Agenda Item Wording:
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Housing Element Public Hearing and Adoption - A request by the City of Visalia to adopt the update to the 6th Cycle General Plan Housing Element in accordance with State Government Code Section 65580, et seq., including updates to the Housing Element’s background information report, goals, policies, and implementation programs. The 6th cycle Housing Element will serve an eight-year planning period from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2031. The project area is contained within the City of Visalia’s Urban Development Boundaries that are illustrated in the Visalia General Plan. The requested action is considered exempt under Section 15061 (b)(3) of the State Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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Deadline for Action: 12/18/2023. Note: The Housing Element must be adopted and submitted to the State Housing & Community Development Department by December 31, 2023 in order for the City to avoid being penalized.
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, (559) 713-4636, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>;
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. 2023-64, adopting the 6th Cycle General Plan Housing Element and incorporating minor edits and comments in the final Housing Element Update, as discussed below under the “Planning Commission Review and Action” section. This recommendation is based on the Housing Element Update’s consistency with the General Plan and the Update being statutorily compliant with State housing law. The Housing Element must be adopted and submitted to the state by December 31, 2023.
Background Discussion:
State housing law (Government Code Section 65580, et seq.) mandates that all California jurisdictions maintain and regularly update a general plan housing element and that the element be approved by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
The purpose of the housing element is to identify the community’s housing needs, to state the community’s goals and objectives regarding housing production, rehabilitation, and conservation to meet those needs, and to define the policies and programs that the community will implement to achieve the stated goals and objectives.
This Update is a comprehensive update of the 5th-Cycle Housing Element, which was originally prepared for the eight-year planning period from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2023, and adopted by the City of Visalia on September 6, 2016, with a mid-cycle update adopted on December 3, 2019. The 6th cycle Housing Element plans to meet housing needs from December 21, 2023, to December 31, 2031.
The City’s preparation for this update began in July 2022 when the City Council provided authorization to award a professional contract with Mintier Harnish of Sacramento to proceed on tasks as outlined in the scope of work and the City Council’s direction for staff to convene the Housing Element Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The contract also included the preparation of a Safety Element Update and an Environmental Justice Element, both required in response to the Housing Element under state law. Significant work has been accomplished for the latter elements, and staff anticipates one or more adoption hearings in early 2024.
The City carried out a public participation effort for the Housing Element that included meetings of the TAC and online community outreach workshops coupled with promotion of an online survey. A total of three virtual TAC meetings were held between October 2022 and May 2023, and each meeting was advertised to and welcomed members of the public through the project website, email notifications, and social media announcements. The City conducted two public workshops on October 26, 2022, and on March 15, 2023, with the intent of informing the public about Visalia’s Housing Element and its purpose, and to obtain input on housing needs and concerns with respect to the Update.
A work session with the City Council was held on June 19, 2023, to introduce and solicit input on the Public Review Draft Housing Element of the Visalia General, and to request authorization to submit the Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for the mandated 90-day review period. The Public Review Draft Housing Element circulated for public comment for 30 days, from June 10 to July 9, 2023.
The City submitted an initial draft Housing Element Update for State HCD for a mandatory 90-day review on July 25, 2023. Comments were prepared by HCD staff in a letter dated October 23, 2023 (see Exhibit “B”), received by City staff on October 26, 2023. Further consultations with HCD and the consultant on conference calls resulted in a Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update that was released on December 6, 2023.
State HCD has not received this Public Hearing Draft and as a result has not made any determination that this draft meets the statutory requirements of state law. Once the Element is formally adopted by the City Council (scheduled for December 18, 2023), it will be resubmitted to HCD before December 31, 2023, the Housing Element deadline set by state law. Staff has recommended inclusion of a finding for the adoption of the Housing Element that any non-substantial revisions made to the Element after the Planning Commission’s or City Council’s review be exempt from formal subsequent review by the Commission or Council, unless otherwise directed.
The Draft Housing Element can be accessed at the following link:
<https://www.housevisalia.com>.
Hard copies of the document are also available for public review during City business hours at the Community Development Department’s front counter.
Regional Housing Needs Assessment and Remaining Need
This Housing Element covers the eight-year planning period of December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2031 (i.e., the 6th cycle period). As part of the Update, jurisdictions must identify adequate land with appropriate zoning and development standards to accommodate its assigned share of the region’s housing needs, referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Tulare County was assigned 33,214 total units to be distributed across the County’s eight cities and the unincorporated county, as well as distributed among five income categories. The Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), as the Metropolitan Planning Agency for the Tulare County region, is responsible for preparing the RHNA for the region. Visalia’s allocation was determined to be 10,791 units and distributed among four income categories as illustrated in Table 1 below.
|
Table 1 Tulare County Regional Housing Needs Determination Allocation |
|
Jurisdiction |
Very Low-Income Allocation |
Low-Income Allocation |
Moderate-Income Allocation |
Above Moderate-Income Allocation |
Total RHNA |
|
|
Units |
Percent |
Units |
Percent |
Units |
Percent |
Units |
Percent |
|
|
Dinuba |
387 |
24.4% |
238 |
15.0% |
268 |
16.9% |
695 |
43.8% |
1,588 |
|
Exeter |
197 |
23.3% |
121 |
14.3% |
146 |
17.3% |
380 |
45.0% |
844 |
|
Farmersville |
135 |
20.6% |
83 |
12.7% |
121 |
18.5% |
315 |
48.2% |
654 |
|
Lindsay |
93 |
11.8% |
58 |
7.4% |
178 |
22.6% |
460 |
58.3% |
789 |
|
Porterville |
872 |
21.5% |
537 |
13.2% |
739 |
18.2% |
1,916 |
47.1% |
4,064 |
|
Tulare |
1,435 |
30.2% |
884 |
18.6% |
677 |
14.3% |
1,753 |
36.9% |
4,749 |
|
Visalia |
3,741 |
34.7% |
2,306 |
21.4% |
1,321 |
12.2% |
3,423 |
31.7% |
10,791 |
|
Woodlake |
75 |
15.2% |
47 |
9.6% |
103 |
20.9% |
267 |
54.3% |
492 |
|
Unincorporated County |
1,563 |
16.9% |
963 |
10.4% |
1,870 |
20.2% |
4,847 |
52.4% |
9,243 |
|
Total |
8,497 |
25.6% |
5,238 |
15.8% |
5,424 |
16.3% |
14,055 |
42.3% |
33,214 |
Visalia’s share of the RHNA includes the largest number of lower income units (6,047) as well as the largest percentage of lower income units of its total share (56%).
The consultant and staff have worked to identify vacant land within the City limits, including six sites with pending annexations, and certain sites with redevelopment potential that can accommodate the sites inventory. Visalia’s total number of units in its Sites Inventory, a reflection of its RHNA allocation, was reduced by approximately 9% after accounting for projected accessory dwelling unit (ADU) production, and planned and/or approved projects (i.e., pipeline projects), resulting in a new total of 9,381 units. (See Table 2 on next page.)
Visalia’s proposed draft Sites Inventory was strategically prepared so that it does not require the rezoning of any sites in order to accommodate the required number of units. Many sites, however, will require approval of a tentative subdivision map and/or conditional use permit. Also, all income categories of the Sites Inventory have a “unit surplus” or buffer above the required RHNA, ranging between 14% and 33% in the Very Low, Low, and Moderate Income categories and 67% in the Above Moderate Income category.
|
Table 2 Adequacy of Residential Site Inventory |
|
|
Very low Income |
Low Income |
Moderate Income |
Above Moderate Income |
Total |
|
RHNA Allocation |
3,741 |
2,306 |
1,321 |
3,423 |
10,791 |
|
Planned and Approved Units |
324 |
601 |
1 |
420 |
1,346 |
|
ADUs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
64 |
64 |
|
Remaining RHNA |
5,122 |
1,320 |
2,939 |
9,381 |
|
R-1-20 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
R-1-5 |
53 |
0 |
2,140 |
2,193 |
|
R-M-2 |
0 |
675 |
504 |
1,179 |
|
C-R |
0 |
289 |
105 |
394 |
|
R-M-3 |
2,847 |
254 |
819 |
3,920 |
|
CMU |
2,036 |
93 |
0 |
2,129 |
|
DMU |
608 |
98 |
0 |
706 |
|
Annexations |
314 |
304 |
1,344 |
1,962 |
|
Total Units on Vacant or Underutilized Sites |
5,858 |
1,713 |
4,917 |
12,488 |
|
Unit Surplus |
736 |
393 |
1,978 |
3,107 |
|
Total % Buffer |
14% |
30% |
67% |
33% |
The City is required by State law to maintain a “no net loss” policy of its residential development capacity over the planning period. As such, sites listed in the adopted sites inventory may not be down-zoned to a lower-density residential zone or rezoned to a nonresidential zone, unless the City up-zones or rezones alternative sites prior to the density reduction or rezone on the inventoried site.
