Joint Meeting of Planning Commission and City Council
Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 6:00pm at Del Rey Oaks City Hall Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission and the City Council of the City of Del Rey Oaks will hold a joint public hearing to consider adoption of the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element of the General Plan for the period 2023-2031 at the time and location stated on this agenda. The public may view the meeting online or may participate in-person in the Council Chamber.
View Via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86106291887
Agenda
1. ROLL CALL – Planning Commission and City Council
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS – General Public Comment must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the City, the Planning Commission, and the City Council that are not on the Agenda. Anyone wishing to address the Planning Commission and the City Council on matters not appearing on the Agenda may do so now. The public may comment on any other matter listed on the Agenda at the time the matter is being considered. There will be a time limit of not more than three minutes for each speaker. No action will be taken on matters brought up under this item and all comments will be referred to City staff.
4. NEW BUSINESS – Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Housing Element of the General Plan for the period 2023-2031
A. Receive presentation and open public hearing for any comments from the public.
B. Planning Commissioners recommendation to the City Council regarding adoption of the Revised Housing Element as an amendment to the General Plan.
C. City Council to consider Planning Commission recommendation and approval of the City Council resolution to approve the General Plan Amendment adopting the City’s 2023-2031 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element, and directing City staff to submit the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element to HCD for review.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Information distributed to the Council at the meeting becomes part of the public record. A copy of written material, pictures, etc. must be provided to the secretary for this purpose. All enclosures and materials regarding these agenda items are available for public review at the Del Rey Oaks City Hall, 650 Canyon Del Rey Road, Del Rey Oaks.
STAFF REPORT
DATE: August 7, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor, City Council and Planning Commission FROM: Denise Duffy & Associates, Housing Element Planning Consultant SUBJECT: Joint Planning Commission and City Council Hearing to Consider a General Plan Amendment consisting of Adoption of Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element for the City of Del Rey Oaks
Recommendation: The Planning Commission and City Council will hold a joint public hearing to consider a recommendation from City staff to adopt the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element. The City of Del Rey Oaks (City) has prepared the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element as required by Government Code Section 65580 et seq.
Background: The 6
th Cycle Housing Element is a multi-year housing plan for the 6th Planning Cycle, 2023- 2031 planning period. The City’s 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element includes an analysis of the City’s housing needs and identifies various governmental and non-governmental constraints to meet those needs. The 6
th Cycle Housing Element also establishes goals, objectives, and policies, and sets forth a comprehensive list of programs to achieve them, including meeting the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The 6
th Cycle Housing Element provides a summary of potential sites for residential development and demonstrates that there are adequate sites with appropriate zoning capable of accommodating the level of development identified in the RHNA. The 6 th Cycle Housing Element is a policy
document rather than a project or development proposal for a specific action.
Availability of the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Draft Housing Element: The City of Del Rey Oaks completed the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Draft Housing Element identifying changes made based upon State Housing and Community Development (HCD) and public comments; this draft was made available for public review from May 20, 2025, through July 31, 2025. The City provided the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element to HCD on May 28, 2025, for formal review. On July 2, 2025, the City of Del Rey Oaks received a letter from HCD stating that the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element is in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law, and will comply with State Housing Element Law when it is adopted. On July 23, 2025, the City noticed this public hearing to consider the required actions to adopt the Housing Element in compliance with State housing laws. The notice included information on the location and availability of the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element on the City’s website.
On July 31st, the City published the meeting packet for August 7, 2025, and provided notification of the availability of the Final Draft of the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element on the City’s website and in the packet for the meeting. Note: The Final Draft 2025 Revised 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element is a clean version of the document available on the City’s website since May 20, 2025.
The Final Draft 2025 Revised 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element and all related documents can be viewed at the following link: https://www.delreyoaks.org/commdev/page/housing-element Process:
1. Staff presentation.
2. Open public hearing and take public comments.
3. Close public hearing.
4. Consideration of action by Planning Commission
5. City Council consideration of Planning Commission recommendation and approval of attached resolution
Planning Commission Consideration:
The Planning Commission, after considering information received in writing and presented orally, will consider whether to vote to recommend the City Council approve the General Plan Amendment and adoption of the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element.
City Council Consideration:
Attachments to this City Council staff report include a City Council resolution approving adoption of the 2025 Revised 6
th Cycle Housing Element and directing staff to submit the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element to HCD for final approval.
