Orange County cities respond to Grand Jury report on housing mandates

Cities in Orange County are responding to a report by the Orange County Grand Jury titled ‘California Housing Mandates: The Unintended Reshaping of Orange County Neighborhoods.’ The report criticizes state housing goals as unrealistic and unclear.

In Fullerton, Mayor Fred Jung signed a response acknowledging much of the Grand Jury’s findings. The city faces a requirement to provide 13,209 new housing units between 2021 and 2029, a target officials find difficult to meet given that the county has averaged approximately 5,000 new units per year over the last five years.

Fullerton is specifically contesting how student housing is categorized. Currently, housing for Cal State Fullerton students is classified as ‘group housing’ and does not count toward city housing goals. The city argues that student housing designed like standard apartments should be recognized as part of the solution. Additionally, officials are advocating for the use of land owned by universities and nonprofits to develop more affordable housing.