City of Orange 2006-2014 General Plan Housing Element Update
The Final Housing Element is now available online! The Planning Commission Public Hearing will be held March 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the City of Orange Council Chambers, 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA
The City released the Public Review Draft Housing Element and Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for a 30-day public review period, from January 6, 2010 to February 4, 2010. The City received nine (9) comment letters during the public review period, the majority from State agencies. The City has now prepared the Final Housing Element and the Final MND, including a Response to Public Comments. These documents are available online under "Project Notices and Related Environmental Documents". The Final Housing Element and the Final MND will be reviewed by the Orange Planning Commission on March 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Orange Council Chambers, 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA. The Planning Commission Meeting Agenda and Staff Report are available online: (1) under the "Planning Commission" link on the Navigation menu; or (2) click here on this link: "Planning Commission". For additional information, please contact Jennifer Le, Senior Planner with the Community Development Department, at (714) 744-7238 or at jle@cityoforange.org.
The Housing Element is one of the required "elements" or chapters of the City's General Plan, and is an important tool the City uses to plan for the existing and future housing needs of the community. The City's current Housing Element was adopted in 2001 and covers the 1998-2005 planning period. The 2006-2014 Housing Element articulates the City’s official policies related to housing and plans for the provision of housing accessible to all income categories. The Housing Element identifies the existing and projected housing needs of the Orange community in terms of affordability, availability, adequacy, and accessibility. It also identifies strategies and specific housing programs that address those identified needs. Ultimately, the Housing Element is required by State law to demonstrate that the City is providing opportunities for housing development that meet the City's Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation in terms of number of housing units and housing affordability.
The first Housing Stakeholders Workshop and Community Workshop were held on December 18, 2007, at the Orange Public Library and History Center in Orange. This workshop provided an opportunity for the public to learn about the Housing Element update process and to identify the housing issues that are important to the Orange community. The powerpoint presentationand the meeting notes summarizing the community's feedback are provided here. A second Stakeholders Workshop and Community Workshop were held on March 12, 2008. At this workshop, the City presented key findings of our housing context research, more specifically discussed the Housing Element's goals and policies, and received community feedback regarding opportunities and constraints to housing development. The powerpoint presentation and the meeting notes summarizing the community's feedback at the second workshop are provided here.
In May 2008, the City submitted a draft 2006-2014 Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review (as required by State law). In June 2009, the City received notification from HCD that the Draft Housing Element was found to be in conformance with State law. HCD's conformance letter is provided here.
Following the HCD conformance letter, an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was completed for the Housing Element. The IS/MND is a study of the environmental effects of the Housing Element which is required by the California Environmental Quality Act. The Public Notice, Public Review Draft Housing Element, and MND were made available for a 30-day public review period between January 6, 2010 and February 4, 2010; nine (9) comment letters were received, mostly from State agencies. A Final MND was prepared (including a Response to Comments and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program). In addition, revisions were made to the Public Review Draft Housing Element and a Final Housing Element was prepared. The Final MND, Final Housing Element, and Revisions to the Public Review Draft Housing Element are now available online under "Project Notices and Related Environmental Documents".
The Orange Planning Commission will review the Housing Element and MND and will make a recommendation to the Orange City Council at a public hearing scheduled for March 1, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Orange City Council Chambers, 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92866. Following the Planning Commission public hearing, a City Council public hearing will be scheduled to consider final adoption of the Housing Element.
For additional information or to be added to the project mailing list, please contact Jennifer Le, Senior Planner with the Community Development Department, at (714) 744-7238 or at jle@cityoforange.org.
A Notice of Preparation/Initial Study is available for the Santa Fe Depot Specific Plan Update EIR. Comments identifying specific environmental concerns may be submitted by 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2009.
The Santa Fe Depot Specific Plan was originally adopted in December 1993 with policies and standards for new development in the area immediately surrounding the Santa Fe Depot/Metrolink station and OCTA bus transfer station. The ultimate goal for the Specific Plan update is to transform the Depot area into a vibrant transit-oriented district while strengthening its connections to adjacent residential neighborhoods and Old Towne Historic District. Click here for a summary of public workshops and for more information about the project.
In May 2007, the City initiated work on the Depot-Plaza Pedestrian Connection Study (also called the Paseo Study). This study is a unique planning effort that evaluates feasibility and design options for enhancing pedestrian walkways or "paseos" that connect the Plaza area to the Santa Fe Depot/Metrolink station and OCTA Transit Center in Old Towne Orange. The study identifies opportunities and constraints in the study area, develops preliminary concepts and preliminary costs for improving the identified alignments. The study is funded by Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Go Local grant funds, with the objective of improving access to transit in Orange County communities. The study was intended to identify a scope of work so that the City could apply for "Step 2" Go Local grant funds for paseo design and future implementation. More...
Preservation Online Check out Preservation Online, where Old Towne meets new technology! The City of Orange now offers an interactive map application so you can access Old Towne information from your home. more
A special event is an organized activity of limited duration conducted on private property and open to the public. Special events may be a 5K/10K Walk, a grand opening with a band playing, a health fair, a carnival, etc. The permit regulates the time, manner, location and duration of the temporary event. more
CDD Receives Special Merit Award The Community Development Department (CDD) received a Special Merit Award in May 2008 from the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) for its Preservation Online website and Old Towne Property Owner Brochure at OTPA's May 10th Awards Program! The award is given to a program or project that makes a significant contribution to preservation in Old Towne.
