenby theCity ofYorba Linda,this Initiativewould allow the Citytoachievehousingobjectiveswhileensuringthelocalcommunity has a voiceinmajor land use decisions.
12. 13.
The table below shows how this Initiativewould meet the requirementsof State14. law.
Extremely
Low /
Very Low
Income
Above
Moderate
Income
Low I Moderate
Income income Total
4,8451,050 1,4091,456 930Total RHNA
1,409 4,8452,386 1,050Total RHNA
2,597 2,945PipelineUnits'
AccessoryDwellingUnits(ADUs)
348 0
24072 5163
327287 405^ Cycle Sites 0
2,642 3,512359Subtotal 511
2,566691 0Remaining RHNA (Net RHNA) 1,875
AirportEnvironsOverlay- 0 929692 237
West Newport Mesa Overlay- 0 406302 104
Dover-WestcliffOverlay- 0 174130 44
Newport CenterOverlay- 0 870648 222
Coyote Canyon Overlay-
Total Rezone
133 0 521388
2,900740 02,160
2,642 64122,671 1,099Total Development Capacity
49 1,233 1,567Surplus(units)
Surplus(%) (RHNA buffer)
285
32%12% 5% 88%
Notes:
‘Totalunitsinprojectsthatreceivedentitlementsfrom theCitybeforeDecember 2024. - FiguresintheTotalcolumn representthe“Development Limit” foreach overlayzone. 17-18
Amendment to the CityofNewport Beach Genera! Plan,
The votersherebyamend and readoptPolicyLU 4.4oftheLand Use Element (Chapter3)of the City ofNewport Beach GeneralPlanasfollows(new languagetobe insertedintotheGeneralPlan isshown as underlinedtext;languageshown inregularor bold (notunderlined)type reflectsthe existingGeneralPlantextand isprovidedforinformational/referencepurposesonly):
LU 4.4 Rezoning toAccommodate Housing Opportunities
Accommodate housing opportunitiesthroughthe adoptionof housing opportunity overlayzoningdistrictsor otherlanduse regulatorypolicy.
The followingareasareintendedto be consistentwith the Housing Element'sfocus areas.Propertieswithineachoverlaydistrictshouldinclude,but arenot limitedto,sites identifiedintheHousing Element;however,notallsitesmust be included,and other sitesoradjustmentsmay be identifiedinthefuturethrough rezoningunlessprecluded by statelaw. The goal is to ensure an adequate number of sitesCitywide to accommodate the City'soverallallocationoftheRegionalHousing Needs Assessment:
■ AirportEnvirons:the intentistosupporta densitybetween 20 and 50 dwelling unitspergrossacretoaccommodate up to2,577929 totaldwellingunitswithinthe area. All dwelling units must be affordable to “moderate income” households, and at least692 unitsmust be affordableto *'1qw income” households, as those terms are defined in Government Code 65582.
Section 3.
■ West Newport Mesa: the intentisto supporta densitybetween 20 and 50 dwellingunitspergrossacretoaccommodate up to 1,107 406 totaldwelling units within the area. All dwelling units must be affordable to “moderate income” households, and at least302 units must be affordable to 'low income” households, as those terms are defined in Government Code 65582.
■ Newport Center:the intentistosupporta densitybetween 20 and 50 dwelling unitspergrossacretoaccommodate up to2,4^9870 totaldwellingunitswithinthe All dwelling unitsmust be affordable to “moderate income” households, andarea, at least648 unitsmust be affordableto “low income” households, as those terms are defined in Government Code 65582.
■ Dover /Westcliff:the intentistosupporta densitybetw^een20 and 50 dwelling unitspergrossacreto accommodate up to ^24-174 totaldwellingunitswithinthe All dwelling units must be affordable to 'moderate income” households, andarea, at least130 units must be affordableto ”low income” households, as those terms are defined in Government Code 65582.
4 17-19
■ Coyote Canyon: the intentistoallowa densitybetween20 and 60 50 dwelling unitsper grossacreof viablelandto accommodate up to 1,530521 totaldwelling units within the area. All dwelling units must be affordable to ^'moderate income” households, and at least388 units must be affordable to 'Mow income” households, as those terms are defined in Government Code 65582.
The maximum number of dwelling units for each focus area set forth above shall serve as theDevelopmentLimitforeachoverlaydistrict.The Development Limits shall not include density bonus units. Once the maximum number of unitshave been approved undertheapplicablefocusarea'sDevelopment Limit,no housingopportunityoverlay zoning districtor other land use regulatory policies or programs developed pursuant to this Policy (LU 4.4) shallbe available for future developmentinthatfocusareaunless Cityvotersapprovea furthermajoramendment totheGeneral Plan.
Section 4. Implementation of this Initiative.
A. This Initiativeisconsideredadopted and effectiveupon the earliestdate legally possibleaftertheelectionsofficialcertifiesthevoteon theInitiativeby thevotersoftheCity(the "EffectiveDate”).Upon theEffectiveDateofthisInitiative,theCityisdirectedtopromptlytake allappropriateactionsneededtoimplementthisInitiative,including but notlimitedtotakingany administrativestepsnecessarytoupdateany and allCityordinances,codes,maps,figures,and any otherdocumentsmaintainedby theCityso theyconform tothelegislativepoliciessetforth inthisInitiative.Such administrativesteps shallinclude,but notbe limitedto,amending Section
20.28.050oftheCityofNewport Beach Zoning Code to be consistent with this Initiative.
