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Santa Ana Active Streets Coalition <br />info@saascoalition.org V� <br />www.saascoa1ition.org <br />SANTA ANA AQNE STREETS <br />In February of 2016, the City Council made a big decision to rezone over 18 acres of land from <br />light industrial to residential, allowing for the development of a 1,221 unit market -rate <br />development, the Heritage Village Project, and providing a significant windfall profit to the <br />developer. At that time the developer elected to receive the incentives and entitlements in full in <br />exchange for paying the reduced in -lieu fee. The Heritage Village Project developer committed <br />to a very important community benefit, the payment of nearly $10 million in inclusionary <br />housing in -lieu fees. <br />It is no secret that there is a great need for affordable housing in the City and the lack of an <br />adequate supply is a barrier to livability. The City has made efforts to meet the affordable <br />housing need with the Housing Opportunities Ordinance as a policy to help promote and ensure <br />the development of affordable housing for low and very low income residents. It is necessary <br />that the City continue to move forward in its efforts. Heritage's commitment of nearly $10 <br />million in in -lieu fees is needed now to leverage additional resources to address the affordable <br />housing needs in our city. We cannot afford to wait for phased payments. <br />The Housing Opportunities Ordinance is the primary tool that we have to help address the <br />affordable housing crisis that Santa Ana residents are facing. It is necessary that we <br />continue to provide diverse housing opportunities for our community. The Planning <br />Commission recognized this on Monday, November 14, 2016 when they voted against <br />recommending the approval of the amendment to the City Council. <br />We strongly urge the City Council not to approve the amendment to Development <br />Agreement No. 2015 -03, unless the Heritage Village developer provides an additional <br />community benefit to help increase affordable housing options and to improve the quality <br />of life today. The amendment should include a community benefits agreement and specific <br />time frames for the payment of in -lieu fees. <br />Sincerely, <br />Lynnete Guzman <br />Co- founder and Policy Advisor <br />Santa Ana Active Streets <br />