MEMORANDUM
February 8, 2024
TO: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Manpreet Kaur, Chair
Bruce Freeman
Bob Smith
FROM: Christopher Boyle, Development Services Director
SUBJECT: General Plan/Housing Element Update Progress Report
This report is intended to provide information on the current status of the General Plan and 6 th Cycle Housing Element update. The last report to the Planning and Development Committee occurred on February 9, 2023.
EXISTING GENERAL PLAN
In accordance with California Government Code Section 65300, the City and the County of Kern jointly adopted the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan (“MBGP”) and certified the associated programmatic Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) in 2002 to plan for the long-term future development of the Metropolitan Bakersfield area.
The 2002 MBGP included an update to the text of the previous 1990 General Plan and made minor revisions to the land-use map designations that had originally been prepared in the late 1980's. Staff prepared text changes “in-house” and a consultant assisted in preparation of the EIR. The MBGP contains seven elements as were required by state law, including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety. Two additional optional elements, a Public Services and Facilities Element and Parks Element, reflect the specific needs and objectives of the City. The MBGP also includes a reservation for the “Kern River Plan Element,” which was jointly adopted by the City and County in 1985. The Kern River Plan Element was subsequently adopted in 2007 with separate supporting environmental documentation.
GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
History
In January 2020, the City Council approved a contract with Rincon Consultant Inc. (“Rincon”) for $49,764.00 to prepare a General Plan Update Strategy and Options Report , which was presented to the Planning and Development Committee, Planning Commission , and City Council during the summer of 2020. The City Council directed staff to prepare a comprehensive General Plan update. A programmatic EIR w ill accompany the comprehensive update.
On October 21, 2021, the Council approved an Independent Contractor's Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. ($2,766,189) for the preparation of a General Plan update, associated zone mapping, and associated environmental document; and an Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc . ($298,541) for the preparation of a Housing Element update and associated environmental document. The kick-off meeting occurred on 11/30/21.
2023The Last Year
It has been almost exactly one year since the last update. Efforts associated with the General Plan. The past year could be described as a Visioning year. Workshops associated with envisioning the future of Bakersfield were held in a series of in-person and on-line workshop events while the Bakersfield2025 website hosted a “Think Big” survey that reached over 800 respondents. The Visioning efforts were summarized in the release of the Vision Statement.
After the Visioning efforts were completed, the Land Use Alternatives outreach efforts were initiated. Those efforts will continue into this new year.
Approximately one year ago , a comprehensive study of where the City is today was released in the Existing Conditions Background Report (ECBR). The ECBR provides a snapshot of Bakersfield as of 2022 – everything from land use and mobility patt erns, to economic conditions, to natural and cultural resources, and other physical, environmental, and quality of life topics. The ECBR lays out the foundational understanding of Bakersfield and its community.
In total, almost 30 outreach events have bee n held to date with almost 1500 individual respondents. The Bakersfield 2045 RISE website (www.bakersfield2045.com) continues to be the receptacle for all things Bakersfield General Plan and Housing Element.
The 1st Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element was submitted to the Cal ifornia Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in the fall of last year and the City is currently preparing a 2 nd Draft responsive to HCD comments for anticipated submittal in spring of this year. Staff will continue efforts toward an approved document. In conjunction with Housing Element efforts, an update of the City’s residential zoning ordinance is nearing presentation to the Planning Commission and City Council while annexations and rezoning specific to the Housing Element vacant sites inventory are on a similar path. The City is currently in noncompliance with State law since the 6th Cycle Housing Element was not approved by HCD by the end of 2023.
2024?The Next Year
In the upcoming year, the completion of Land Use Alternatives will then signal pop-up events while the consultant begins analysis of the alternatives in advance of a Study Session #2 focused on a preferred land use alternative.
Key Policy Working Papers aligned to the preferred land use alternative will be drafted beginning in the late spring into early summer. Policy workshops will support Study Session #3, followed by additional stakeholder interviews.
An Administrative Draft General Plan is currently targeted for completion in the fall of 2024.
Staff will continue to collaborate with Rincon and HCD in attaining an approved 6 th Cycle Housing Element, with hopes for success before the end of the year. It is essential that the residential zoning ordinance updates, vacant site inventory rezoning, and the Regional Housing Needs Allocation driven annexations are completed as soon as possible to enhance the potential for HCD certification.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that your Committee digest the information within this report and any testimony associated with the Committee meeting itself and receive and file this informational report . CEQA analysis will not be completed as part of this report as there is no project associated with the preparation of this report per the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
NEXT STEPS
The information provided is informational in nature, recommended the committee to receive and file.