What do you think of the Draft Housing Element Update targets?
Do you have ideas for how Irvine can meet the housing needs of everyone in the City? The Housing Element Update is underway, and residents are being asked to participate in shaping plans and goals for the next eight years.
“The State of California has charged Irvine with building 23,000 housing units over the next eight years,” explains Planning Commissioner Mary Ann Gaido. “City Staff has prepared initial targets that they believe will continue to reflect the good planning expressed in the Master Plan. Now we want to hear from the public: What do you think about these targets?”
For background, all California cities and counties are required to adequately plan for and meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. Although the City of Irvine will not build the housing itself, it does identify where the housing should be built, its character, and its affordability in a planning document called the “Housing Element”.
The City Staff’s preliminary recommendations — developed with input from the public, Irvine Commissioners, Councilmembers, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders — are detailed below. Much of the new development is slated for the outer perimeter of the City and the Irvine Business Complex.
Here are the draft targets per planning area. The Category refers to income category, with Category 1 referring to “low/very low income” and Category 5 referring to “above moderate income”. For reference, planning area boundaries are outlined in the image below. These documents originally appear at the very end of the staff report supplied to the Planning Commission for their July 1 meeting, available here.
At the Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday, July 1, Staff will describe the Draft Housing Element Update components and seek recommendations from the Planning Commission. At that time, Commissioners will have the chance to respond and consider public input. No action will be taken until July 15 when City Staff present the Draft Housing Element Update, and Commissioners will once again consider public testimony, make amendments to the plan, and then vote for or against the plan.
“As we meet the growing housing needs of our City and the State, we must remain cognizant of our climate action goals,” says Councilmember Larry Agran. “The next eight years of development must include strong plans for energy-efficient transit, renewable energy, green spaces, and more.”
The public is encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions regarding the proposed development targets. To do so, email planningcommission@cityofirvine.org with subject line “Public Comment Item 5” or submit an eComment here.
While the meeting is open to in-person attendance and comment, attendees are advised that the July 1 Planning Commission Agenda is quite full and this matter may not be heard until late into the evening.
Once the Draft Housing Element Update has been approved by the Planning Commission, it will be presented at a City Council Meeting, likely sometime in August or September. At that point, the public will, once again, have the opportunity to comment.
More information
To learn more about the Housing Element Update, click here for the background report City Staff has supplied the Planning Commission.
When the draft Housing Element Plan is publicly available, look for a copy on Councilmember Agran’s website and social media.