Savi Ranch plans could add dollars to Yorba Linda's sales tax revenue

Yorba Linda's fiscal managers have long believed that updating the Savi Ranch shopping area with more retail and better mobility could add significant dollars to city coffers, especially from sales tax revenue.

And now, a lengthy report from a city-hired consultant has provided the data to support that sentiment, with findings recently presented to the city's elected leadership.

Currently, Savi Ranch businesses contribute about 60 percent of Yorba Linda's sales tax income, but the dollar amount collected from non-residents who shop at the center could increase close to $800,000 yearly, under one of three suggested land-use alternatives.

The city's net revenue from Savi Ranch now stands at nearly $1.7 million per year in sales, property and transient occupancy taxes. The proposals could add $209,000, $424,000 or $791,000 to the total by adding 225,000, 432,000 or 1,067,000 building square feet at the 158-acre site.

Importantly, the report distinguishes between Savi Ranch's “net fiscal benefit” of almost $1.7 million and “total fiscal impact” of $3.15 million each year for the city. The former is sales tax paid by non-residents, while the latter includes dollars paid by city residents.

The consultant noted that “retail businesses do not generate sales tax revenue, they only collect it. It is households that actually pay retail sales tax.”

Each household generates about $118 per year in sales tax revenue for the city (one percent of each taxable dollar spent), while city expenditures for residents exceed revenues generated by residents by just 0.19 percent, so the city's “net revenue” from Savi Ranch sales taxes approaches the $1.7 million paid by non-residents.

The largest fiscal benefit comes from retail uses at $1.99 per building square foot, followed by commercial (hotels) at 85 cents, industrial at 49 cents and office at 43 cents. Single- and multi-family housing has a zero net impact, the report stated.

One of three alternatives presented, “district enhancement,” reinforces existing uses, while shifting the retail environment to increase experience-oriented shopping by adding 225,000 square feet and 123 housing units.

The second, “cluster expansion,” proposes specific land-use clusters, including a bio-technology and research/development hub, by adding 432,000 square feet and 390 housing units.

A third, “regional destination,” sees a major employment center by adding about 1.1 million square feet of office, hotel, retail and mixed-use (live/work) clusters, with 655 housing units.

The latter two alternatives, if implemented, would need the City Council to act on changes in zoning subareas, parking standards and building setbacks, which, if modified, could allow up to 1.4 million square feet of additional building space.

The study is financed by a $240,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation, with a $24,000 city match for expenses and staff time.