Buena Park Council Weighs Goals for Redevelopment

City planners laid out goals for the Redevelopment Agency for the next five years and gave City Council members some bad news.

They told the council that under a new state law, the state will not credit the city for previous affordable housing efforts. That means the city will have to provide 159 new affordable housing units within the next five years.

The Legislature passed a law last year requiring cities to prepare long-range plans that will eliminate blight, said May Hui, assistant director for development services. At the same time, cities must make sure that these new projects include affordable housing and boost jobs in the area.

Redevelopment money comes out of property taxes, with 20% of those funds set aside for affordable housing, Hui said.

The total budget for redevelopment this year is about $5 million.

The public will be able to comment on the plans next month. Residents can review the document at City Hall beginning Wednesday and speak at a public hearing on Nov. 7.