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City Council Approves Controversial 12 Unit Townhome Development

August 06, 2024 | San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, California


This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »

City Council Approves Controversial 12 Unit Townhome Development
In a recent city council meeting, officials discussed a proposal for a 12-unit townhome development at 25624 Camino del Avion, known as \"Camino 12.\" Development Services Director Joel Rojas presented the project, highlighting its compliance with state laws that expedite housing approvals, specifically referencing the Housing Crisis Act (SB 330) enacted in 2019.

Rojas explained that the project site, currently a single-family residence, spans 0.61 acres and is designated for high-density residential use. The proposed density of 19.7 dwelling units per acre significantly exceeds that of neighboring developments, which range from 4.2 to 10 units per acre. The project is positioned adjacent to Marco Foster Middle School and other residential areas.

Under SB 330, local agencies are restricted from imposing subjective standards that could hinder housing development. Instead, cities can only apply objective standards—measurable criteria such as height limits and setbacks. This law aims to address California's housing crisis by ensuring that projects can only be denied based on documented public health or safety impacts, rather than community compatibility concerns.

Rojas noted that the applicant is fully aware of these regulations and has submitted the application under SB 330 guidelines. The law also limits the review process to a maximum of five hearings, with the current meeting being the fifth for this project.

The council's discussions reflect ongoing efforts to navigate state mandates while addressing local housing needs, emphasizing the urgency of increasing residential development in the area.

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