{"id":62178,"date":"2024-01-18T15:26:05","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T23:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=62178"},"modified":"2024-01-18T15:26:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T23:26:05","slug":"california-reaches-settlement-with-city-of-fullerton-over-violations-of-housing-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=62178","title":{"rendered":"California Reaches Settlement with City of Fullerton Over Violations of Housing Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Today, Governor Gavin Newsom, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the City of Fullerton\u00a0announced a settlement<\/a>\u00a0requiring the city to comply with state housing law. The city will adopt a plan to allow for the development of 13,209 housing units, of which 5,187 will be low- or very low-income.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cFullerton has committed to stop litigating and start building. California is facing a housing crisis, and the status quo is simply unacceptable. More communities must step up and do the right thing by building their fair share of housing or be held accountable.\u201d<\/em><\/div>\n
\nGovernor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Under the state\u2019s Housing Element Law, every city and county in California is required to periodically update its housing plan to meet its share of regional and statewide housing needs. Fullerton failed to adopt a housing plan on time, and then took no action after it received a letter from HCD finding that its draft did not substantially comply with the Housing Element Law. HCD contacted and met with the city on several occasions and ultimately, due to the lack of compliance, referred the matter to the California Attorney General\u2019s Office for enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia\u2019s Housing Element Law is an essential tool in our fight to equitably address our housing shortage, and local governments must follow the law and do their part,\u201d said\u00a0Attorney General Rob Bonta<\/strong>. \u201cI applaud the Fullerton City Council, and its planning and legal team, for recognizing that public resources should be directed at collaborating, rather than further litigating, our way out of California\u2019s housing crisis. By working together, California can achieve our goal of ensuring that every city provides more affordable housing options to Californians in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe City of Fullerton is more than two years late in adopting a compliant housing element, but this settlement lays out a clear path to compliance with milestones, as well as consequences if they fail to meet those commitments,\u201d said\u00a0HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez<\/strong>. \u201cHCD takes enforcement of our state housing laws seriously. We are committed to helping Fullerton and cities and counties across the state adopt and implement pro-housing policies, and we are focused on ensuring we each do our part to address the housing needs of Californians at all income levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a result of this settlement, the city will now adopt a compliant housing element no later than November 5, 2024, and modernize its zoning code by December 29, 2024, to accommodate thousands of affordable homes. Today\u2019s settlement also resolves\u00a0separate but related claims filed by Californians for Homeownership, Inc.<\/p>\n

UNDER THE SETTLEMENT:<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n