Housing Project OKd for Juniors

A housing project that for the first time would allow nonseniors to live in Laguna Woods, the nation’s only city of senior citizens, was approved Tuesday by Orange County supervisors.

The action allows 23 lots for single-family homes to be carved into an unincorporated 10.6-acre parcel surrounded by city property. The city expects next week to annex the parcel, near its southern boundary with Laguna Beach.

Until Monday afternoon, the city was fighting approval for the new housing, granted in October by the county Planning Commission.

The vast majority of Laguna Woods residents live within the gates of Leisure World, a retirement community that enforces an age requirement through deed restrictions and private corporate rules. There and in an apartment complex outside the gates, residents younger than 55 are prohibited unless they are married to someone who meets the age rule.

But the City Council voted Monday to drop its appeals and remove its age restrictions on the property. City officials acknowledged that state and federal law probably prohibited them from imposing age limits on new residents in the city, which incorporated in 1999.

The city’s decision, and the county’s insistence that no age limits apply, were applauded by housing rights advocates. They have questioned whether Laguna Woods would bypass state requirements for a mix of housing, including places for families.

“It’s a good thing they’ve realized that it’s not appropriate for local government to be restricting housing,” said Dave Levy of the Orange County Fair Housing Council.

Laguna Woods City Manager Leslie A. Keane said the housing lots would count toward the city’s goal of providing 113 units under a state law that encourages cities to keep up with demand for new homes. The city is drafting its general plan, a document that must be submitted to state officials every five years.

The city also is considering rezoning land currently held as open space for more homes, including units offered as inexpensive housing. The city has a limited amount of open land available for new building, and none within Leisure World.

There are no sanctions against cities that don’t meet state housing requirements. But a bill by state Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana) would fine cities that don’t comply.

Housing laws ban discrimination based on race, religion, sex and national origin, but age is not a protected class.