State housing regulators rejected Orange’s housing plan last week after developers and advocates raised concerns that all of the spots city leaders have zoned for housing are undevelopable during California’s housing unaffordability crisis.

In Orange, a different battle is playing out – one that seemingly sidesteps housing mandates by zoning on land that’s already developed with long-term leases.

“The city knows very well that these sites are occupied and really can’t be used,” he [attorney Allan Abshez] said in a Monday phone interview. “We think the city knew that and was assuming that no one was looking and produced a housing element that’s not compliant.”

The zoning choices were also questioned by the city council when they approved the plan on Feb. 14 earlier this year, but city staff said the sites have a potential to be developed into housing and council members unanimously passed the plan.

Melinda Coy, Proactive Housing Accountability Chief for the California Department of Housing and Community Development, wrote in a Friday letter that the city’s plan needs to be revised before state officials certify it. To read the letter, click here.