Huntington Beach residents to vote on ballot measure opponents say is designed to circumvent state housing mandates

Huntington Beach city council members voted Monday night to put a charter amendment on November’s ballot that opponents say would allow officials to cite environmental concerns in trying to fend off state housing mandates.

The language on the ballot measure states that “city planning and zoning is a local municipal affair beyond the reach of state control or interference, a local activity reserved for the city and its people, not the state.” If approved, the new law would require residents to vote on any "city-initiated" change to the city's zoning or general plan that could negatively affect the environment.

The ballot measure will not affect private property development.

The measure was proposed, at least in part, as a way to try and circumvent state housing mandates. California requires cities to plan for a set number of housing units, including affordable housing. A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled earlier this year that Huntington Beach has to comply with the state housing mandate.




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