Grand Terrace council approves rezoning of about 97 acres to meet state housing rules despite strong public opposition

The Grand Terrace City Council on June 23 approved an ordinance rezoning about 97.1 acres to a new R3-40 high-density residential designation (20–40 units per acre) to bring the city into compliance with the state housing element, a consultant told the council. The motion passed after debate, with the clerk announcing, "Motion passes. Council member Brown has voted no, and Mayor Pro Tem Savino abstained." The mayor (speaker 1) moved the measure; Councilmember Allen (speaker 5) seconded.

Hannah Kripeman, project manager for Michael Baker International (speaker 4), told the council the rezoning is the City’s response to a state housing-element deficiency and noted the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) had issued a conditional compliance letter. Kripeman said HCD and the Attorney General’s office had indicated legal consequences if the rezoning was not adopted, and that completing the rezoning would allow the city to notify HCD and receive a letter of substantial compliance. "We did let them know that, that this meeting was occurring… should the rezoning be adopted tonight, the city would be able to be found in compliance and that lawsuit, would no longer be in place," Kripeman said.

Consultants and staff explained the 97-acre rezoning exceeds the statutory minimum (about 24 acres, per speakers who referenced the RHNA baseline) for multiple reasons: to carry over sites from prior cycles that were not converted, to prepare for the next (7th) RHNA cycle, and because the rezoning work was grant-funded through regional partners (SCAG and SBCTA) so the city could accomplish broader rezoning at no direct city cost. Kripeman said, "By covering the potential RHNA for your 7th cycle as well now, while that funding is being covered by a grant… it does save the city some money in the long term."

Public comments were extensive and overwhelmingly opposed to the scale of rezoning. Angela Rothschild (speaker 18) said the city could meet the current baseline using only 24 acres and called the 97-acre map "overproduction" that would burden infrastructure along Grand Terrace Court and near the school and senior center. Other residents — including Sandy Campbell (speaker 17), Hugo Cortez (speaker 19), Victor Valencia (speaker 20), Juan Delgado (speaker 21), and Mario Gomez (speaker 22) — raised specific concerns about traffic, emergency access, sewage and storm-drain capacity, noise, and the loss of neighborhood character.

Supporters of adopting the rezoning argued the city faces potential fines and litigation if it remains noncompliant. The presentation cited HCD's notice of violation and a possible minimum administrative fine range cited in the presentation: "a minimum fine of $10,000 per month up to $100,000 per month" until compliance is achieved, with courts able to multiply penalties. Council members said rezoning reduces the risk of the state or developers imposing projects under "builder's remedy" rules that could allow by-right affordable projects with higher density and fewer local controls. "If this is not approved right now, there is the potential for builder's remedy," staff said.

After the vote, the council recessed for five minutes and planned to proceed with other business at the next meeting. Staff said the city would notify HCD of adoption and send the revised zoning map for review so the city can seek a letter of substantial compliance for its 2021–2029 housing element.