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Public Comment
From:Cynthia Guerra <cynthiag@kennedycommission.org>
Sent:Tuesday, November 10, 2020 5:37 PM
To:City Clerk; Public Comment
Cc:Cesar C; paul.mcdougall@hcd.ca.gov; Megan.Kirkeby@hcd.ca.gov
Subject:Letter on Items 19 on Anaheim City Council Agenda for 11.10.2020
Attachments:Ltr_Item 19_ 1122 N Anaheim Boulevard_11.10.2020.pdf
Hi,
Please find attached the comments regarding item 19 on today's Anaheim City Council meeting (11.10.2020):
Item #19: RECLASSIFICATION NO. 2019-00324 AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT NO. 2020-00003 – THE
INVITATION (SECOND READING)
Please confirm receipt of this email and let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you,
Cynthia Guerra
Cynthia Guerra
The Kennedy Commission
Community Organizer
1
November 10, 2020
www.kennedycommission.org
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
Mayor Harry Sidhu and City Council Members
Irvine, CA 92614
949 250 0909
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Boulevard
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 19- Reclassification No. 2019-00324 and Development Agreement No. 2020-00003
The Invitation (Second Reading)
Dear Mayor Harry Sidhu and City Council Members:
The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad based coalition of residents and
community organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families
earning less than $20,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has
been successful in partnering and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective
housing and land-use policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower
income working families.
As the City Council considers approving the development proposed at 1122 North
Anaheim Boulevard, the Kennedy Commission continues to urge the Council to not
approve the project until it is revised to include a minimum of 15% affordable units that
are available to low, very low and extremely low-income families. We stated our position in
the letter submitted for the first reading of the project on October 27, 2020. The developer
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is currently proposing only a voluntary contributions of $269,000, which is not enough to
meet the need of Anaheim residents. If the City is unwilling to require the inclusion of
affordable units in the proposed development, then it should require a more appropriate in
lieu fee to build affordable housing off site based on comparable costs specifically at the
low, very low and extremely low-income families.
The City9 Annual Housing Element Progress Report for the 2014-2021 planning period
illustrates the urgent need for affordable housing for Anaheim residents and the disproportionate
production of above moderate income units.For the 2014-2021 Housing Element planning
period, the City has a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) of 1,256 very low- and 907
low-income households. To-date, the City has built 124 or 10% of the 1,256 very low-income
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units and 121 or 13% of the 907 low-income units. However, for the above moderate-income
units, the City outperformed and exceeded the RHNA by constructing 7,182 or 287% of the
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2,501 above moderate-income RHNA. While 948 above moderate units were added in 2019,
only 53 units total were added at the very low and low income levels. Permitting all the proposed
269 residential units be placed at the above-moderate income level further exacerbates this
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With a remaining RHNA need of 1,950 lower income homes,
housing production imbalance.
it is important the City prioritize the development of new affordable homes and adopt a
mixed-income housing ordinance to encourage the development of affordable homes for
lower income households in the City.
1 City Council Agenda Staff Report, Item 19, p. 1, November 2020.
9 Annual Housing Element Progress Report, p. 2, April 2020.
2
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4 City Council Agenda Staff Report, Item 19, p. 1, October 2020.
Working for systemic change resulting in the production of homes affordable to Orange County-income households
Mayor Harry Sidhu and City Council Members
November 10, 2020
The City will be issued a new and likely larger RHNA allocation for the 2021-2029 Housing
Element planning period. SCAG anticipates the Citys total RHNA allocation for the very low
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and low income level for the upcoming cycle to be 3,757 and 2,391, respectively. Given the
-record of prioritizing above moderate housing on Housing Opportunity Sites
identified in the current Housing Element
requirements at the very-low and low, the City will have a very difficult time meeting its current
and upcoming RHNA allocation. For example, in 2019the City approved a 20-acre market-rate
residential development in the Residential Opportunity Overlay Zone, depleting the capacity of
A multi-prong
the City meet its remaining housing needs for lower income households.
affordable housing strategy should be developed in the City that includes implementing
effective housing policies and programs (i.e., mixed income ordinance, especially in the
Platinum Triangle and rent stabilization) and adopting an updated Affordable Housing
Strategic Plan (AHSP) that provides specific goals in the construction of affordable homes.
The Commission looks forward to partnering with the City to increase affordable home
opportunities for lower income households in the City, especially as the City works to address
the impact of COVID-19 on the housing security of residents. Please keep us informed of any
updates and meetings regarding strategies to increase affordable homes for lower income
households in the City. If you have any questions, please free to contact me at (949) 250-0909 or
cesarc@kennedycommission.org.
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
cc: Ms. Megan Kirkeby, Acting Deputy Director, Housing Policy Development, CA HCD
Mr. Paul McDougall, Housing Manager, CA HCD
5 SCAG 6 th Cycle Draft RHNA Allocation Based on Final RHNA Methodology & Final Connect SOCAL
http://www.scag.ca.gov/programs/Documents/RHNA/RHNA-Draft-Allocations-090320-Updated.pdf
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