HomeMy WebLinkAbout5c_Additional Materials Received_CovarrubiasMarch 31, 2021
Chair Larry Tucker and Committee Members City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
RE: Item c. Discuss Initial Draft Housing Element (Attachment 3)
Dear Chair Tucker and Members of the Committee:
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
$27,000 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.
During the current 5th cycle planning period the City had a total Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA) of five, one at very low-income, one at low-income, one at moderate and two
at above moderate. To date, the City has approved two housing units at moderate and 1,744 at above moderate0F
1. At very-low income the City has approved 92 units and five at low-income. Although the City had exceeded 5th Cycle targets for each income category, there is an unbalanced production of moderate and above moderate units. The number of moderate and above moderate
units approved in the last seven years was 17 times more than those at low and very low income.
The need for an inclusionary requirement is exemplified by the City’s current disproportionate production numbers.
As the Committee reviews the proposed scenario to redistribute housing among the focus areas, we
recommend the adoption of an inclusionary requirement ensure these sites are truly feasible and
effectively provide affordable housing. The City will also have to consider No Net Loss when it identifies opportunity sites. It is crucial that affordable housing moves along with market-rate housing given the limited sites that are available. In light of the state’s No Net Loss requirements, if the sites identified for affordable housing are developed for market-rate housing, the City will have
to rezone new sites for the appropriate density.1F2
We ask that the City prioritize the housing needs of large families of very low and extremely low income, who encounter difficulties in finding decent, affordable housing during the development of its new Housing Element.
The Commission looks forward to partnering with the City of Newport Beach to create opportunities 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.
1 Newport Beach 2020 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, Table B 2 Government Code § 65863
www.kennedycommission.org 17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92614 949 250 0909
Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - March 31, 2021 Item No. V(c) - Additional Materials Received Discuss Initial Draft Housing Element
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Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
Working for systemic change resulting in the production of homes affordable to Orange County’s extremely low-income households
Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - March 31, 2021 Item No. V(c) - Additional Materials Received Discuss Initial Draft Housing Element