Policy Document: Goals, Policies, and Implementation Programs
Like the balance of the Elements in Visalia’s General Plan, the 6th cycle Housing Element contains policies wherein the foundation is based upon a set of goals and policies. Visalia’s Housing Element contains nine goal statements, with each containing policies that amplify the goal statement. The 6th cycle goals and policies are largely unchanged from the previous cycle. One exception is that the Fair Housing Goal 7 have been expanded as follows:
“to assure that housing programs maximize opportunity and housing choice throughout the city and proactively work to overcome patterns of economic segregation and discrimination based upon age, sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, familial status, ethnic background, or disability.”
Following upon this change, Policy 7.2 has been added to address fair housing:
The City shall support equal housing opportunities for all residents of Visalia.
The table of implementation programs describes actions, procedures, programs, and techniques that carry out the policies. Time frames are included with each program that describe the frequency and/or year that the program must be completed. Factors for completing programs may be based upon the necessity to come into or remain in compliance with State law.
Given the number of State law changes that have occurred during the 2015-2023 period (i.e., 5th cycle element), there are several new requirements and programs that need to be incorporated into the 6th cycle update. Existing implementation programs that have been carried over now include additional requirements or increased quantified objectives, and certain new implementation programs address the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing requirements and other new state requirements.
Key Programs Continued. The City of Visalia achieved much during its past eight-year housing cycle that is worth mentioning. A complete listing if the accomplishments is provided in Appendix A of the Draft Housing Element, with some of the more significant highlights listed below:
• First-time homebuyer program (Program 3.3)
• Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Mortgage Credit Certificates, Low Income Tax Credits (Program 3.4)
• Support for Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher (Program 3.6)
• Support non-profits (e.g., Self-Help Enterprises, Habitat for Humanity, and other non-profit agencies), by providing land at little or no cost through low interest loans and deferred financing (Program 3.13)
• Foreclosure prevention and acquisition programs (Program 4.2)
• Nuisance abatement related to vacant or foreclosed units (Program 4.3)
• Support/incentives for development of homeless shelters (Program 5.2)
• Reasonable accommodation (Program 5.3)
• Rehabilitation programs assisting:
o Senior and disabled homeowners (Program 5.5)
o Low-income homeowners (Program 6.1)
o Low-income rental units (Program 6.2)
• Emergency repairs program (Program 6.3)
Significant Changes to Implementation Programs. The following summarizes the major changes to Implementation Programs existing in the 2015-2023 Housing Element. In some cases, as described below, new or revised Zoning Ordinance text amendments (ZTAs) will need to be processed at times during the eight-year period (2023-2031), wherein these will be subject to a separate public hearing process. All implementation programs are more thoroughly detailed in Section 6 of the Draft 6th cycle Housing Element.
• Designate for Sufficient Land (Program 1.1): The City will allow development by right (i.e., no Conditional Use Permit) on a lower-income nonvacant sites identified in the 5th cycle housing element, and a lower-income vacant sites identified on sites previously identified in both the 5th and 4th cycle housing elements, when 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower income households. These sites are identified in Table 62. Timeframe: By 2026.
• Conditional Use Permits (Program 1.3): The City shall amend the zoning code to a) establish objective design standards and b) increase the maximum unit threshold for by-right processing from 80 units to 200 units. This is in response to current constraints identified by stakeholders related to multi-family development on large lots.
Timeframe: By 2026.
• Housing Education (Program 1.4): The City shall develop an outreach strategy to reduce community opposition to affordable housing development in Visalia. Timeframe: By 2025, identify and engage local community organizations to discuss opportunities to increase engagement and education by 2025. By 2026, develop an outreach strategy based on community feedback.
• Incentives for Infill Affordable Housing (Program 2.5): The City will complete a midterm evaluation of the Affordable Housing Infill Incentive Program, which reduces Transportation Impact Fees for qualifying projects, and will adopt additional incentives to encourage residential infill development if production is not keeping pace with the objectives of this program. Timeframe: By 2026, complete mid-term evaluation. By 2027, establish additional incentives as needed.
• Multiple Family Developments (Program 3.2): The City shall expand existing online resources by developing a web-based Housing Development Toolkit. Timeframe: By 2026.
• Inform Public of Local, State, and Federal Housing Programs (Program 3.7): Hold informational engagement events for local real estate industry, nonprofit agencies, homebuyers, etc. Timeframe: Annually.
• Non-Profit Housing Development Corporations (Program 3.13): Engage local agencies annually to explore additional funding opportunities. Timeframe: Annually.
• Promoting Accessory Dwelling Units (Program 3.15): Hold annual workshops/advertising campaigns to promote the development of ADUs. Complete a mid-term evaluation and adopt additional incentives as necessary. Timeframe: By 2027, complete mid-term evaluation.
• Planning for Large Sites (Program 3.17): By 2025, adopt incentives to encourage the development of large RHNA sites (over 10 acres) including expedited approval of lot splits or creation of new parcels, and fee waivers, reductions, or deferral. By 2027, complete a mid-cycle review of development activity related to large RHNA sites.
• Homeless Shelter Program (Program 5.2): To ensure compliance with State law, as amended by AB 2339, the City shall amend the Zoning Code to allow emergency shelters by right with appropriate development standards in a zone meeting specific requirements, and shall amend the Zoning Code to expand the definition of emergency shelter to include interim interventions, including but not limited to, navigation centers, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care. Timeframe: By 2024, identify zones; by 2025, amend Zoning Code.
• Housing for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (Program 5.8): The City shall explore models to encourage the creation of housing for persons with developmental disabilities, as funding is available. Adopt a policy to facilitate/incentivize development of housing for persons with developmental disabilities. Timeframe: By 2025, explore models. By 2026, adopt policy.
• Low-Income Rental Rehabilitation Program (Program 6.2): The City shall adopt a policy prioritizing or providing additional support to projects in lower-resource areas. Timeframe: By 2026.
• Fair Housing Enforcement and Outreach (Program 7.1): To address issues related to fair housing enforcement and outreach, the City shall: Provide informational seminars to real estate agents and brokers; provide informational workshops for residents; provide trainings for property owners/managers; continue and if feasible expand funding for information and referral services; Expand awareness of fair housing matters by distributing educational materials; Adopt an anti-displacement strategy. Timeframe: Ongoing, with strategy adopted by 2026.
Place-based Strategies.
• Incentivize infill development/redevelopment in downtown Visalia (Program 2.2)
• Facilitate mixed use development in walkable areas of central and downtown Visalia (Program 2.4)
• Incentivize affordable senior housing in high resource areas (Program 5.4)
• Prioritize rehabilitation efforts in lower resource areas (Program 5.5)
New Programs.
• City-owned Sites / Surplus Land Act (Program 1.6): The City shall maintain compliance with all requirements of the Surplus Land Act, including holding a public hearing designating the properties as “surplus properties” under California Law throughout the planning period. The City shall conduct studies of each site to determine the most efficient use for housing, including engagement with local affordable housing developers to determine site constraints and potential policies to meaningfully incentivize affordable housing development on these sites. Timeframe: By 2026, implement an action plan to sell, or release an RFP to develop, City-owned land for affordable housing development based on the findings of the sites assessments and engagement with developers. Also by 2026, adopt incentives for affordable housing on City-owned sites based on engagement with the development community.
• Annexations to Accommodate Future Housing Needs (Program 1.7): The City shall complete the annexation process for six sites pending annexations as of 2023 with the Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). The annexations shall be completed in 2024 and shall include reaching milestones that include recordation of final maps. Timeframe: various.
• Nonvacant Sites (Program 2.6): The City shall adopt incentives for new or more intense development on nonvacant sites included in the sites inventory as lower-income capacity, such as reducing development standards or fee waivers, reductions and/or deferrals (when financially feasible). Timeframe: By 2026, adopt incentives.
• Missing Middle (Program 2.7): The City will review and amend residential development standards to allow for and promote a mix of dwelling types and sizes, specifically missing middle-density housing types (e.g., duplexes, triplexes, courtyard buildings, townhomes) to encourage the development of housing types affordable to the local workforce. Additionally, the City shall identify vacant parcels in low-density single-family areas, particularly in high resource areas, and shall contact property owners to discuss site constraints and opportunities for additional density or reduced development standards Timeframe: 2024-2025: evaluate and revise zoning.
