The city of Orange, California, had its sights on the finish regarding receiving acceptance of its state-mandated housing plan, but now it’s back to the drawing board after the state’s housing department rejected its latest submission.
Orange adopted its so-called “housing element” Feb. 14, which began a 90-day review by the state. Previously, California’s Department of Housing and Community Development indicated the city’s plan would likely be approved, after the city addressed state-requested revisions.
But state housing officials again requested more revisions to the plan in a letter dated April 14.
Updated every eight years, a housing element is a state-mandated affordable housing plan. For this cycle—which runs from 2021 to 2029—Orange is required to zone for 3,927 new homes, with nearly 60 percent of those set aside for low- or moderate-income residents….