Recommendation for City Council Action:
Consider staff recommendation to approve the attached resolution for approval of the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element.
Language of Motion for City Council for Approval:
Recommend approval of the attached resolution to adopt the General Plan Amendment for the City’s 2023-2031 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element, and directing staff to submit the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element to HCD for review.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Staff Report Background Information
B. July 2, 2025, HCD Letter
C. City Council Resolution
Attachment A
STAFF REPORT – ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The following additional information provides background on the proposed action for both the Planning Commission and City Council.
Background: The California Legislature requires each city and county to adopt a Housing Element as part of its General Plan to address the community's housing needs and capacity for new housing development during the planning period. The 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element complies with State Housing Element Law and to facilitate meeting the region's housing needs for all income levels. The 2025 Revised 6 th Cycle Housing Element identifies programs and policies and presents the overall strategy for meeting the City’s locally determined housing needs. Public review has been an integral process for this 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.
Components of the Housing Element: The following sections summarize the required components of Housing Element Updates per State Housing Element Law, the process undergone by the City for the Housing Element, and includes an overview of public meetings related to the 6th Cycle Housing Element prior to today’s hearing.
Housing Needs Assessment: The Housing Needs Assessment examines demographic, employment, and housing trends and conditions and identifies the community's existing and projected housing needs, with attention paid to special housing needs (e.g., large families, persons with disabilities). This section includes a community’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) as determined by the community’s regional planning body in partnership with HCD.
Evaluation of Past Performance: A review of the prior Housing Element to measure progress in implementing policies and programs.
Housing Sites Inventory: The Housing Sites Inventory identifies locations of available sites for housing development or redevelopment to demonstrate that there is enough land zoned for housing to meet future needs at all income levels. New component of state law: The standards for designating adequate sites were substantially changed in the 6 th cycle, particularly for non-vacant
sites.
Community Engagement: Implementation of a robust community engagement program that includes reaching out to individuals and families at all economic levels of the community plus historically underrepresented groups.
Constraints Analysis: An analysis and recommendation of remedies for existing and potential governmental and nongovernmental barriers to housing development.
Policies and Programs: The Housing Element establishes policies and programs for the City to carry out during the 2023-2031 planning period to fulfill the identified housing needs.
AFFH: A new component of state law: Analyze and address significant disparities in housing needs and access to opportunity by proposing housing goals, objectives, and policies that aid in replacing segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns, transforming racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity, and fostering and maintaining compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws.
Public Outreach: The City has conducted a comprehensive community engagement and outreach strategy as required by the Government Code to inform the 6th Cycle Housing Element process, including sessions with the public, Planning Commission, and City Council. These meetings are fully outlined in Chapter 1.
Introduction. of the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element.
Environmental Review: The City Del Rey Oaks, as the Lead Agency, prepared and certified a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Housing Element pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq.; 14 Cal. Code Regs. §15000 et seq. [“State CEQA Guidelines”]) to evaluate the environmental effects associated with adoption of the Housing Element (SCH 2023040680).
Attachment B
July 2, 2025, HCD Letter
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
651 Bannon Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
July 2, 2025
John Guertin, City Manager
City of Del Rey Oaks
650 Canyon Del Rey Blvd.
Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940
Dear John Guertin:
RE: City of Del Rey Oaks’ 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Revised Draft Housing Element Thank you for submitting the City of Del Rey Oaks’ (City) revised draft housing element received for review on May 29, 2025. Pursuant to Government Code section 65585, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is reporting the results of its review.
The revised draft element meets the statutory requirements that were described in HCD’s February 12, 2024 review. The housing element will substantially comply with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq) when it is adopted, submitted to and approved by HCD, in accordance with Government Code section 65585.
As a reminder, the City’s 6th cycle housing element was due December 15, 2023. As of today, the City has not completed the housing element process for the 6th cycle. The City’s 5th cycle housing element no longer satisfies statutory requirements. HCD encourages the City to adopt and submit to HCD to regain housing element compliance.
Public participation in the development, adoption and implementation of the housing element is essential to effective housing planning. Throughout the housing element process, the City must continue to engage the community, including organizations that represent lower-income and special needs households, by making information regularly available while considering and incorporating comments where appropriate. Please be aware, any revisions to the element must be posted on the local government’s website and to email a link to all individuals and organizations that have previously requested notices relating to the local government’s housing element at least seven days before submitting to HCD.
