21
Susana Barrios
From:Julian Gutierrez <juliang@kennedycommission.org>
Sent:Tuesday, August 15, 2023 3:05 PM
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Item 21
Attachments:Anaheim Item 21 Letter.pdf
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Good Afternoon,
My name is Julian Sebastian Gutierrez, the Policy Analyst for the Kennedy Commission. I have a letter to be submitted as
a public comment for today's meeting on behalf of our Executive Director, Cesar Covarrubias.
Thank you,
Julian Sebastian Gutierrez
--
Julian Sebastian Gutierrez (He/Him)
Policy Analyst - Kennedy Commission
(
1
August 15,2023
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
Council Members
Housing Authority
City of Anaheim
200 S.Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim,CA 92805
Re:Item 21.ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ANAHEIM AND BALL ROAD (082-46-23,-24,-25,-31,
-34,AND -35)EXEMPT SURPLUS LAND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SURPLUS LAND
ACT AS AMENDED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 1486
Dear Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Councilmembers:
The Kennedy Commission (the Commission)is a broad coalition of residents and community
organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than
$30,000 annually in Orange County.Formed in 2001,the Commission has been successful in
partnering and working with jurisdictions in Orange County to create effective policies that have
led to the production of new homes affordable to low income working families.
We are submitting public comment to request the Anaheim Successor Agency and the City of
Anaheim declare the Southeast corner of Anaheim and Ball (Agency owned property)as surplus
land and dispose of the land in a manner that complies with the California Surplus Land Act by
prioritizing the surplus site to increase affordable housing in Anaheim for extremely low,very
low,and low income families.
The current exempt proposal would again prioritize public lands for market-rate development on
sites that are key to address the affordable housing needs in the city.The Successor Agency/City
is proposing to declare the site as exempt surplus property and seek a development that is
predominantly for sale housing (250 homes)in price ranges that are not affordable to lower
income families in Anaheim.
The current zoning and densities would allow for a total development of 225 units with 54
affordable units.Applying a density bonus would allow for greater density and an increase in
units that coulds be developed.To qualify for the exempt surplus property,a Mixed-Use
development must have a minimum of 300 units and at least 25%have to be affordable to lower
income categories (Extremely Low,Very Low,Low).Here the proposed concept project may not
qualify as exempt surplus.The minimum threshold number of units required for the exempt
surplus is not achievable with the base density.A density bonus may get the unit count to the
threshold,but would also require that the agency/city add additional affordable units beyond the
25%threshold of the Surplus Land Act.As required by the CA State Density Bonus,to get to
additional density (more units)will require that the development commit to a greater affordable
housing percentage based on the density bonus requested.
In adopting the Surplus Land Act,the California Legislature declared,“housing is of vital
statewide importance to the health,safety,and welfare of the residents of this state and ...
provision of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every Californian is a priority
of the highest order,”and thus “surplus government land,prior to disposition,should be made
available for that purpose.”(Cal.Gov.Code,§54220(a)).
The agency and city need to prioritize publicly owned land to create much needed
affordable housing at extremely low,very low,and low income categories,those that are not
being created by the market.These surplus sites need to include the majority or 100%of
the units developed as affordable to extremely low,very low and low income categories.As
highlighted in the City of Anaheim’s latest Housing Element Annual Progress Report that was
submitted to the California Housing and Community Development,the city has a deficit of
affordable housing production.The report points out that the city has approved and permitted
526 housing units during the current Housing Element period and only 179 (remaining RHNA is
3,767)have been in the affordability level of very low households and 90 (remaining RHNA is
2,397)for low income households.The majority of the housing units,206 have been approved at
above moderate-income levels.
With limited city/agency owned sites available,it is imperative that the City of Anaheim
prioritize affordable housing and exercise the California Surplus Land Act priorities on its
public property.The Commission is requesting that the city prioritize this site for the
development of a 100%rental development at the extremely low,very low,and low
categories.The City can be impactful and help address the critical need for creating
affordable housing by prioritizing and leveraging public lands.
Thank you for your consideration.We look forward to further conversations
regarding the use of agency owned to increase affordable housing opportunities for the lower
income families in Anaheim.
Very truly yours,
Cesar Covarrubia
Executive Director