Item 09 - Second Reading of Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2021-03

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Ordinance No. NS-XXX Page 1 of 17 ORDINANCE NO. NS-________ ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2021-03 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA REPEALING AND REENACTING IN ITS ENTIRETY ARTICLE XVIII.I. OF CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ORDINANCE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. On November 28, 2011, the Santa Ana City Council adopted Ordinance No. NS-2825, known as the Housing Opportunity Ordinance and appearing as “Article XVIII.I. – Housing Opportunity Ordinance” (“Housing Opportunity Ordinance”) of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code. The Housing Opportunity Ordinance was adopted to implement the City’s Housing Element Goal of providing affordable housing within the City. B. On September 1, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. NS-2881, which amended the Housing Opportunity Ordinance in various respects, including applicability, options to satisfy inclusionary requirements, and calculation of the in -lieu housing fee. These amendments were intended to make the inclusionary housing requirements more predictable for housing developers and to incentivize the production of more affordable housing. C. In response to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development and construction of housing in the City, including the reduction of housing starts, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. NS-2994 on September 1, 2020. Ordinance No. NS- 2994 further amended the Housing Opportunity Ordinance to lower the in-lieu housing fee for all projects from $15 to $5 per square foot, adjust the trigger of the ordinance, and expand the eligible uses of in-lieu fees collected by the City. D. On March 2, 2021, at the direction of the City Council, an Ad Hoc Committee for Housing was formed. The Ad Hoc Committee reviewed the Housing Opportunity Ordinance and recommended certain changes. The Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations were presented and discussed at the City Council Meeting on July 6, 2021. E. On July 26, 2021, the City Council conducted a work-study session to further evaluate the Committee’s recommendations and to receive input from key stakeholders and members of the public. The City Council provided direction to staff to prepare amendments to the Housing Opportunity Ordinance concerning the applicability