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Item 2 - The Kennedy Commission 1 October 20, 2025 Chairperson Christopher Walker Members of the Planning Commission City of Anaheim City Hall 200 S Anaheim Blvd Anaheim, CA 92805 RE: Public Hearing Item #2 – Hidden Village Conditional Use Permit Honorable Members of the Planning Commission, The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad-based coalition of residents and community organizations advocating for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $30,000 annually in Orange County. Since 2001, we have successfully partnered with jurisdictions across the county to create housing and land-use policies that increase affordable housing opportunities for lower-income working families. We are writing today regarding the conditional use permit to convert an existing 21-unit multiple- family apartment complex at 207 South Western Avenue into for-sale condominiums. The proposal would eliminate 21 rental units from the city’s rental housing stock at a time where a lack of housing affordability pushes housing cost burdens on to families. These units are occupied by long- time West Anaheim residents who are now at risk of displacement from their community and are challenged with housing stability if forced to relocate. We write in opposition to this proposal as this decision will impact the rental stock that is naturally affordable to existing residents in the area, especially whereas this permit proposal would not produce any new affordable units; only decreasing the amount of naturally affordable rental units available. As highlighted in the public comments provided by existing tenants, residents’ biggest concerns are affordability, housing stability, and displacement. West Anaheim residents need to retain existing naturally affordable rental housing stock as housing costs and the lack of affordable options continue to create a housing cost burden. Despite the City of Anaheim’s progress in producing more housing, working families continue to be challenged with housing stability. Losing relatively affordable rental units in West Anaheim will increase need for local affordable housing in an already impacted community. Cities like Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Oakland have opted to restrict similar conversions to protect existing rental stock and current residents from displacement. Anaheim should evaluate its housing policies and programs to ensure residents are not displaced and protected during this challenging housing market. The city needs to evaluate the impact of the proposal and mitigate the loss of naturally affordable market rate housing units. Should this permit be approved, it is imperative that the City takes steps to ensure all tenant protections required by the State. As there is a replacement obligation, the Commission urges that the City require the property owner to hold an adequate or prolonged period of notice to ensure www.kennedycommission.org 17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 949 250 0909 2 tenants are not displaced, honor the right to refusal, and ensure relocation assistance is offered and fulfilled. As the property owner will diminish the number of local affordable rental units available, it is imperative that the City actively seek to protect these units or request that at least a portion of the 21 future condominiums be made affordable to low-income families in exchange for approval. We urge the city to protect its residents in this conversion to ownership and ensure some on-site affordability component for low-income families or pay an in-lieu fee to facilitate the city developing affordable housing elsewhere. We look forward to working with the City of Anaheim to support the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing that meets community needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ( Sincerely, Cesar Covarrubias Executive Director