HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-1_Additional Materials Received_MosherNovember 4, 2020, HEUAC Agenda Comments
These comments on an item on the Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee
agenda are submitted by: Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach
92660 (949-548-6229)
Item III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
RHNA Appeal
Since the RHNA appeals process is not on the agenda and the last item related to it posted on
the City’s 2020 Housing Action Plan page is dated May 13, the Committee may be interested to
know its status.
According to the most recent Timeline posted on the SCAG RHNA site, the 52 appeals that
have been filed are now in a 45-day review period, ending December 10, during which local
jurisdictions and HCD may comment on them in preparation for the public hearings which will
occur in the following 30- (or, if extended, 60-)day period.
Two of SCAG’s six counties (Orange and Riverside) and 46 of its 191 cities have filed appeals.
In addition, four Orange County cities (Newport Beach being one)1 have requested not just a
decrease in their own numbers, but an increase in the RHNA assigned to the City of Santa
Ana.2
Aside from those four Santa Ana appeals, it seems likely all the other requests are for
decreases in RHNA, which could not be honored without increasing the RHNA’s assigned to
jurisdictions other than the one appealing.
As previously disclosed, Newport Beach is asking for its RHNA to be reduced by 2,408 units,
from 4,834 to 2,426, with the new allocations by income category becoming 705 above
moderate, 526 moderate, 466 low and 729 very low income.
City Website
The City website’s handling of the current Housing Element Update effort appears to remain in
essentially the same confusing state as noted in my non-agenda comments submitted at the
October 21 meeting. And as then, the HEUAC page does not reflect the committee’s revamped
mission nor does it list the various subcommittees that have been appointed, who is on them, or
what they are tasked with. I would think showing both of those would be useful.
My thoughts regarding the effectiveness of the separate “Newport, Together” site as an
outreach tool will be reported under agenda Item V.c.
1 Newport Beach’s decision to ask for an increase in Santa Ana ’s RNHA was made without public
knowledge, being approved by the City Council as one of five matters described only as “Anticipated
Litigation – Initiation of Litigation” considered in closed session on October 13, 2020.
2 Newport Beach and Garden Grove are asking for Santa Ana’s RHNA to be increased by 7,087. Irvine is
asking for Santa Ana’s RHNA to be increased by 10,000 units and Yorba Linda is asking for it to be
increased by 23,167 units.
Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - November 4, 2020
Item III 1- Additional Materials Received
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items