Neighborhoods Where We All Belong Zoning Updates and Housing Element Implementation

The proposed Project is a comprehensive effort to address housing needs, comply with State Housing Law, and address the City Council goal to “diversify, stabilize and increase housing to reflect community needs.” The City proposes to implement the Project in accordance with approved Measure K ballot measure, which facilitates the development of housing in commercial and industrial areas. Properties identified in Measure K include sites that are included in the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element Update as well as non-Housing Element sites. The City’s Housing Element identifies specific programs to encourage the development of housing for residents at various income levels and housing sizes. Implementation of these programs would update zoning regulations to increase development opportunities, simplify the process of building housing, and accommodate the City’s mandated fair share of Orange County’s housing needs (also known as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation [RHNA]) as well as a necessary buffer of additional development capacity. The proposed Project implements portions of the Housing Element as required by State Housing Law. Implementation of Housing Element programs include rezoning of Housing Element sites and Measure K sites, along with modifications to the City’s zoning regulations across existing urban plans, overlays, and specific plans with the intent to clarify, consolidate, and streamline regulations where possible. As such, the Project would amend the City’s existing Mixed-Use Overlay District (MUOD), as codified in Chapter V (Development Standards) of Title 13 (Planning, Zoning, and Development) of the CMMC. The amended MUOD would be applied to all Measure K sites, including Housing Element and non-Housing Element sites. Application and utilization of the amended MUOD assumes that residential only or mixed-use (residential and commercial) would be developed on Housing Element sites. The Project analyzes the capacity of the Housing Element sites, which as identified in the Housing Element is comprised of 17,042 units (the Regional Housing Needs Assessment of 11,760 units and Housing Element-required buffer capacity) as well as additional capacity for Measure K non-Housing Element sites. At full buildout in 2056, the proposed Project studies an increased capacity for the development of approximately 21,522 dwelling units and approximately 17,306,003 square feet of commercial uses. Given that the Planning Area contains existing non-residential land uses (i.e., commercial and industrial), including approximately 11,619,124 square feet of existing commercial uses and approximately 5,223,256 square feet of existing industrial uses, the net new non-residential buildout for all Measure K sites is anticipated to be approximately 10,630,361 square feet within the Planning Area by 2056.