Jennifer Lowe

This document outlines California's strategy to address housing shortages through the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process, with a specific focus on Orange County. It details the legal framework requiring cities to plan for diverse housing needs across all income levels, referencing recent legislation (SB 828 and AB 1771) that enforces compliance through financial penalties. The core objective is to ensure sufficient housing development, prompting Orange County cities to implement creative solutions to meet increased housing targets and foster thriving communities for all residents, aiming for housing opportunities across all income levels for long-term community health and growth.

This document, titled "Housing for All - Part 2," serves as an educational collaboration explaining the roles of various stakeholders in meeting the objectives of California's state housing law, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The central aim is to ensure all Californians have access to housing across various income levels. It outlines the responsibilities of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in determining housing needs, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and Orange County Council of Governments (OCOG) in distributing allocations, and local governments, developers, and residents in planning and implementing housing solutions.

This document describes the Housing Element, a critical component of a city's general plan in Orange County, California. It details the state-mandated process for cities to update their Housing Elements every eight years, ensuring they adequately meet housing needs across very low, low, moderate, and above-moderate income levels, guided by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The process involves community engagement and requires certification by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by October 2021, with non-compliance leading to loss of funding and legal repercussions. The Housing Element provides the necessary foundation through land use plans, zoning, and regulations to facilitate housing development for all residents.

The Housing Element Update for the City of Laguna Hills is a State-mandated component of the General Plan, serving as a roadmap to identify and plan for existing and projected housing needs across all community segments. It establishes goals, policies, and programs to improve future housing opportunities, including planning for 1,985 new housing units to meet the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. Key focus areas include neighborhood and housing preservation, housing availability, equal housing opportunity, and implementation and monitoring, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of special-needs populations and ensuring housing affordability.

The City Council and Planning Agency convened to discuss the third public review of the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element Update. The discussion included the City's housing characteristics and community needs, and to plan for the existing and projected housing needs of all segments of the community, including new housing units as identified in the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The City's assigned RHNA obligation for the 2021-2029 planning period is 1,985 new housing units. The council also reviewed edits to the third public review draft housing element, including summaries of public outreach activities, information about development fees, and an analysis of the sites inventory.