STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
February 2, 2024
Sofia Mangalam, Director
Community Development Department
City of Foster City
610 Foster City Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
Dear Sofia Mangalam:
RE: City of Foster City’s 6
th Cycle (2023-2031) Revised Draft Housing Element
Update
Thank you for submitting the City of Foster City’s (City) revised draft housing element update received for review on January 31, 2024. Our review was facilitated through communications with you and the housing element update team. In addition, HCD considered comments from Evan Adams pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (c). HCD is reporting the results of its review pursuant to Government Code section 65585.
The revised draft element meets the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law. 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.
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.
For your information, pursuant to Government Code section 65583.3, the City must submit an electronic sites inventory with its adopted housing element. The City must utilize standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD. Please see HCD’s housing element webpage at https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community- development/housing-elements for a copy of the form and instructions. The City can reach out to HCD at [email protected] for technical assistance.
Sofia Mangalam, Director
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 Planning and Research at:
https://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html.
HCD appreciates the hard work, cooperation, and responsiveness the City’s housing element team provided throughout the housing element review. HCD looks forward to receiving the City’s adopted housing element. If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, please contact Anthony Errichetto, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager