Fullerton leaders have reached a settlement with the state over the city’s planning for future housing needs.

When looking at how much housing is needed in the state to meet the growing population, Fullerton was allocated with creating the zoning and opportunity for at least 13,209 new units by the end of 2029. The city is not expected to be the builder of that housing, just to create the zoning environment and identify the areas of the city where developers could build – and at a variety of affordability levels, from the very-low to market rates.

Cities are required to update what’s called a housing element and submit that to state housing officials outlining how development of the mandated housing allocation could be achieved locally. Fullerton had been referred by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD, to the state Attorney General’s Office for being more than two years late in having a complaint housing element.

Fullerton officials said in a news release about the settlement reached that turnover in leadership at City Hall contributed to the delay in getting into compliance. The release said the city has been “working diligently” with state officials to reach an agreement and they have “reached a resolution that aligns with the shared goal of promoting fair housing practices and meeting the housing needs of the community.”

“This resolution marks an important step forward for Fullerton,” Mayor Nicholas Dunlap said in a statement. “It demonstrates our dedication to ensuring that our community provides housing options that are inclusive, fair, and meet the diverse needs of our residents.”

Attorney General Rob Bonta said local governments must do their part in equitably addressing California’s housing shortage.

“I applaud the Fullerton City Council, and its planning and legal team, for recognizing that public resources should be directed at collaborating, rather than further litigating, our way out of California’s housing crisis,” he said in a statement. “By working together, California can achieve our goal of ensuring that every city provides more affordable housing options to Californians in need.”

In the settlement, Fullerton leaders have agreed to implement a streamlined approval process of projects “ensuring that they align with state requirements while maintaining local considerations,” as well as comply with any timing requirements. The city will look for more affordable housing opportunities, officials said.

“The city is committed to meeting the requirements of the state housing element,” City Manager Eric Levitt said in a statement, “and at the same time is attempting to balance that requirement with the city’s commitment to maintaining a high quality of life for current and future residents.”

Residents will have the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process, Fullerton officials stressed, and the updated housing element is available now for public review and will be the topic of a community meeting on Jan. 25.

State officials in their release also said, “Fullerton acknowledges that, until the time it adopts a substantially compliant housing element, it will not deny housing projects on the basis of zoning or general plan inconsistencies” and if the city breaks its deal with the state it could “lose its authority to approve or deny certain types of developments.”

The city has committed to adopting a compliant housing element by Nov. 5 and to “modernize” its zoning code by the end of the year.

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