Yorba Linda City Council sends letter to state opposing housing legislation; Yorba Linda voter turnout tops North County cities

 

Yorba Linda's early history as a city after incorporation was finally achieved in 1967 revolved around keeping the community as a low-density residential enclave in the North County area.

The city's couple thousand voters were unhappy with the first City Council's actions related to density levels, and, by 1972, they had replaced all five of the originally elected members.

For several decades, most of the city's council elections featured candidates who strongly supported what was called a low-density, semi-rural lifestyle backed by zoning regulations.

In fact, according to an oral history interview conducted with the long-serving city manager at the time, early council arguments swirled about the best density levels for the city – 2.0 or 2.5 units per acre.

Of course, times change, and due to state legislation, cities are now forced to create zoning that would allow higher density development, with specified allotments for very low- and low- income households.

Now, Yorba Linda, along with other like-minded cities, is reduced to sending letters opposing similar legislation, including last year's Senate Bill 9, which provides methods to increase the state's housing supply to alleviate California's housing crisis.

The council's most recent letter, approved on a unanimous vote June 21, was sent to Buffy Wicks, who chairs the state Assembly's Housing and Community Development Committee that's now considering AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022.

The bill would require cities to ministerially approve certain affordable and mixed-use housing developments in zones where office, retail or parking are the principally permitted use. The approval would be without condition, even if inconsistent with a city's general plan or zoning.

A draft of an opposition letter states, “Eliminating opportunities for public review of housing developments goes against the principles of transparency and public engagement. Public hearings allow members of the community to inform their representatives of their support or concerns.”

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Yorba Linda's voter turnout in the June 7 primary election topped other North County cities at 41.8%, with 20,067 of 47,994 registered voters casting ballots. Most voted by mail, 17,156 or 35.7% of the city's registered votes. Vote center ballots were cast by 2,911 voters, or 6.1% of registered voters.

Democrat Gavin Newsom captured the largest number of votes in the city, with 6,268, and Republican Brian Dahle placed second with 4,690. However, the vote total for all of the Republican candidates in the race easily outdistanced the total for all of the Democrats.

Yorba Linda vote count for the city's representative in Congress: 9,204 for Young Kim, 5,563 for Asif Malmood, 4,248 for Greg Raths and 220 for Nick Taurus. Republican Kim and Democrat Malmood advance to the November general election ballot based on tallies from all cities.