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City of Santa Ana <br />Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Mayor Pro Tern Jessie Lopez, and Councilmembers <br />Page 2 <br />use designations that allow for potential density ranging from 7 dwelling units per acre to <br />125 dwelling units per acre. The City has created opportunity for potential growth located <br />near existing and future transit in step with its Mobility Element. The City's growth <br />projections indicate the Five Focus Areas, Specific Plans, and Zoning Overlay Districts have <br />potential growth of 36,261 units.3 Based on the City's buildout methodology, the Specific <br />Plans and Zoning Overlay Districts would see growth like previous planning periods and <br />identified that the Adaptive Reuse Project Incentive Area could see growth during this <br />planning period.4 From HCD's review of these materials, it is clear the City intends to guide <br />residential growth within this planning period to specific areas while slowly increasing the <br />density over time in others. <br />Nevertheless, the City's laudable efforts to promote housing production do not exempt <br />the City from complying with state laws. HCD understands that new and changing state <br />housing laws require continuing adaptation and education, and HCD is available to <br />assist local jurisdictions with statutory interpretation and compliance. <br />Background <br />AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, is codified at <br />Government Code Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section <br />65912.100) and becomes effective July 1, 2023. This law creates a new opportunity for <br />by -right streamlined development of multi -family residential projects compliant with a set <br />of eligibility requirements for affordable and mixed -income projects. HCD has authority <br />to enforce AB 2011 pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (j)(13). <br />HCD understands that the City proposes to exempt 502 parcels (11,295 potential units)5 <br />under the affordable exemption under the AB 2011 affordable parcel exemption (Gov. <br />Code, § 65912.114, subd. (i)) and 304 parcels (17,664 potential units)6 under the mixed <br />income exemption (Gov. Code § 65912.124, subdivision (i)). <br />On May 16, 2023, the City Council postponed hearing the resolutions to exempt parcels <br />from AB 2011 and SB 6 to June 20, 2023. Since then, HCD has been working with the <br />City to provide technical assistance focused on statutory compliance with the exemption <br />requirements pursuant to AB 2011, Government Code sections 65912.114, subdivision <br />(i), and 65912.124, subdivision (i), and SB 6, Government Code section 65852.24, <br />subdivision (e), in advance of the June 20, 2023 City Council hearing. On May 23, 2023, <br />HCD met with the City for an initial discussion regarding the proposed resolutions. <br />During a call on June 2, 2023, HCD identified to the City various inconsistencies with <br />AB 2011 exemption requirements. Then, on June 6, 2023, HCD followed up with the <br />3 Ibid. at page LU-11, Table LU-2. <br />4 Appendix B-b Santa Ana Buildout Methodology, pages 6-7. <br />5 The City of Santa Ana City Council Agenda Package Item 32, page 32-34, dated June 20, 2023. <br />6 Ibid. at page 32-46. <br />