Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pb
Item # 10
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 3, 2026
TOPIC: 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
AGENDA TITLE
City of Santa Ana 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
1. Receive and file the City of Santa Ana 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
2. Direct staff to submit the City of Santa Ana 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
Government Code Section 65400 requires local planning agencies to submit an annual progress report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation to the local legislative body. The progress report is submitted to State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Office of Planning and Research (OPR) annually.
The General Plan is a state-mandated document, which plans the framework for the City of Santa Ana’s physical, social, and economic development. The current General Plan Annual Progress Report for the calendar year 2025 documents and discusses the progress towards the overall implementation of the various adopted elements of the General Plan during the calendar year. The report includes highlights of major accomplishments and a table detailing the work completed by various City agencies toward completing the implementation actions across all General Plan elements in 2025 (Exhibit 1).
General Plan
The City made significant strides toward realizing the goals of the General Plan. In addition to housing production, which is discussed in the following section,
2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
March 3, 2026
5 5
9 0
accomplishments fall under the categories of growth and development, environmental justice, economic prosperity, parks and public spaces, and sustainable infrastructure. Growth & Development
oThe City Council unanimously approved "The Village Santa Ana," a specific plan that at build-out will featuring up to 1,583 residential units and generate $16.4 million in direct community benefits.
oKey legislative actions included the adoption of an A-Frame Ordinance to create new advertising opportunities for the local business community and a Group Home Ordinance to support local businesses and improve living conditions for vulnerable residents.
oThe City Council approved an historic update to the Transit Zoning Code, which enhances new, neighborhood-compatible development in the Downtown, Logan, and Lacy neighborhoods. The adoption of this ordinance marks a reversal of past planning practices that promoted industrial land uses and the proactive dismantling of environmental challenges borne by residents of these neighborhoods.
oThe City also launched a study to create a legal framework for phasing out high-impact, “Noxious Use” industrial operations in the Transit Zoning Code area.
Economic Prosperity
oThe City fostered local economic development through initiatives like the "Launch Your Business" workshop series and the Santa Ana–Sahuayo Sister Cities Business Expo. The sold-out Santa Ana GROW conference showcased major strategic projects, including "The Row at Red Hill" and the "Rove" electric vehicle charging hub.
Parks and Public Spaces:
oInfrastructure improvements included the opening of the "River’s Edge" exhibit at the Santa Ana Zoo and the community-driven construction of a new playground at Sandpointe Park by nearly 200 volunteers. Multiple ADA accessibility projects were also completed, such as the renovation of restrooms at El Salvador Park and the PAAL Center.
Sustainable Infrastructure:
oMajor projects focused on resilience, including the installation of 1,350 feet of new storm drain for the Rousselle Street Flood Protection Project using $4.675 million in grant funding. The City also completed the rehabilitation of Wells 29 and 32, with Well 32 now producing 2,500 GPM to secure a reliable, drought-resilient water supply.
In addition to implementing actions of the General Plan, staff review development applications for consistency with General Plan goals and policies and recommend approval of those that are consistent with the General Plan. In some cases, the General Plan Land Use Map may be amended to further General Plan goals and policies. Since the City Council adopted the General Plan in 2022, the City has processed one application 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
March 3, 2026
5 5
9 0
to amend the Land Use Map. The City Council adopted the General Plan Amendment to enable expansion of Gerardo Mouet Park, which contributes to the City’s goals related to increasing open space, particularly in underserved areas.
Housing Element
As required by HCD, the Housing Element portion of the progress report includes detailed accounting of all housing projects submitted, reviewed, entitled, and constructed in the City of Santa Ana in 2025, in addition to the status of the implementation actions and programs to achieve the City’s housing vision in the state mandated form.
The Housing Element portion of the report also measures the City’s progress to meet state-mandated housing goals as set forth in our Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the 6th cycle planning period (2021-2029). Through a process referred to as “RHNA,” each jurisdiction is given a target for how many permits to issue in four housing income categories ranging from very–low income (affordable to those who earn 50% or less of the Area Median Income [AMI]), to above moderate income (more than 120% of AMI). Based on the income limits published by State HCD in May of 2025, the Area Median Income for Orange County is $129,000.
The Housing Element portion of the report includes a summary of Santa Ana’s progress in meeting its share of the RHNA allocation for the 6 th cycle. There were a total of 316 building permits issued for new housing units in 2025, of which 81 housing units are affordable to very low-income and 101 to low-income households, respectively. With the issuance of these permits, the City has issued 4,757 building permits during the 6th cycle planning period, exceeding its total allocation of 3,137 by 1,620 (152%).
Progress Towards 2021-2029 RHNA Goal
(New Housing Units by Category and Year)
Income RHNA 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Total Units
Total Units
Remaining
% of RHNA
Completed
Very
Low 606 41 191 64 48 81 425 181 70%
Low 362 43 102 113 81 101 440 (78) 122%
Mod. 545 11 41 84 65 73 274 271 50%
Above
Mod. 1,624 639 567 2,281 70 61 3,618 (1,994) 223%
Total: 3,137 734 901 2,542 264 316 4,757 (1,620) 152%
Based on building permits issued. Parenthesis used to show number of units issued permits in excess of RHNA goal.
2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
March 3, 2026
5 5
9 0
In 2024 and 2025, issuance of building permits for new residential units decreased in Santa Ana and across California. Developer feedback provided to staff indicates that higher interest rates, increased costs of construction, labor market uncertainty, and other factors have introduced challenges, which have contributed to more modest housing production, especially for higher-density multi-family projects.
While development of large-scale residential development in the last two years was lower than in previous years, application and permit issuance activity for for-sale townhome products remains strong. There are currently 10 applications under review for townhomes totaling 795 units, with another project in plan check and another two projects under construction. Moreover, permit activity for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) remains equally strong across all areas of the City. Of the 316 building permits issued in 2025, 82% were for ADUs, which also contribute to the City’s affordable housing stock.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT
1. 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report and Attachments Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director, Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager