TOWN OF ATHERTON
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 24-0001
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF ATHERTON PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL THE ADOPTION THE IS/MND AND MMRP ANALYZING THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT AND ZONING CODE
UPDATES PROJECT BY THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the Town of Atherton has been diligently working on an updated Housing Element for the 2023-2031 cycle to identify and address the Town's housing needs; and WHEREAS, the California Legislature has found that "California has a housing supply and affordability crisis of historic proportions. The consequences of failing to effectively and aggressively confront this crisis are hurting millions of Californians, robbing future generations of the chance to call California home, stifling economic opportunities for workers and businesses, worsening poverty and homelessness, and undermining the state's environmental and climate objectives." (Gov. Code Section 65589.5.); and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has further found that "Among the consequences of those actions are discrimination against low-income and minority households, lack of housing to support employment growth, imbalance in jobs and housing, reduced mobility, urban sprawl, excessive commuting, and air quality deterioration." (Gov. Code Section 65589.5.); and WHEREAS, the Legislature adopted the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330) which states that "In 2018, California ranked 49th out of the 50 states in housing units per capita... California needs an estimated 180,000 additional homes annually to keep up with population growth, and the Governor has called for 3.5 million new homes to be built over 7 years;" and WHEREAS, State Housing Element Law (Government Code Sections 65580 et seq.) requires that the City Council adopt a Housing Element for the eight-year period 2023-2031 to accommodate the Town of Atherton (Town) regional housing need allocation (RHNA) of 348 housing units, comprised of 94 very-low income units, 54 low-income units, 56 moderate- income units, and 144 above moderate-income units; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2023, the City Council of the Town of Atherton approved Resolution 2023-2 adopting an updated Housing Element for the 2023-2031 cycle, which did not constitute a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and submitted the Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for review and certification; and
WHEREAS, on April 4, 2023, the State Department of Housing and Community Development sent a letter to the Town of Atherton indicating that while the adopted housing element addresses many statutory requirements, additional revisions are necessary to substantially comply with State Housing Element Law (Article 10.6 of the California Government Code); and WHEREAS, the Town of Atherton has continued diligently to address those comments and adopt any related amendments to the Atherton Municipal Code beyond the statutory deadline of January 31, 2023; while also continuing to work on the zoning amendments to facilitate housing sites as identified in the adopted Housing Element; and WHEREAS, Pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the State CEQA Guidelines California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15000 et seq., the Town of Atherton has prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration on the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Zoning Code Updates ("Project"). The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration disclosed that all potential impacts from the Project would be less than significant with the incorporation of mitigation measures, and there was no substantial evidence that the Project would have a significant effect on the environment;
WHEREAS, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH# 2024050574) was released for a 31-day public comment period beginning on May 10, 2024 and no substantial public comments were received that altered the analysis or conclusions of the Initial Study; and WHEREAS, on July 24, 2024, the Planning Commission of the Town of Atherton held a duly noticed public hearing to review the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Zoning Code Update project and an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH# 2024050574) to consider public comment and voted to continue the project for further discussion; and WHEREAS, on August 28, 2024, the Planning Commission of the Town of Atherton held a duly noticed public hearing to review Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH# 2024050574) and consider public comment and voted to recommend adoption; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the Town of Atherton does hereby:
1. Find that Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH# 2024050574), which was prepared for the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Zoning Code Updates project, complies with the California Environmental Quality Act.
2. Recommend the adoption of Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH# 2024050574) which determined that there are no significant impacts associated with implementation of the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Zoning Code Updates project and no mitigation is required, and therefore no further environmental analysis is required.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the Town of Atherton on this 28th day of August, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: Lane, Polito, Bryant, Tonelli, and Levison NOES, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: None
Eir lane
CHAIR of the Planning Commission
ATTEST: puttay Dendio
TOWN PLANNER of the Town of Atherton