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i <br /> DF <br /> Apr 14, 2025 <br /> City of Santa Ana <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza <br /> Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Re: Proposed Housing Development Project at 2020 East First Street <br /> By email: eCommentrasanta-ana.ora <br /> CC: scarvalhopsanto-ana.org; cityclerk(asanta-ana.org; Planningcasanta-ana.orq; <br /> ANunezesanta-ana.org <br /> Dear Santa Ana City Council, <br /> The California Housing Defense Fund("Ca1HDF")submits this letter to remind the Council of <br /> its obligation to abide by all relevant state housing laws when evaluating the proposed <br /> 86-unit housing development project at 2020 East First Street,which includes five very <br /> low-income units.These laws include the Housing Accountability Act("HAA"),the Density <br /> Bonus Law("DBL"),and California Environmental Quality Act("CEQA')guidelines. <br /> The HAA provides the project legal protections.It requires approval of zoning and general <br /> plan compliant housing development projects unless findings can be made regarding <br /> specific,objective,written health and safety hazards.(Gov.Code, § 65589.5,subd.(j).)The <br /> HAA also bars cities from imposing conditions on the approval of such projects that would <br /> reduce the project's density unless,again, such written findings are made.(Ibid).) As a <br /> development with at least two-thirds of its area devoted to residential uses,the project falls <br /> within the HAAs ambit,and it complies with local zoning code and the City's general plan. <br /> The City must therefore approve the project unless it makes written findings regarding <br /> health and safety as mentioned above-which it cannot do since the preponderance of the <br /> evidence in the record does not support such findings.(Ibid.)Increased density,concessions, <br /> and waivers that a project is entitled to under the DBL(Gov. Code, § 65915)do not render the <br /> project noncompliant with the zoning code or general plan,for purposes of the HAA.(Gov. <br /> Code, § 65589.5,subd. (j)(3).) <br /> CalHDF also writes to emphasize that the DBL offers the proposed development certain <br /> protections.The City must respect these protections.In addition to granting the increase in <br /> residential units allowed by the DBL,the City must not deny the project the proposed waivers <br /> 360 Grand Ave#323, Oakland 94610 <br /> www.calhdf.org <br />