Item 32 - Second Reading of Uncodified Ordinance Amendment No. 2024-07

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There are R/ECAPs and TCAC-designated areas of high segregation and poverty in the city, and they are mainly concentrated in and around the downtown area (Figure 28, Figure 29, and Figure 30). AB2011 Sites Inventory The R/ECAP concentration in Downtown Santa Ana is also the location of 53 percent of the units that are being provided by the sites. These areas however are prime for redevelopment and have current projects under construction that will provide market rate and affordable housing that were first identified in the City’s Certified Housing Element. As shown in the figures, a majority of the AB2011 alternative sites are located in the central and northern parts of the City where existing general plan land use designations and zoning districts permit multi-family development are located. These areas are also served by high quality transit, such as rapid transit bus lines, the OC Streetcar, and the Santa Ana Regional Transportation center (SARTC), which connect to the broader Metrolink system. The locations of the sites have the potential to improve existing conditions through increased investment and provision of new services that will not only benefit new residents but also improve the quality of life for all segments of the community, especially existing residents. The sites are also located in areas that have been designated for redevelopment through the City’s General Plan and Focus Areas. With a greater concentration downtown, the West Santa Ana Boulevard Focus Area would bring great investment to this area greatly impacted by R/ECAP concentration. The West Santa Ana Boulevard Focus Area parallels the OC Streetcar route, Orange County’s first modern streetcar that will run 4.15 miles and connect to the regional train network by way of the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, offering multi-modal mobility options and residential development opportunities along the streetcar stations. The OC Streetcar is slated to be completed and operational in 2025. With development increasing citywide, the City has implemented measures to ensure that displacement of residents in vulnerable areas is reduced. The City has a Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance limiting annual rent increases for most rental units to 3% or 80% of the consumer price index (CPI), whichever is lower and includes protections for tenants, requiring landlords to provide a valid reason ("just cause") for evictions. Santa Ana has also focused on preserving its existing affordable housing stock by working with nonprofits and developers to acquire and rehabilitate properties, which includes numerous properties in the Downtown area. Current development trends show that high residential density is feasible and realistic, and appropriate to accommodate housing for all income levels and can be accommodated on the alternative parcel sites. Table 7 Distribution of Units by R/ECAPs Affordable Mixed Income Total High POC Segregation 56% 51% 53% Low-Medium Segregation 25% 34% 31% Racially Integrated 19% 15% 16% Total 4,222 9,648 13,870 Exempt Sites The exempt sites designated by the City are primarily located along the west and east sides of 17th Street and Tustin Avenue to the east. These areas are generally outside of the City’s Focus ATTACHMENT 3