HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - Item #23
February 2, 2021
Mayor Sarmiento and Councilmembers
www.kennedycommission.org
City of Santa Ana
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
20 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92614
949 250 0909
P.O. Bo 1988, M31
Fax 949 263 0647
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Re: 22: SUPPORT Appeal Application No. 2020-04
Dear Mayor Sarmiento and Councilmembers:
The Kennedy Commission is a broad based coalition of residents and community organizations
that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $27,000
annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering
and working with jurisdictions in Orange County to create effective policies that have led to the
new construction of homes affordable to meet the needs of lower income working families.
The City of Santa Ana i
its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation for very low and low income
housing there continues to be a great need for housing that is affordable to its majority of
residents. The current pandemic has increased the economic and housing pressures on low-
income families in Santa Ana. As incomes are decreasing and jobs are being lost, many low
income families are struggling to remain housed. This is especially true for the majority of Santa
-income households that are suffering with the impacts of housing cost, economic
uncertainty and the lack of affordable housing options.
While the city has seen increased production of affordable housing it has not been enough to
a
1
that about 80 percent of Santa Ana renters are moderate, low and very low-income renters. In
addition, it also analyzes that 84 percent of residents hold low-income occupations that pay less
2
than $53,500 per year.
81% of households.
Yet the most significant increase of housing has been in the above moderate housing category.
the City has approved 2,409 above moderate income units. As a result the City has exceeded
1
City of Santa Ana Housing Element, 2014
2
City of Santa Ana Housing Element, 2014
Working for systemic change result-income households
3
Progress Report submitted to the CA Department of Housing and Community Development.
With above moderate average rents of $2000 - $4000 in these developments, none of
In
comparison to the incomes and demographics in Santa Ana, it is clear that the majority of these
new rental housing units are not available to address the housing needs of most working
families are rent burdened and live in overcrowded conditions.
Proposed Project
The Commission supports Appeal No. 2020-04 filed by the Southwest Regional Council of
Carpenters (SWRCC) to overturn the Planning Commission's decision based on the failure to
address affordable housing needs in Santa Ana. The City has worked to increase development
opportunities for all income segments by creating enhanced zoning in areas such as the Metro
East Mixed Use Overlay (Center Pointe is proposed here). Metro East Mixed Use Overlay is a
of housing, including a
Pointe proposed project made a commitment to provide on-site or off site affordable housing as
part of the proposed development in an effort to help Santa Ana address housing needs for ALL
its residents. Yet the most recent amended proposal did not include affordable housing units or
affordable housing alternatives when it received approval by the Planning Commission. The
long with the
proposed above moderate housing proposal must be fulfilled to assist the City in
meeting the housing needs of the majority Santa Ana residents that continue to be
burdened by the lack of affordable housing alternatives. This is even more important
now because despite the tremendous growth in new housing opportunities in the above
moderate housing category in the City, the majority of Santa Ana residents simply
cannot afford to buy or rent these units.
The Kennedy Commission is in strong opposition to this project as proposed and we
urge you to reject this project until affordable housing is included. The proposed project
needs to articulate how the developer and its partners will help address the critical
affordable housing needs of residents in the City of Santa Ana.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (949) 250- 0909 or
cesarc@kennedycommission.org.
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
3
City of Santa Ana Housing Element Annual Progress Report, April 2020
Working for systemic change result-income households