Yorba Linda residents to vote on adding housing at Bryant Ranch Shopping center

Yorba Linda voters are being asked in the November election if the Bryant Ranch Shopping Center should be updated with new homes and commercial space.

Measure KK, brought forth by a petition that gathered enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot, would allow housing to be developed at the mall in east Yorba Linda. Proponents argue that passing the measure would enhance the shopping mall with new development and shops, but residents who are opposed say the 275 homes added would bring too many people to the area.

“Protect Yorba Linda by wisely upgrading our city’s decades-old struggling easternmost shopping center with locally serving shops, restaurants and homes,” Chip Julin wrote in a ballot argument in favor of Measure KK.

The measure changes zoning for a 9-acre site to allow residential development for the declining shopping mall on La Palma Avenue. City law requires certain zoning changes to get voter approval first before they can be implemented.

A consultant for the Bryant Ranch Center told the Register in April that the mall has been struggling with high vacancy rates since 2017.

The development would create mixed-use properties up to four-stories tall.

Julin argues the mall primarily attracts customers from outside of Yorba Linda and the plans would allow for a new dog park.

A spokesperson for the measure said if the mall were fully leased as it is now it would have over 7,000 more delivery truck trips annually.

City Attorney Todd Litfin said in an impartial analysis of the measure that it would allow “by right” ministerial approval for residential developments at the site if the ballot measure is passed by voters.

Jennifer Shepard, a resident who was part of a housing working group in the city, said she is against Measure KK for a number of factors, including putting homes near where wildfires can break out and adding traffic to the area.

“It is in the center of a community that has had to evacuate on multiple occasions,” Shepard said.

Shepard said the 91 Freeway causes gridlock in the area on a almost daily basis and there is only one road used to get in and out of the area.

Voters in Yorba Linda will also consider Measure JJ that would update city-wide housing plans to allow for more than 2,400 units to be built.

The Bryant Ranch Center was originally part of that plan, but was removed after the owner requested to be taken off. A petition then began circulating that would ultimately become Measure KK to rezone the area for more homes.

A simple majority of voters in support would pass the measure.