Irvine Project Has What O.C. Is Lacking: Balance

Re “Irvine Co. Homes In on El Toro,” Dec. 14.

In your article, a subhead says, “Huge Project Would Help Ease Shortage.” Well, maybe. As described in The Times, the project will include housing, retail, research and industrial uses. Based on typical employee generation rates for similar development, the nonresidential portion of the project would be expected to generate 15,000 to 21,000 jobs, depending on the ultimate type and balance of research and industrial uses.

The project would thus generate a demand for 10,000 to 14,000 dwelling units to house employees of the retail, research, and industrial portion of the development, assuming a commonly used ratio of 1.5 jobs per dwelling unit. So the project may have a little more housing than is needed to serve other new development in the project, or it may have a little less. Most likely, housing demand from project employees will about break even with housing provided in the development, rather than meeting pent-up demand.

However, at the same time, this is nothing to complain about. Just achieving a balance between jobs and housing is way better than is typical. The Orange County Grand Jury, in its report “Affordable Housing, Light One Candle,” noted that Orange County’s ratio of job formation to new housing is 4.67 new jobs for each new housing unit. The grand jury also noted the problems resulting from this imbalance, including skyrocketing rents, overcrowding, and increased congestion and pollution from commuter traffic. As roads are increasingly congested, demand is generated for new corridors, including calls for an environmentally devastating highway through the Cleveland National Forest.

If we are to maintain our quality of life and preserve sensitive areas threatened by highway construction and urban sprawl, we must attempt to require adequate housing to meet demand created by new jobs in all major developments. Achieving a better balance of jobs and housing countywide will not only improve the life of former commuters, it will benefit us all.

Sandra L. Genis

Costa Mesa