75B - PH - ZONING ORDN AMENDMENT

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D. The State establishes target housing production goals for each city to meet through the Regional Housing Needs Assessment or RHNA. For the 2006-2014 planning period the City of Santa Ana's RHNA target is 3,393 units. This number is based on regional population growth estimates and each city is allotted a portion. In addition, the State establishes the number of units within a range of income categories which must be provided. For Santa Ana 1,932 of the 3,393 units should be constructed within the moderate, low, very low and extremely low income categories. The proposed ordinance is intended to assist the City in meeting a portion of the RHNA requirement. E. In 2009, the City adopted the General Plan Housing Element for the 2006-2014 update cycle. This updated Housing Element was also certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development making the City of Santa Ana compliant with State housing law. The Element establishes a policy framework upon which goals and implementation measures are based. The overarching policy statement, as adopted by the City Council, states: "Santa Ana residents have an equal right and opportunity to find suitable housing in quality residential neighborhoods that allow themselves, their families, and neighbors to live the fullest lives. We support an inclusive community that is multigenerational, culturally diverse, sustainable, and economically broad. The City will facilitate the production, rehabilitation, and improvement of rental and homeownership opportunities at different affordability levels." F. Following from the policy statement the Housing Element then establishes four key issue areas: Housing and Neighborhoods, Housing Supply and Diversity, Housing Assistance, and Special Needs. Each of these key issue areas then has goals and policies in order to implement the Housing Element. The creation of affordable housing is a recurring theme throughout each of these key issue areas and is supported through the policy statements and goals (HE-2.3, HE-2.6, HE-2.8, HE-3.1, HE-3.2, HE-3.3, HE-3.5, HE-3.7, HE-4.1, HE-4.2). G. Following the establishment of the goals and policies the City must also show specific implementation measures, as well as an estimated time deadline for their completion. The City must also produce an annual report detailing the progress on each of these implementation measures, which must be submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Implementation Measure No. 25 of the Housing Element lists a number of Affordable Housing Incentives, including the potential for the establishment of an inclusionary housing ordinance in order to Ordinance No. NS-XXX 75B-26 Page 2 of 17