B. Upon theEffectiveDate ofthisInitiative,theGeneralPlanprovisionsof Section3 ofthisInitiativeareherebyinsertedintotheGeneralPlan;exceptthatifthefouramendments of any mandatoryelementoftheGeneralPlanpermittedby Statelaw forany calendar yearhave alreadybeen utilizedintheyearinwhich thisInitiativebecomes effective,the General Plan amendments set forth in this Initiative shallbe the firstamendments insertedinto the General Planon January1 of thenextyear.The Citymay reorganize,renumber, and/'orreformat the GeneralPlanprovisionssetforthin Section3 of thisInitiative,providedthat thefulltextis insertedintothe General Plan Land Use Element without alteration.
C. The General Plan in effecton the date of filingof the Notice of Intention to CirculatePetition('TilingDate”),and theGeneralPlan as amended by thisInitiative,comprise integrated,internallyconsistentand compatiblestatementof policies forthe City.To ensure that theCity’sGeneralPlanremainsan integrated,internallyconsistent,andcompatiblestatement ofpoliciesfor theCity,anyprovisionoftheGeneralPlanthatisadoptedbetweentheFilingDate and the EffectiveDate of the General Plan amendment adoptedby thisInitiativeshall,to the extentthatsuchinterim-enactedprovisionisinconsistentwith or would diminish,render invalid, defeat, orimpairtheGeneralPlanamendment adoptedby thisInitiative,be amended assoon as possibleand inthemanner and timerequiredby Statelaw to ensure consistencywith this an
5 17-20
Initiative.
Section 5. Effect of Other Measures on the Same Ballot.
If this Initiativeand another measure on the same subjectmatterappearon thesame ballot, and a majority ofthevotersvoteinfavorof bothmeasures but this Initiative receives more votes than the othermeasure, thisInitiativealone shallbecome valid,bindingand adopted initsentirety, and the other measure shall be null and void in itsentirety.Ifa majorityofthevotersvoteinfavor of both measures but thisInitiativereceives lessvotesthantheothermeasure,onlythoseprovisions of the other measure that are in direct and irreconcilable conflictwith the provisions ofthis Initiativeshallcontrol,and allotherprovisionsof thisInitiativeshallbecome valid,binding and adopted.The votersexpresslydeclarethisto be theirintent,regardlessof any contrarylanguage inany otherballotmeasure.
Interpretation,Severability,and Legal Defense.
This Initiativemust be interpretedso as tobe consistentwith all federal and State laws,rules,and regulations.Ifany section,sub-section,sentence,clause,phrase,part,or portion of thisInitiativeisheld to be invalid or unconstitutional by a finaljudgmentofa courtofcompetent jurisdiction,suchdecisiondoesnotaffect the validityof the remainingportionsof thisInitiative.
The votersdeclarethat thisInitiative,and each section,sub-section,sentence,clause,phrase,part, orportionthereof,would havebeen adoptedorpassedirrespectiveofthefactthatany one or more sections,sub-sections,sentences,clauses,phrases,parts,or portionsarefoundtobe invalid.Ifany provisionofthisInitiativeisheldinvalidasappliedtoany personorcircumstance,such invalidity does not affectany applicationof thisInitiativethatcan be given effectwithout the invalid application.
Section 6.
A.
Ifany portionof thisInitiativeisheld by a courtof competentjurisdictionto be invalid,we thePeopleoftheCityofNewport Beach indicateourstrong desirethat:(i)theNewport Beach CityCounciluse itsbesteffortsto sustainand re-enactthatportion,and (ii)the Newport Beach CityCouncilimplementthisInitiativeby takingallstepspossibletocureany inadequacies or deficienciesidentifiedby thecourtina manner consistentwiththeexpressand impliedintent of thisInitiative,includingadoptingor reenactingany such portionina manner consistentwith this Initiative.
B.
This Initiativemust be broadlyconstruedin orderto achievethe purposes stated above. It isthe intentof the votersthatthe provisionsof thisInitiativebe interpretedor implementedby theCityand othersina manner thatfacilitatesthe purpose setforthin this Initiative.
C,
The PeopleoftheCity ofNewportBeachdesirethatthis amendment to the General Plan,ifapprovedby thevotersand thereafterchallengedin court,be defendedby the City.The People,by approvingthisGeneralPlanamendment,herebydeclarethatthe proponent(s)of this D.
6 17-21
General Plan amendment have a directand personalstakeindefendingitfrom constitutionalor statutorychallengesto itsvalidity orimplementation.In theeventtheCity failsto defendthis General Plan amendment, or the City failsto appeal an adverse judgment against its constitutionality,statutorypermissibilityor implementation,in whole or inpart,inany courtof law,theproponentsshallbe entitledtoasserttheirdirectpersonalstakeby defendingitsvalidity and implementationin any courtof law and shallbe empowered by the People through this measure toactas agents ofthe People.
Amendment or Repeal.Section 7.
GeneralPlanPolicyLU 4.4 asamended by thisInitiativecan be amended or repealed onlyby a majorityof thevotersof theCityvotinginan electionheld in accordancewith applicableState and Citylaw. Fortheavoidanceof doubt,thisSectiononly limits thepower to amend General PlanPolicyLU 4.4and doesnotlimitthepower oftheCitytoamend or repealotherportionsof theCity ofNewport Beach GeneralPlan ina manner that is consistent with this Initiative.
Section 8. Judicial Enforcement.
Any aggrieved personshallhave the righttobringan actiontoenjoinany violationofthisInitiative or to enforcethedutiesimposed on the Cityby thisInitiative.The proponentsof thisInitiative may defendtheprovisionsofthisInitiativeinany litigationbroughttochallengetheInitiative. 7 17-22