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Welcome to the Yorba Linda
Housing Element Update!

The City of Yorba Linda is mandated by California State Law to prepare a state-certified Housing Element update.  Despite significant and sustained City efforts to challenge State-imposed requirements (click here for more information on the City’s challenge), the City adopted the 2021–2029 Housing Element and Appendices on February 9, 2022 which was conditionally certified by the State on April 8, 2022. The City conducted a strategic and transparent effort to identify and narrow down the sites that were ultimately selected for the Housing Element in compliance with State-required criteria. While the City of Yorba Linda is required to plan for the additional residential capacity, the City is not required to construct the dwelling units. Timing of construction will be determined by the housing market, with specific development proposals requiring a comprehensive environmental analysis of impacts to traffic, pedestrian circulation, fire hazards, wildlife, hydrology, and more, as well as a noticed public review process. For additional information, click here to view our educational flyer or click the “Learn More” button below.

Latest News and Next Steps

On August 2, 2022, Yorba Linda City Council adopted resolutions certifying the Final Program EIR for the 2021-2029 Housing Element Implementation Programs and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), as well as conducted the first reading of ordinances related to the Housing Element Implementation Programs.

In November 2022, the majority of voters did not support Measure Z, which would have rezoned 19 sites to accommodate housing opportunities in support of satisfying the City’s requirements imposed by the State. The City's conditionally certified Housing Element requires that to the extent a shortfall in sites receiving Measure B approval, the City will revise the sites inventory to address the City's RHNA and amend the Housing Element for HCD review. The City is also required to conduct a second Measure B election by November 2024. If there is still a shortfall of sites after the second Measure B election, then the City shall request an opinion from the State Attorney General's Office as to the City's options. For the latest information, please refer to this website for updates. 

The City of Yorba Linda, as a member of Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG), strongly supports OCCOG’s pending lawsuit against the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) challenging the Regional RHNA.  This lawsuit was dismissed by the trial court in 2021, with the court ruling that the RHNA is statutorily immune from judicial review (as was the court’s decision in a similar challenge to the RHNA in 2009 by the City of Irvine – see City of Irvine v. Southern California Assn. of Governments (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 506), but OCCOG has appealed this determination and is awaiting a trial date before the court of appeal.  Here is a link to OCCOG’s website for updates on this lawsuit (https://www.occog.com/news).

April 6, 2023 - City Council approves letter oppose Senate Bill (SB) 423 – Wiener

The City Council unanimously approved sending a letter to the office of Senator Scott Wiener expressing opposition to his latest housing measure, SB 423, which would greatly expand SB 35 (Chapter 366, Statutes of 2017) provisions and eliminate the January 1, 2026, sunset date.  The City Council and other local leaders are working to find solutions to the housing crisis. They’re taking on these difficult and complex tasks, all while navigating the state’s annual barrage of overreaching housing bills that have thus far demonstrated limited success.  The City of Yorba Linda supports local control and the rights for community input regarding traffic, parking, and other potential development impacts. Public engagement also often leads to better projects.  Instead of continuing to pursue top-down, one-size-fits-all legislation, lawmakers should partner with local officials. California will never produce the number of homes needed with an increasingly state driven, by-right housing approval process. Click here for full copy of City’s opposition letter and here to download a template residents may use as a starting point for sending your own concerns.

 

    Useful Information

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been prepared and are available here. Please check back frequently for additional information and updates!

  • To view the YLHE Information flyer, click here.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments regarding implementation of the Housing Element at housingelement2021@yorbalindaca.gov.

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