YORBA LINDA, Calif.—As over two dozen people gathered within the chambers of the civic center, planning commissioners approved July 27 an environmental impact report for the city’s prospective locations for the state-mandated housing zones.
To meet California’s housing demand, the state mandates cities to rezone land for housing. Yorba Linda must make space for over 2,400 new housing units by 2029. The city does not need to construct the units, but only make space for them.
During the commission meeting, residents voiced concern on how additional units would interfere with an emergency evacuation during a fire, like the Blueridge ridge fire in 2020 that tore through nearly 14,000 acres, much of which was in Yorba Linda….