2023 – 2031 Housing Element
City Council
August 4, 2025
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Agenda
Highlights
HCD Review and Comments
Meeting the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
Rezone to Meet RHNA
Zoning Text Amendments
Environmental Review
Schedule
Recommendation
Highlights
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
About the Housing Element
§ One of the eight mandated elements of the General Plan § Must be updated every 8 years
§ Adoption Deadline: December 31, 2023
» 6
th Cycle Planning Period: December 31, 2023-December 31, 2031 » 5
th Cycle Planning Period: December 31, 2015-December 31, 2023 § Plan for accommodating the jurisdiction’s “fair share” of the regional housing need
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Housing Element Contents
Housing Needs
Assessment
Demographic
Trends
Housing Market
Trends
Special Needs
Groups
Constraints to
Development
Housing Resources and
Sites Inventory
Policies and
Programs
Governmental
and NonGovernmental
Market Trends
Environmental
Infrastructure
Zoning and
Capacity
ADUs and
Mobile Homes
Inventory of Sites
Review of Previous
Housing Element
Implementation
Identify 2023- 2031
Programs
Assessment of
Fair Housing
Outreach
Fair Housing
Issues
Site Inventory
Analysis
Contributing
Factors
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
AMBAG RHNA Summary
Region Very Low- Low- Mod. Above Mod. Total
Carmel-By the Sea 113 74 44 118 349
Del Rey Oaks 60 38 24 62 184
Gonzales 173 115 321 657 1,266
Greenfield 101 66 184 379 730
King City 97 63 178 364 702
Marina 94 62 173 356 685
Monterey 1,177 769 462 1,246 3,654
Pacific Grove 362 237 142 384 1,125
Salinas 920 600 1,692 3,462 6,674
Sand City 59 39 49 113 260
Seaside 86 55 156 319 616
Soledad 100 65 183 376 724
Unincorp. Monterey 1,070 700 420 1,136 3,326
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Capacity to Meet the 6th Cycle RHNA
RHNA
Surplus 6 Projected ADU’s Vacant Site Capacity th Income Category Cycle RHNA (units) Very Low & Low 288 24 273 9
Moderate 321 12 276 33*
Above Moderate 657 4 709 56
Total 1,266 40 1,258 32
* It is assumed that a combination of the lower- and above moderate income (density up to 7 du/ac) RHNA surplus with meet the moderate income need.
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Available Sites
Income
Category
Realistic
Capacity
Density
(du/ac) Site # Address Zoning General Plan Acreage
3.22 20 64 Lower
Industrial/
Manufacturing
1 N. Alta Rd. I
2 Katherine St. I 2 20 40 Lower
3 Katherine St. I 2.18 20 44 Lower
4 Katherine St. I 2.27 20 45 Lower
5 Katherine St. I 2 20 40 Lower
6 Katherine St. I 1.99 20 40 Lower
20 16 240 Moderate Highway
Commercial 7 Gloria Rd. R-2
3 16 36 Moderate Low-Density
Residential 8A El Camino Real R-2
Above
Moderate 135 7 709 Low-Density Residential
R-1
PUD 8B El Camino Real
Total 1,258
Sites to meet the RHNA
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
General Plan Land Use Amendment
§ The following red/underlined text will be added to the Industrial/Manufacturing Land Use description.
The primary purpose of this designation is to define those areas that are appropriate for heavy industrial and manufacturing uses, the location of which may create land use conflicts with residential uses and schools. The emphasis is on agricultural services but other types of industry compatible with the policies in the General Plan are encouraged. The designation permits industrial parks, light manufacturing, warehousing, wineries, auto and farm equipment sales or repair establishments, feed stores, lumber yards, construction supply companies and similar compatible uses. Compatible highway-serving uses like gas stations, restaurants, motels, and truck stops are permitted in this area. The maximum permitted Floor Area Ratio is 0.5. Multifamily residential uses are permitted with the applicable Affordable Housing Overlay Zone at a minimum density of 20 units per acre and a maximum density of 30 units per acre.
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Rezone to Meet the RHNA (Program HE-1.1.4)
§ Affordable Housing Overlay
» Added new Chapter 12.110 (Affordable Housing Overlay). » The six parcels listed below will be rezoned to apply the Affordable Housing Overlay (I-AHO) zone.
» Permitted uses include multiple-family residential uses (by right, as defined in Government Code Section 65583.2(i)), low-barrier navigation centers, residential care facilities, supportive housing, and transitional housing.
Proposed
Allowable Density
Proposed
Zoning District
Current
Zoning District
Total
Acreage Site # APN Site Address
1 020-011-001 N. Alta Rd. 3.22 I I-AHO 20-30
2 223-081-015 Katherine St. 2.00 I I-AHO 20-30
3 223-081-013 Katherine St. 2.18 I I-AHO 20-30
4 223-081-012 Katherine St. 2.27 I I-AHO 20-30
5 223-081-016 Katherine St. 2.00 I I-AHO 20-30
6 223-081-014 Katherine St. 1.99 I I-AHO 20-30
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Zoning Text Amendments
The City completed zoning text amendments to comply with State law.
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Environmental Review - Exemption
§ An environmental assessment was prepared, determining that the Housing Element is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) subject to the following CEQA exemptions:
» Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption
§ Additionally, the proposed Zoning Ordinance Text/Map Amendments, along with the General Plan Land Use Text Amendment, were determined to be exempt from review under CEQA subject to the following exemption:
» Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Project Schedule
Milestone Date
Planning Commission - Recommend Adoption July 14, 2025
City Council - Adoption August 4, 2025
Submit to HCD (90-day review) August 7, 2025
We are Here
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Recommendation
Staff recommends:
1. Conduct a noticed public hearing.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-51, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Determining that the Common Sense Exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Applies to the Proposed 6th Cycle Housing Element, General Plan Land Use Text Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Text/Map Amendments as Supported by the Housing Element Update CEQA Exemption Technical Memorandum Prepared in February of 2025.
Recommendation Continued next slide
Gonzales Housing Element 2023-2031
Recommendation
Staff recommends (continued):
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-52, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving General Plan Amendment (GPA) GPA 2025-01, Amending the Land Use Element of the General Plan, and Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update.
4. Introduce, Waive First Reading, and Read by Title only Ordinance No. 2025-152, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the New 6th Cycle Housing Element Update by Amending Title 12- (Zoning Regulations) with Associated Zoning Map and Zoning Regulation Text Changes, as Follows:
Provisions in Chapter 12.08-Definitions, Chapter 12.20-Site Plan Permits, Chapter 12.48-Density Bonus, Chapter 12.56-Summary Of Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses, Chapter 12.68-R-1 Medium Density Residential District, Chapter 12.112-General Applications, and Chapter 12.120-Parking, and the Addition of New Chapter 12.54-Reasonable Accommodations, Chapter 12.110-Aho Affordable Housing Overlay, Chapter
12.154-Local Education Agency Lands, Chapter 12.156-Employee Housing, Chapter 12.158-Licensed Residential Care Facilities, and Chapter 12.160-Transitional and Supportive Housing, and Amending the Zoning Map to Comply with the General Plan.