Program Characteristic Anaheim Carlsbad Palm Springs Santa Clarita Escondido Program Purpose(s)
Allow each specific plan to permit maximum #
of housing units
Conserve & preserve natural resources
Direct unused density from areas restricted by the
voter approved Growth Management Plan to
areas that have remaining capacity.
NOTE: The program is proposed to be discontinued
in the City's draft Housing Element, as part of larger
changes to their Growth Management Plan in
compliance with State law.
Direct unused density from ESA-SP Zone to areas
outside preservation/conservation areas.
Regain unused density from unincorporated Los
Angeles County to areas in the City where
infrastructure, especially public transportation, is readily available
Regain density from undeveloped and/or underutilized
properties to developing properties within the
Downtwon Specific Plan
Transactional or Bank ModelTransactional Model Bank Model Transactional Model Transactional Model Bank Model Sending Site Criteria
Within the Highlands at Anaheim Hills Specific
Plan, Sycamore Canyon Specific Plan, Summit at
Anaheim Hills Specific Plan.
A site where a residential project was approved
and constructed with fewer dwelling units than
would have been allowed by the Growth
Management Plan. As projects are approved,
excess dwelling units get added to a bank.
A property or planning area within the ESA-SP Zone Areas within the City or unincorporated Los Angeles County designated open space or agricultural.
· City-owned property
· Within the Downtwon Specific Plan
· Deed restriction to demonstrate that the development
rights are severed from the Sending Site.
Receiving Site CriteriaWithin the same specific plan as the sending site · Any quadrant established by Proposition E.
· Must comply with affordability levels identified in
Inclusionary Housing Ordiannce.
· Must enter into an affordable housing agreement
with the City
Any property within the City Areas within the City designated mixed-use, commercial, transit-oriented development (TOD), or
underutilized infill.
Within the Downtwon Specific Plan
Number of units transferred
Total number of transferred units cannot exceed
10% of the total number of units identified in the
Specific Plan
None, the number of excess dwelling units
allocated shall be at the sole discretion of the
decision maker.
· Properties in the same planning area may transfer on
a one-to-one basis
· Residential density may be transferred between
planning areas with bonus of 1.2 units recieved per
unit sent
· Residential density may be transferred from any
property in the SP Zone to any lot in the city with a
bonus of 1.2 units recieved per unit sent.
None, number of units transferred subject to review of
Conditional Use Permit
None, determined through entitlement and/or
environmental process
Approval Process Administrative Approval City Council City Council Approval of a Specific Plan and any required General Plan Amendments City Council Approval of Conditional Use PermitCity Council Approval of Planned Development Permit and Development Agreement
Density Transfer Program Comparison Chart