The Irvine City Council last week approved plans with the Irvine Company for adding 4,536 apartments to the Southern California city—22 percent of them deemed affordable.

During a March 14 city council meeting, councilors voted unanimously to approve a preliminary agreement with the real estate developer or a “memorandum of understanding,” which includes a $65 million payment—or $14,500 per unit—to the city in lieu of what’s known as Quimby Fees, which developers usually pay to offset density for local parks or recreation.

But under state law, such can be waived if a project includes “affordable” or below market rate homes.

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development has mandated Irvine zone for 23,610 units of housing by October 2029—with nearly 15,000 of such sold under market rate or “affordable,” based on income—as part of a mandatory housing plan, called a “housing element,” which is updated every eight years.

The new housing is slated for the following locations:

The agreement between the Irvine Company and the city establishes a framework and general plan for the proposed locations. But the terms are flexible as further city review will be required when or if the projects begin.