Correspondence - Item 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 4, 2025 Mayor Valerie Amezcua Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, On behalf of Habitat for Humanity California, I respectfully urge you to oppose Agenda Item 21 on today’s docket , which proposes an amendment to the City’s Affordable Housing Fund Policies and Procedures to exclude from local funding any project that is not “wholly consistent” with the City’s General Plan and Zoning. This change would move Santa Ana in the wrong direction. It would restrict, rather than expand, opportunities to create affordable homes, contradicting state housing law, undermining the City’s adopted Housing Element goals, and creating compliance risks related to the City’s obligation to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH). At a time when every community in California is being called upon to accelerate housing production, this policy would make it harder, not easier, to meet that need. Conflict with State Law and Housing Policy State leaders have recognized that outdated zoning and planning constraints often prevent affordable housing from being built where it is most needed. That’s why laws such as SB 4 (2023), AB 2011 (2022), and the State Density Bonus Law were enacted - to provide pathways for affordable housing even when local zoning is not fully aligned. By conditioning local funding on complete zoning consistency, the proposed amendment would penalize developers for using these state-authorized tools. It would effectively disqualify many worthy projects from competing for City funds, putting Santa Ana out of step with statewide housing policy and slowing progress toward meeting both RHNA and Housing Element commitments. Conflict with Fair Housing Obligations The City also has a continuing duty under state and federal law to “affirmatively further fair housing,” taking proactive steps to overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive, opportunity-rich neighborhoods. Limiting funding to projects that already fit within existing zoning does the opposite - it entrenches existing land use barriers and discourages investment in diverse, mixed-income areas. The proposed amendment would work against both the spirit and the letter of the City’s AFFH responsibilities. Creates Unnecessary Red Tape Santa Ana’s existing review and funding processes already include multiple checks and safeguards to ensure accountability and proper timing of funding. Adding another certification step by the Executive