City planners revamp occupancy ordinance

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- To ensure that the concerns of residents and city

officials are included in future affordable housing projects, the

Planning Commission amended the city’s single-resident occupancy

ordinance Tuesday.

The statute governs projects such as developer James Lu’s 107-unit

apartment complex for low-income residents at 8102 Ellis Ave., near Beach

Boulevard, which passed muster before the City Council in November.

“This is a small thing, but I think [these changes] are important to

developers,” said Connie Mandic, commission chairwoman.

Commissioners set an occupancy limit of one person per unit, required

at least one parking space per apartment and limited the living space of

each unit to between 200 and 300 square feet, with at least 25% at the

smaller size.

Rosemary Medel, an associate planner with the city, said the ordinance

changes won’t apply to Lu’s project, but will hopefully streamline the

application process for future developers.

“[Lu’s] development took a long time, about six months, to go through

the process,” Medel said. “I think the changes made by commissioners will

help clarify the concerns of residents and city officials regarding these

projects.”

Throughout the planning process for Lu’s project, residents were

outspoken that such a large affordable housing development would affect

traffic and parking in the surrounding neighborhood, and could attract

miscreants and crime. Lu’s project also intended for units to be occupied

by two people.

During Tuesday’s ordinance modifications, Commissioner Randy Kokal

said he was worried the occupancy change would hurt married couples

looking for a home, although city officials assured him the ordinance

would be revisited if it became a problem.

Some commissioners were also hoping to increase the minimum size of

housing units.

“Two hundred and fifty square feet has to be the minimum for people to

live,” said Commissioner Fred Speaker, adding that it is about the size

of a small cruise ship room. “Here we say that people will live in

210-square-foot and smaller units.”

Medel said having the smaller units allows for more flexibility for

developers to design a project, and with the 25% limit, ensures that

developments have a range of living spaces.

The ordinance changes are now scheduled to appear before the City

Council during its April 2 meeting for final ratification.