John Guertin, City Manager
Please note, pursuant to Government Code section 65583.3, subdivision (b), the City must utilize standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD when preparing the sites inventory. While the City has submitted an electronic version of the sites inventory, if changes occur, any future adopted version of the element must also submit the electronic version of the sites inventory. The City can reach out to HCD at [email protected] for technical assistance.
Several federal, state, and regional funding programs consider housing element compliance as an eligibility or ranking criteria. For example, the CalTrans Senate Bill (SB) 1 Sustainable Communities grant, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities programs, and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation consider housing element compliance and/or annual reporting requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65400. With a compliant housing element, the City will meet housing element requirements for these and other funding sources.
For your information, some general plan element updates are triggered by housing element adoption. HCD reminds the City to consider timing provisions and welcomes the opportunity to provide assistance. For information, please see the Technical Advisories issued by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation at:
https://www.lci.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html.
HCD appreciates the hard work and dedication of the City of Del Rey Oaks in preparation of the City’s housing element and looks forward to receiving the City’s adopted housing element. If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, please contact Clare Blackwell, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager
Attachment C
City Council Resolution
8/7/2025 1
CITY OF DEL REY OAKS
CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DEL REY OAKS, ADOPTING A GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT TO ADOPT THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE PERIOD OF 2023-2031 IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE HOUSING ELEMENT LAW.
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” (Government 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” (Government Code Section 65589.5.); and WHEREAS, the Legislature recently 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 City of Del Rey Oaks’ 6
th Cycle regional housing need allocation (RHNA) of 184 new housing units, comprised of 60 very-low income units, 38 low-income units, 24 moderate-income units, and 62 above moderateincome units; and WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks’ 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element also accommodates the 4th and 5th Cycle RHNA carry over units consisting of 86 units with 41 very-low income units, 29 lowincome units, 5 moderate-income units, and 11 above moderate-income units; and WHEREAS, to comply with State Housing Element Law, the City of Del Rey Oaks has prepared the 2025 Revised 6
th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing Element in compliance with State Housing Element Law and has identified sites that can accommodate housing units meeting the City of Del Rey Oaks’ RHNA; and WHEREAS, as provided in Government Code Section 65350 et. seq., adoption of the Housing Element constitutes a General Plan Amendment; and
8/7/2025
2 WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks complied with Government Code sections 65352 – 65352.5 and mailed a public notice to all California Native American tribes provided by the Native American Heritage Commission and to other entities listed and no California Native American tribe requested consultation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks conducted extensive community outreach over the last two years including several public workshops before the Planning Commission and City Council; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code Section 65585 (b), on May 26, 2023, the City of Del Rey Oaks posted the Draft 6
th Cycle Housing Element and requested public comment for a 30-day review period ending on June 26, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks revised the Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element based upon comments received during the public review period; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks reviewed and revised the programs of the Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element based upon comments received during the public hearing at the Planning Commission on July 12, 2023; and
WHEREAS, on July 20, 2023, after responding to public comments, the City of Del Rey Oaks submitted the Draft 6
th Cycle Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for their required 90-day review; and WHEREAS, on October 18, 2023, HCD provided a letter to the City of Del Rey Oaks with initial findings on the adequacy of the Draft 6
th Cycle Housing Element and;
WHEREAS, based upon this, City of Del Rey Oaks staff revised the Draft 6 th Cycle Housing Element
to include additional information and data; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission on November 8, 2023, and the City Council on November 14, 2023, provided the public with an opportunity to review HCD review letter, provide comments, and review revisions to the Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element proposed to address HCD comments; and WHEREAS, on December 6, 2023, a presentation of the Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element with HCD changes was held at the Planning Commission and City Council at a duly noticed public hearing; and WHEREAS, the Draft Housing Element identifying changes made based upon HCD and public comments was made available for public review December 6, 2023, through December 13, 2023; and 8/7/2025
