Will Newport Beach Voters Take Over City's Housing Plan?

[RandySF]

Newport Beach residents could soon take their city’s housing plan into their own hands, potentially restricting most of the new housing constructed in the city for low income residents.

On Tuesday night, city council members are expected to consider adopting a ballot initiative signed by over 6,000 voters that would throw out the official housing plan or put it up for a public vote – an option they shot down last year when they approved an updated general plan.

The initiative’s authors argue that when city council members approved the new general plan in September 2024, they violated the Greenlight Initiative, a voter approved law from 2000 that forces city leaders to ask for a vote of the people when they significantly change the city’s general plan.

“Voter approval is required for any major amendment to the Newport Beach General Plan,” reads the city charter, noting that a major amendment can include over 100 new housing units or 100 peak hour trips in traffic.


https://voiceofoc.org/2025/11/will-newport-beach-voters-take-over-citys-housing-plan/

[quaint]

1. But...California passed a law to prevent cities from restricting low-income housing.

AI Overview
California has passed laws like Senate Bill 330 (SB 330) to prevent cities from restricting low-income housing by limiting local control over zoning and development processes. Other recent laws and initiatives, such as those concerning the Builder's Remedy and increased state enforcement, also aim to accelerate the approval of housing projects, including those that provide low-income units, even if they are not in line with local zoning ordinances.