California Apartment Association

A proposed ban on apartment construction in Menifee would undercut the city’s economy, taking away construction jobs, sources of property tax revenue and places for working folks to live.

The California Apartment Association has articulated this argument against a proposed apartment-building moratorium in a letter sent to the Menifee City Council, which will hold a public hearing on the matter at its Wednesday, Aug. 20, meeting.

The Menifee City Council voted 3 to 2 on Aug. 6 to hold a public hearing on the proposal, which would prevent construction of residential rental housing on unentitled land — or properties where development is not yet approved.

“We heard what was being discussed and immediately reached out to the two council members who we knew support businesses, and they were completely against the idea of any moratorium.”

“We heard what was being discussed and immediately reached out to the two council members who we knew support businesses, and they were completely against the idea of any moratorium,” said Tim Johnson, executive director of CAA’s Inland Empire Division, also known as CAA-AAGIE.

Based on statements made during the Aug. 6 council meeting, three council members are clearly set on limiting population growth in Menifee and oblivious to the negative economic impacts an apartment moratorium would have on their city.

Apartments ensure the economic sustainability of a city, attract young professionals and families, create jobs and generate additional sales tax revenue for resident services.

According to a national study, building each new 100-unit community creates 80 jobs during construction, and 30 jobs long-term to support new consumer activity connected with new residents. In addition, new residents would generate earnings for local businesses exceeding $2 million.

The CAA-Inland Empire letter to council members asks that they refrain from making this decision in haste and explains how the proposed moratorium could have short and long-term negative impacts on the city’s economy.

“We’ll definitely be at the council meeting Wednesday to ask members to vote no on the moratorium and explain in further detail why it would be detrimental to Menifee’s future,” Johnson said.

CAA-Inland Empire is collaborating with local housing industry groups, including the Riverside Building Industry Association and the Association of Realtors to stop the moratorium.