Measures H and I: Unintended consequences

Much of Yorba Linda's current political ruckus can be traced back to decisions the City Council made in late 2011 and early 2012 regarding two measures placed on the June 2012 primary election ballot—decisions that resulted in a fateful number of unintended consequences.

And the present campaign-style rhetoric surrounding those two-year-old council choices obscures central facts bearing on the city's high-density and affordable housing debates.

This and future columns will present pertinent information on events that led to the current conflict and demonstrate how an effort to satisfy a state mandate created so much turmoil.

The state's mandate, of course, is that cities provide opportunities for the construction of affordable housing through amenable zoning rules, which usually means allowing higher densities on available vacant land.

In this city, a public vote on major zoning changes is required under Measure B, adopted in 2006. So, Measures H and I were readied for a vote, with council choosing a June 2012 election over a November ballot, though the latter would have met state requirements.

Measure H would rezone two Savi Ranch parcels totaling six acres to allow up to 180 units, and Measure I would rezone nine westside properties totaling some 40 acres to allow up to 770 units.

The nine westside properties were packaged into a single measure due to ballot costs and a fear among council members that residents facing separate votes on so many parcels—ranging from a third of an acre to nearly seven acres—would vote no on all of them.

And council discussion at the time indicated members thought the smaller number of June primary voters would be “more informed” than a larger number of November voters, so the measures stood a better chance of passing in June—thus gaining state certification for the city's housing plan—when aided by a city-funded $45,000 “educational” campaign.

Indeed, only 14,547 Yorba Lindans cast ballots in the 2012 June primary, while 35,164 voted in November, a historically consistent ratio. Measure H passed 8,477 to 5,474, and Measure I won 7,400 to 6,464, an endorsement coming from just 17 percent of registered voters.

Council members signing ballot arguments for Measure H were John Anderson, Tom Lindsey, Nancy Rikel and Jim Winder, while Anderson, Lindsey and Winder signed the arguments for Measure I. Nobody submitted statements against either measure, though Measure I is now under widespread attack.

The state-assigned housing numbers for Yorba Linda identify needs at all income levels, not just for low-income households as often stated. Thus, the 669-unit allotment for the 2014-21 planning period includes 80 for the extremely low-income category, 80 very low income, 113 low income, 126 moderate income and 270 above-moderate income.

The 2,039-unit number for the prior 2008-13 period was similarly apportioned to include all income levels: 230 extremely low, 230 very low, 371 low, 412 moderate and 796 above moderate.