Yes, there are lawsuits in action now by cities. Indeed, Yorba Linda is a member of  the Orange County Council of Government (OCCOG), which has sued the State over the RHNA number for the SCAG region. Additionally, the City of Huntington Beach is on the front line of challenging the State and the Attorney General. The viability of those lawsuits winning and reducing the incursion of state mandates remains unclear at best. As was noted during a discussion at the Working Group, many of the judges that are hearing these cases have been appointed by the very people who are pushing these mandates. That does not indicate a reasonable probability of success with the lawsuits. Preliminary results have certainly broken in favor of the State and housing advocates and not local governments.

The 6th Cycle introduced several new demographic and housing factors that weren’t present in previous cycles, including the consideration of “existing housing need” due to overcrowded housing conditions and cost-burdened households.

The RHNA number for the SoCal area is also much higher this cycle than previous cycles.

This plan was revised based on significantly more in-depth public feedback and took into consideration changes in the retail/business environment, along with the changing public perspective on housing density in the Savi Ranch area.

The most recent traffic analysis conducted in 2023 indicates that Savi Ranch can accommodate up to 850 additional housing units before reaching an unacceptable level of traffic. The proposed housing plan allows for approximately 800 new units; however, those new housing units (if constructed) would likely replace existing retail space and its associated traffic.The City of Yorba Linda Traffic Commission also reviewed the Traffic Analysis (TA) prepared for the Revised 2021-2029 Housing Element, which indicates that the proposed rezoning in the Housing Element will not cause traffic conditions to fall below acceptable service conditions. Now, the Planning Commission will look over the comments and recommendations to ensure that the proposed rezoning aligns with the General Plan and zoning code amendments within the Housing Element.

If it fails, the City would lose local control over land use, forfeit protection over some open space, allowing developers more control, become subject to Builder’s Remedy and lose access to State grant funds.

If it succeeds, the City would maintain local control over zoning, planning and building, create opportunities for local business shopping and dining experiences, protect open spaces and preserve single-family home character of neighborhoods.

The City of Yorba Linda, in partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Fire Authority, has a comprehensive safety and evacuation strategy to address emergencies, including wildfires. For detailed information on evacuation zones, routes, and safety measures, please visit https://www.yorbalindaca.gov/861/Know-Your-Way.

No, the City Council removed the Bryant Ranch Shopping Center site from the Housing Element in January 2024.

No. Through the power of an initiative afforded under state law, the Bryant Ranch Shopping Center property ownership has secured sufficient signatures through their own petition process to require a ballot measure vote to increase zoning on their property and add housing units. That process was initiated and completed by the property owner and is not a part of the City’s Housing Element.

Therefore, it is anticipated that two separate ballot measures will be on the November 2024 ballot: A City Housing Element-related measure addressing several properties spread throughout the City. A separate Bryant Ranch Shopping Center property owner measure only seeking to modify zoning on the Bryant Ranch Shopping Center property.

No. The Bryant Ranch Shopping Center property is not a part of the City’s Housing Element and is not being evaluated as part of the current study and public hearing process being conducted for the resident-driven revised Housing Element. The City Council removed the Bryant Ranch Shopping Center site from the Housing Element in January 2024.

No, the Revised Housing Element does not impact the 2022 Certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City’s CEQA consultant, T&B Planning, has prepared an Addendum to the previously certified EIR for the 2021-2029 Housing Element. This Addendum confirms that the Revised Housing Element does not create any new impacts beyond those already analyzed in the original EIR. The City determined that the proposed changes in the revised Housing Element does not trigger any conditions requiring a new or supplemental EIR. All potential impacts have been adequately addressed in the original EIR and are compliant with CEQA guidelines. More information can be found in the documents attached below:

First: if those initiatives are successful, they will not reduce or change the current RHNA housing allocation. They may affect future ones, but all cities are obligated under existing law to address their RHNA housing allocation.

Second: the viability of those initiatives appears low at this time. While there is enthusiasm among local elected leaders and some outspoken members of the public, the initiatives have not seen any financial backing that would help propel them to a ballot through signature gathering. There is no big interest group that appears ready to back the initiative efforts; without money, in a state like California, these are highly unlikely to advance.

Current drafts of proposed amendments do not contain provisions that would overturn or that would directly revise the RHNA for this cycle.