Addressing the Need for Housing

BIA/OC Executive Officer Steve LaMotte was featured in this month's Pillar Magazine, the voice of the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce.  LaMotte is quoted: "Orange County needs to get serious about increasing our housing supply if the region is to remain attractive to a younger workforce - keeping in mind that supply and demand is only one slice of the pie."

 

His compelling article focuses on the nexus between housing and economic growth.  To read the article, please follow the link and check out page 10:  https://issuu.com/fullertonchamber/docs/pillar_2018_q1

 

For more information on this topic, please reach out to Steve LaMotte at slamotte@biaoc.com

Anaheim Exploring Affordable Housing

On January 5th, the City of Anaheim opened the new year with a round table discussion on Affordable Housing Policy.  As previously reported, the City had assembled a task force examining Homelessness Policy, but this new assemblage had the sole focus of housing solutions.  BIA/OC was present, along with many of our members, to offer tangible solutions and share information on the perils of Inclusionary Zoning.  Such policies depress land values, chill development and ultimately reduce housing stock at great expense to the many living just above the poverty line.  BIA/OC will continue to advocate for smart policies that increase housing stock and embrace the fundamentals of supply and demand as the most significant and powerful way in which to control housing price.  Supporting this position are recent reports from the City of Seattle, where increases in apartment production have seen rents decrease.

 

For more information, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com. 

Costa Mesa Small Lot Ordinance  
As previously reported, Costa Mesa is considering alterations to their existing Small Lot Ordinance, which was advocated for by BIA/OC some years back.  The current proposal is to increase lot open space requirements from 30% to 40% to align with Common Interest Development standards.  While this can complicate designs, it shows significant progress from early calls for a moratorium and outright repeal of the Ordinance.  BIA/OC remains engaged on the subject which will be revisited at the February 6th Council hearing. 

 

For more information please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com.

Fountain Valley Crossing Specific Plan   

First reported in May of 2017, the Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan has been on BIA/OC's radar for quite some time.  Originally scheduled for a vote this past June, CEQA complications and Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) opposition pushed consideration out over the last seven months.  In that time, BIA/OC hosted the "Meet Me Downtown" Seminar through the Urban Infill Committee highlighting the innovation and importance of this project to the City of Fountain Valley. 

 

Through this tireless effort, BIA/OC is happy to report that the Crossing Specific Plan received unanimous support at both the Planning Commission and City Council.  BIA/OC Director of Government Affairs outlined the importance of the project to the region and was thrilled to see the plan pass. 

 

For more information on this matter, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com.

 

Fullerton Parking Standards    

Despite rapidly escalating housing prices, it seems many cities across North Orange County are requiring developers to over-park new development.  With evidence that this trend is growing, BIA/OC was exciting to see the City of Fullerton take proactive steps toward addressing parking in cost effective ways.  Reports have shown that older apartment developments are the leading culprit behind many parking woes and the City of Fullerton will now allow for tandem parking and parking lifts to be utilized in the city to increase parking without sizable land loss.  A thank you to the Fullerton City Council for passing good policy.    

 

For more information on this, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com.  

Huntington Beach Approvals    

Infill development opportunity continues to be demonstrated in the City of Huntington Beach with two recent project approvals that BIA/OC supported.   One approval came to a lot on Main Street, Surf City USA, while the other approval was for two lots featuring a density bonus and located within miles of the ocean.  This exciting project was brought forth by MLC Holdings and the January Urban Infill Committee was fortunate enough to hear from Lester Tucker of MLC on the finer points of this project.  In all, Huntington Beach has secured some important housing additions in recent weeks.      

 

For more information on this, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com. 

 

Tustin Inclusionary Zoning and Member Project

BIA/OC has recently discovered that the City of Tustin is considering an Inclusionary Zoning Policy to be first heard at Planning Commission on February 13th.  As with the Anaheim effort, BIA/OC remains deeply engaged and concerned that policies discouraging housing production are under consideration here in Orange County.  Staff at BIA/OC will continue to monitor and update as more information becomes available.        

 

Additionally, earlier this month BIA/OC Executive Officer, Steve LaMotte spoke to the Tustin City Council on the benefits of more housing in Orange County. Advocating for a member project, the approved proposal will offer an array of housing styles close to transit and jobs. OC needs all types of housing if we want our economic progress to continue and hope to keep the millennial generation from leaving to other counties and states.

 

If you live or work in Tustin, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com.

 

  January Government Affairs Committee

BIA/OC kicked off 2018 with a great presentation from the Shopoff team regarding their proposal for the Koll Center.  This project would add 260 luxury residential condominiums, 3,000 SF of neighborhood serving retail, a 490-stall parking garage and a 1-acre park to the Koll Center near the intersection of Von Karman and Birch in Newport Beach.  Scheduled for a Planning Commission Study Session, recusals from commissioners have postponed the hearing until certain conflicts can be clarified or resolved.  As housing is a hot topic in the City of Newport Beach, BIA/OC continues to advocate for the new housing opportunities this project would provide and looks forward to this proceeding post-haste.   

 

For more information on this, please contact Adam Wood at awood@biaoc.com