• Municipal Code Updates (Program 5.8): To remove housing constraints and ensure compliance with State law, the City shall by 2025 amend the municipal code to:
o Allow Transitional and supportive housing by-right in the O-C zone.
o Reduce development standards for emergency shelters related to proximity, setback and perimeter wall requirements.
o Allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by-right in all zones allowing residential uses, in compliance with State law.
o Allow for at least two dwelling units per lot in all R-1 zones (R-1-20, R-1-12.5, and R-1-5) consistent with SB 9.
o Provide streamlined ministerial review and a preliminary application process in compliance with SB 330 and SB 35.
o Permit large residential care facilities with objectivity and certainty in all residential zones, subject only to the same requirements of residential uses of similar form.
o Adopt reduced parking standards for affordable multifamily developments and multifamily projects with small units (e.g., 1-bedroom units) of no more than one parking stall per unit.
o Permit low barrier navigations centers by right (without conditional use or other discretionary permit) in nonresidential zones permitting residential uses.
o Reduce lot size requirements in the R-M zones to remove constraints to multifamily housing development.
o Provide a ministerial process for approving reasonable accommodation requests, including objective findings for approval.
• Special Needs Housing Outreach and Incentives (Program 5.9): Prepare a report on potential strategies to encourage development of affordable, accessible housing units for households with special housing needs, including but not limited to cost incentive programs, permit streamlining, and permit and developer fee waivers and maintain a list of possible sources of funding to support incentive programs. Hold eight workshops/campaigns to expand awareness of services and programs for residents with a disability. Timeframe: By August 2026, adopt an incentive program based on the results of the report and implement immediately.
• Employee / Farmworker Housing (Program 5.10): Establish a program to provide assistance to projects that address substandard farmworker housing, with a goal of assisting 20 households/units in the planning period. Timeframe: By 2027.
• Permit Streamlining Act (Program 5.11): The City shall adopt a policy to ensure compliance with the Permit Streamlining Act and timing requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Timeframe: By 2024.
• Socio-Economic Segregation and Concentration of Low Resource Areas (Program 7.2): As part of the Consolidated Plan update process, develop a comprehensive, long-term community development strategy and/or program priority strategy for lower resource areas in central and northeastern Visalia (census tracts 10.04, 11, and 12), including a goal of providing 5% of CIP funding for these efforts. This includes, by 2026, working with local developers and non-profit homebuilders to review City policies and codes to identify and prioritize opportunities for removing barriers to housing production, adding housing capacity, and accommodating a greater mix of dwelling types and sizes households in high and highest resource areas; by 2027 implement actions based on this evaluation.
• Improving Place-based Strategies (Program 7.3): Complete actions that encourage community conservation, revitalization and preservation of existing affordable housing. This includes preparing a transit needs study by 2027 and identify potential actions by 2028, and working with a consultant to regularly assess and monitor pollution burden in each census tract.
Next Steps
State law requires that jurisdictions in Tulare County submit an adopted update of its Housing Element to HCD by December 31, 2023, for a second review and certification (HCD has 60 days to complete the second review). When adopted, the programs and policies will go into effect immediately. Zoning text amendments stemming from the new Housing Element must be processed within one year of the Housing Element’s adoption (refer to Program 5.8).
Correspondence following June 2023 Public Review
A comment letter was received on the City of Visalia’s 6th Cycle Housing Element Update on behalf of the members of Carpenters Local 1109 (see Exhibit “E”). The letter was received on October 30, 2023, several months after the Public Review Draft Housing Element was circulated for comment between June and July 2023. As a result, the Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update does not address the correspondence.
Staff reviewed and considered the requests and suggestions in the letter pertaining to the lack of a local workforce and regarding the use of a local labor workforce towards housing production. Ultimately, the Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update does not include local hire and apprenticeship requirements. Staff would attribute a concern that imposing such a requirement or suggestion would impose a governmental constraint to the production of housing, whereas the State law directs jurisdictions to review constraints to the maintenance and production of housing and to set forth actions to address and, where possible, remove government constraints.
Additionally, the Housing Element Update is responsible for demonstrating that it has adequate land inventory to accommodate the 10,791 units over the Element’s 8-year planning period (i.e., approximately 1,350 units per year). It is not, however, obligated to ensure construction of these units over the Element’s 8-year planning period. Visalia’s record of permit issuance over the last couple decades generally reflects permit activity that falls largely below what would be needed to achieve meeting the 10,791 units in an 8-year period.