3 WHEREAS, the City Council adopted the 6th Cycle Housing Element by resolution (2023-21) on December 13, 2023, in compliance with 6th Cycle assigned date for adoption, and the City of Del Rey Oaks submitted the adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element to HCD on December 14, 2023; and WHEREAS, HCD conducted the mandatory 60-day review period and concluded their review of the adopted 6th Cycle Housing element and submitted their comments to the City of Del Rey Oaks on February 12, 2024; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2024, and April 23, 2024, the City of Del Rey Oaks held public meetings on the HCD comment letter, HCD requested revisions, and program revisions to the Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element and received comments from the public;
WHEREAS, on September 24, 2024, the City Council received a staff report and presentation on the Housing Element Update process for chapter revisions, amendments, and program revisions based on the HCD comment letter; the meeting included a full public hearing, allowing the public an opportunity to comment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks posted the 2024 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element Update and Notice of Availability prior to submitting the document to HCD for informal review on October 17, 2024; and
WHEREAS, on October 24, 2024, and October 30, 2024, the City of Del Rey Oaks held public meetings with the Planning Commission and City Council to provide progress reports on the 2024 Revised 6 th Cycle Housing Element and receive input on the Housing Element from the Planning Commission, City Council, and members of the public; and
WHEREAS, HCD conducted an informal review of the 2024 Revised 6 th Cycle Housing Element
Update and provided preliminary review comments on January 16, 2025; and WHEREAS, on March 12, 2025, and March 25, 2025, the City of Del Rey Oaks held public meetings where City staff presented HCD comments on the Housing Element and revisions based on said HCD comments; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element identified changes made based upon HCD and public comments and the City of Del Rey Oaks made this draft available for public review from May 20, 2025, through July 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City of Del Rey Oaks provided the 2025 Revised 6 th Cycle Housing Element to HCD
on May 28, 2025, for formal review; and
8/7/2025
4 WHEREAS, on July 2, 2025, the City of Del Rey Oaks received a letter from HCD stating that the 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element is in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law, and will comply with State Housing Element Law when it is adopted; and WHEREAS, on July 23, 2025, the City of Del Rey Oaks published notification regarding HCD’s determination and the City’s intent to adopt the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element on August 7, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2025, the City of Del Rey Oaks published the Final Draft Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element determined to be in substantial compliance by HCD on the City of Del Rey Oaks’ website and requested public comment on the final draft; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2025, the Planning Commission and City Council conducted a duly and properly noticed joint public hearing to take public testimony and the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element to the City Council; and WHEREAS, at the August 7, 2025, duly and properly noticed joint public hearing, the City Council considered this resolution regarding the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element, reviewed the Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element and all pertinent maps, documents and exhibits, including HCD’s findings, the staff report, and all attachments, and oral and written public comments.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby finds that, based on substantial evidence in the record:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated by reference into this action.
2. The Del Rey Oaks City Council approves the General Plan Amendment and adopts the 2023-2031 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element.
3. The Housing Element substantially complies with State Housing Element Law, as provided in Government Code 65580 et seq., and contains all provisions required by State Housing Element Law.
4. As required by Government Code Section 65585(e), the City Council has considered the findings made by HCD included in the Department’s letter to the City of Del Rey Oaks dated July 2, 2025, consistent with Government Code Section 65585(f), including the requirement for adoption of the Housing Element as stated by the Department to substantially comply with the requirements of State Housing Element Law.
5. The 2015-2023 5
th Cycle Housing Element and the December 2023 6th Cycle Housing Element are hereby repealed in their entirety, and the 2023-2031 2025 Revised 6 th Cycle Housing Element, as
shown in Exhibit A to this Resolution, incorporated herein, is adopted.
6. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption by the City Council.
7. The Del Rey Oaks City Manager, or designee, is hereby directed to file all necessary material with the Department of HCD for the Department to find that the Housing Element is in conformance with State Housing Element Law and is further directed and authorized to make all non- 8/7/2025
5 substantive changes to the Housing Element to make it internally consistent or to address any non-substantive changes or amendments requested by the Department to achieve certification.
8. The Del Rey Oaks City Manager, or designee, is hereby directed to distribute copies of the Housing Element in the manner provided in Government Code Sections 65357 and 65589.7.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby approves the 2023-2031 2025 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element in its current form, which has been found by HCD to be in substantial compliance.
Exhibit A: 2023-2031 Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element
Passed and Adopted at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council of the City of Del Rey Oaks, State of California, on the 7th of August 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Scott Donaldson, Mayor_________________________________ ATEST: Karen Minami, City Clerk_________________________________