The Irvine City Council recently voted 4-1 to approve a new General Plan for the city, allowing for the construction of nearly 57,656 housing units over the next two decades. This ambitious project has sparked both support and opposition and may still face changes in light of conflicting decisions from the Airport Land Use Commission.

The plan aims to address California’s pressing housing shortage, as mandated by state requirements. Under these guidelines, Irvine must build at least 23,610 housing units, of which 10,000 must be designated as low-income and extremely low-income housing. Developers are expected to balance the financial viability of these units by constructing a substantial number of market-rate homes, ultimately leading to the overall construction of 57,656 units.

According to the city manager, the nearly 60,000 units will primarily be concentrated in three areas: the Irvine Business Center (IBC), where 15,000 units are planned; the Irvine Spectrum commercial area, set for 26,607 units; and the Great Park area, which aims to accommodate 5,252 units.

The city manager explained that the selection of these areas was driven by two considerations: they are well-served by public transport and already designated as high-density zones, and this plan allows for the preservation of traditional single-family neighborhoods in Irvine, ensuring privacy and space for current residents.

However, the approval of this housing plan contradicts a previous resolution from the Airport Land Use Commission, which had unanimously voted against the proposal due to its proximity to John Wayne Airport. The commission expressed concerns that introducing 15,000 housing units near the airport would severely impact traffic and environmental conditions in the area, with future residents facing high levels of noise pollution.

During the city council meeting, Councilmember Tammy Kim voiced her support for the plan, describing it as a guiding framework for future developments. She emphasized that if Irvine does not approve such measures, developers might exploit regulatory loopholes, leading to uncontrolled construction. Kim also highlighted the current unaffordable housing prices in Irvine, which disproportionately affect low-income families, including vital city workers like police officers.

On the other hand, Vice Mayor Larry Agran cast a dissenting vote. He suggested that there are still six months left before California’s deadline, and the city should use this time to explore better solutions for the housing crisis rather than rushing into a large-scale building proposal. Agran argued that constructing 57,000 units is impractical given the existing congestion on city roads, predicting that each new household would likely bring one or two vehicles, exacerbating traffic issues and air quality concerns.

Agran proposed alternative affordable housing solutions, such as negotiating with local developers to convert 5,000 units from a total of 35,000 market-rate rental units into affordable housing. He urged the council to adhere to Irvine’s well-regarded planning principles, emphasizing the need for thoughtful, long-term deliberation in urban planning decisions.