![]() “California’s housing and homelessness crisis can only be resolved by communities proactively working to achieve housing security for residents of all income levels,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. ![]() Attorney General Bonta and the Newsom Administration continue to closely monitor the progress of the proposed ordinance, and stand ready to take legal action should it be adopted. Attorney General Bonta and HCD have both separately sent letters warning the city that the proposed ordinance violates the HAA and would harm the public by illegally blocking affordable housing projects for low- and middle-income residents. In today’s filings, the Attorney General and the Newsom Administration further ask the court to block enforcement of the ban while litigation is ongoing, arguing that in addition to exacerbating the state’s housing crisis, the policy harms homeowners who lawfully seek to build in-law units, or other additional units on their properties.Īt Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, Huntington Beach also introduced a proposed ordinance that, if adopted, would illegally exempt the city from the so-called Builder’s Remedy of the HAA. In banning these projects, the City chose to ignore laws passed by the California State Legislature specifically to address California’s housing affordability crisis and stripped private property owners of their right to build additional units on their own property. In the complaint, the state argues that the City’s ban on approval of certain affordable housing projects is illegal under the HAA, SB 9, the ADU law, and the Housing Crisis Act, and must be struck down. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When it comes to building affordable housing, we all have a part to play, and Huntington Beach is no exception.” Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Huntington Beach accountable for their knowing disregard for state housing law, and put a stop to their unlawful attempt to obstruct crucial projects that bring much needed additional housing to our communities. “Huntington Beach’s latest moves fly in the face of the law, stifle affordable housing projects, and infringe on the rights of private property owners in their own community. “As our state faces an existential housing crisis, we won’t stand idly by as local governments knowingly flout state law meant to protect our communities and bring much needed affordable housing to the people of California,” said Attorney General Bonta. The City also introduced, but has not yet adopted, an ordinance purporting to exempt the City from the Builder’s Remedy provision of the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA), which streamlines approval of affordable housing projects in cities that do not have a compliant Housing Element. On Tuesday evening, the Huntington Beach City Council declined to reverse its February 21 action banning the processing of applications for Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) projects and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) projects, in violation of multiple state housing laws. “The housing crisis facing families across the state demands that all cities and counties do their part, and those that flagrantly violate state housing laws will be held to account.” “Huntington Beach elected officials are the poster child for NIMBY-ism, and my Administration will take every measure necessary to hold communities accountable for their failure to build their fair share of housing,” said Governor Newsom. They are refusing to do both of these things. They are also required to follow state housing law, just like every other place in California. Huntington Beach is required to plan for 13,368 new housing units over the next eight years. Huntington Beach’s actions directly threaten statewide efforts to increase the availability of low- to middle-income housing opportunities in the midst of a statewide housing crisis. Today’s lawsuit comes after the Newsom Administration and Attorney General Bonta issued multiple official warnings over the past month under their separate enforcement authorities, urging the Huntington Beach City Council to reject these unlawful and willful attempts to flout state housing law. SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) today announced the filing of a lawsuit and a motion for preliminary injunction against the City of Huntington Beach for violating state housing laws. State is also filing motion to block enforcement of Huntington Beach’s illegal policies restricting SB 9 and ADU applications while litigation is ongoing The lawsuit filed yesterday challenges Huntington Beach’s illegal ban on applications for SB 9 and ADU projects
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