State highways: property leases: County of Orange.

Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has full possession and control of the state highway system, including associated property. Existing law authorizes the department to lease certain property, including the area above or below a state highway, and certain property held for future highway purposes, to public agencies under specified terms and conditions. Existing law also authorizes the department to lease airspace under a freeway, or real property acquired for highway purposes, located in various cities and counties, that is not excess property, to specified entities for certain purposes, including for purposes of an emergency shelter or feeding program, subject to certain conditions. Existing law authorizes the creation of the Orange County Housing Finance Trust, a joint powers authority, for the purposes of funding housing specifically assisting the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income within the County of Orange, as specified. This bill would authorize the department to lease airspace under a freeway, or real property acquired for highway purposes, in the County of Orange, that is not excess property, to a city located in the County of Orange, the County of Orange, a political subdivision of the state whose jurisdiction is located in the County of Orange, or another state agency for purposes of an emergency shelter or feeding program, subject to certain conditions. The bill would specifically authorize the Orange County Housing Finance Trust to enter into these leases.