Fiscal Impact:
None at this time. Many programs identified in the Update can be accomplished either with existing staff resources or through partnership with other local service providers. Certain programs are based upon applying for funding or grants, and so such programs are contingent upon receiving such funding from external sources.
Prior Council Action:
In July 2022, the City Council authorized to award a professional contract with Mintier Harnish of Sacramento to proceed on tasks as outlined in the scope of work for preparation of a Housing Element Update, Safety Element Update, and Environmental Justice Element. In June 2023, the City Council held a work session to receive an overview of the Public Review Draft of the Housing Element Update prior to the document’s first submittal to the State for the mandatory 90-day review.
Planning Committee/Commission Review and Action:
On December 11, 2023, the Planning Commission received a presentation and conducted a public hearing on the Update. During the public hearing, one representative from the Carpenters Local Union No. 1109 spoke in regard to the letter previously submitted to the City (refer to Exhibit “E”), and in keeping with the letter suggested amendments to the Policy Document to address local hire and apprenticeship.
The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend adoption of the Update with minor edits and comments addressed during the Planning Commission discussion, specifically:
• Commissioner Peck mentioned corrections to a numerical typo in Table 19 and a spelling error for “Carleton Acres”.
• Commissioner Beattie asked that the section addressing Governmental Constraints in Section 4 include language to emphasize that the discussion refers to locally imposed government constraints and does not cover constraints resulting from State legislation despite the reality that many State regulations have material effects on housing costs.
• Four of the five Commissioners expressed favor and interest towards adding Policy document language along the lines of “encouraging local hiring”, but did not direct staff to insert any specific language nor gave direction toward whether such language should be directed toward the Goals and Policies or toward the Implementation Program. Offering a differing view, Commissioner Peck expressed hesitancy toward adding a local hire program that would be held accountable to the State. In fact, such a goal could be set elsewhere including within the General Plan.
If the City Council were also favorable toward inclusion of language toward local hire and/or apprenticeship, then Council could direct staff to follow one or more certain examples contained in Exhibit “C” or otherwise as provided by staff.
In addition to the above, the Commission and staff talked at length about methods of conducting outreach, the value of having housing cost data, and encouraging landowners to build affordable housing.
Alternatives:
In addition to the recommended action, the City Council may either
1. Approve the Update with one or more modifications; or,
2. Return the Update to staff for revisions as directed.
Please note that if the City Council elects to modify or revise the Update, staff recommends (through the adopting Resolution) that any revisions made after the City Council’s review be exempt from formal subsequent review by the City Council so that staff can pursue filing the Update with the State prior to the statutory deadline.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to adopt Resolution No. 2023-64 adopting the Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update, and incorporating minor edits and comments in the final Housing Element Update, as detailed in the Planning Commission Review and Action section of the staff report.
end
Environmental Assessment Status:
The project is exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption), as the proposed Housing Element Update represents the adoption of a policy document with implementation programs with no changes to ordinances or regulations going into effect at this time and which will not in and of itself have a significant impact on the environment. Certain implementation programs contained in the Housing Element Update will be subject to a discretionary entitlement process for the amendment of Zoning Ordinance text that will be separately evaluated in accordance with the Guidelines for CEQA.
CEQA Review: The project is exempt from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption), as the proposed Housing Element Update represents the adoption of a policy document with implementation programs with no changes to ordinances or regulations going into effect at this time and which will not in and of itself have a significant impact on the environment. Certain implementation programs contained in the Housing Element Update will be subject to a discretionary entitlement process for the amendment of Zoning Ordinance text that will be separately evaluated in accordance with the Guidelines for CEQA.
Attachments:
City Council Resolution No. 2023-64
Exhibit “A” - Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update, December 2023
Exhibit “B” - State HCD Comment Letter dated October 23, 2023
Exhibit “C” - Responses to October 23, 2023 State HCD Comment Letter
Exhibit “D” - Public Hearing Draft Housing Element Update, December 2023, with tracked changes from the July 2023 HCD Review Draft
Exhibit “E” - Correspondence from Carpenters Local 1109 dated October 30, 2023
Exhibit “F” - Presentation Slides