ATTACHMENT NO. 6
SUGGESTED FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL
ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 22-008/ZONING MAP AMENDMENT NO. 22-002 (AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY)
1. Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 22 -008 and Zoning Map Amendment (ZMA) No. 22 -002 amend the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (HBZSO) and Zoning Map to establish an Affordable Housing Overlay consistent with Programs 2A and 2B of the Housing Element . The establishment of an Affordable Housing Overlay in the HBZSO and the designa tion of sites with the Affordable Housing Overlay on the Zoning Map are consistent with the Land Use Element and applicable General Plan goals and policies as follows:
Housing Element
Goal HE 2: Provide adequate sites to accommodate projected housing unit needs at all income levels identified in the 2021-2029 RHNA.
Policy 2.1 Variety of Housing Choices: Provide site opportunities for development of housing that responds to diverse community needs in terms of housing types, cost and location, emphasizin g locations that are near services, transit, promote walkability, and are moderate to highest resource areas.
Policy 2.3 Housing Overlay: Facilitate the provision of housing affordable to lower income households through the creation of a citywide housing overlay on sites identified within the Housing Element.
The proposed amendment s to establish an Affordable Housing Overlay would ensure the City provides capacity (through zoning) to accommodate the RHNA at all income levels. The provisions of the Affor dable Housing Overlay facilitate the production of housing for lower income households. Projects proposing a minimum of 20 percent of the units affordable to lower income households are eligible for a ministerial approval process in addition to other flexible development standards. Affordable Housing Overlay sites are located in high resource areas or areas that are well -connected with access to arterial streets, jobs, services and community facilities.
Goal HE 3: Provide for safe and decent housing for all economic segments of the community.
Policy 3.1 Housing Diversity: Encourage the production of housing that addresses the diverse housing needs of all economic segments of the community, including low, moderate, and above moderate-income households.
Policy 3.3 Affordable Housing Incentives: Facilitate the development of affordable housing through regulatory incentives and concessions, density bonuses, financial assistance, or other methods. Funding priority should be granted to projects providing extremely low -income units. Proactively seek out new methods and approaches in the provision of affordable housing.
Goal HE 4 : Reduce governmental constraints to housing production, with an emphasis on improving processes for projects that provide on-site affordable units.
Policy 4.1 Regulatory Incentives for Affordable Housing: Support the use of density bonus as permitted in applicable regulations, to offset or reduce the costs of developing affordable housing while addressing p otential impacts per the City’s standard review process.
Policy 4.3 Efficient Development Processing : Explore continued improvements in the project entitlement process to further streamline and coordinate the processing of permits, design review and envir onmental clearance with emphasis on streamlining processes for housing developments that provide on -site affordable units.
ZTA No. 22-008 and ZMA No. 22-002 propose to establish an Affordable Housing Overlay to facilitate the provision of affordable hou sing for lower income households by removing regulatory constraints, such as the conditional use permit process, and includes incentives, such as reduced parking requirements, to offset the costs of developing affordable housing. The provisions of the Aff ordable Housing Overlay facilitate the production of housing for lower income households.
Projects proposing a minimum of 20 percent of the units affordable to lower income households are eligible for a streamlined ministerial approval process. In addition, projects within the Affordable Housing Overlay are eligible to request concessions and waivers pursuant to State Density Bonus Law, which further reduces constraints to the provision of affordable housing.
Land Use Element
Policy LU -1.A.: Ensure t hat development is consistent with the land use designations presented in the Land Use Map, including density, intensity, and use standards applicable to each land use designation.
Goal LU -4: A range of housing types is available to meet diverse economic, physical, and social needs of future and existing residents, while neighborhood character and residences are well maintained and protected.
Policy LU-4.A: Encourage a mix of residential types to accommodate people with diverse housing needs.
Policy LU-4.B: Improve options for people to live near work and public transit.
Policy LU -14.C: Improve the availability of affordable housing and accessible transportation options for service workers.
LU-P.14 Housing for Industrial and Research/Technol ogy Employees: Consider allowing housing near Industrial and Research/Technology areas to create convenient residences for employees in these land uses. Ensure that any housing in or near these areas does not conflict with Industrial or Research/Technology activities, and is not exposed to any potential undesirable impacts that may be generated by these land uses. Avoid building housing on land that is more suitable for nonresidential land uses within the Industrial or Research/Technology zones.
Consider opportunities to locate housing above nonresidential buildings.
The proposed zoning text and map amendments would ensure the lower income RHNA is accommodated while retaining the base land use and zoning designation.
Property owners would still be able to d evelop their properties pursuant to the underlying zoning district standards and requirements, which would not change with implementation of the Affordable Housing Overlay . As an alternative, the Affordable Housing Overlay would enable property owners to develop multi-family residential uses in appropriate areas with access to services, jobs and community facilities while avoiding encroachment upon established residential neighborhoods. The proposed development standards consider the context of the surrounding area and, in conjunction with applicable performance standards and mitigation measures, would ensure impacts between different adjacent land uses are minimized.
The focus of the Affordable Housing Overlay is to encourage and facilitate affordable housing by requiring a minimum of 20 percent of the units in a proposed residential development to be affordable to lower income households. The Affordable Housing Overla y also provides regulatory incentives to further encourage the provision of affordable housing for target populations with diverse housing needs, such as seniors, female -headed households, large families, disabled persons, homeless persons and low-income households. Additionally, the proposed Affordable Housing Overlay supports the provision of affordable housing for workers employed in the City’s service industry.
2. The change proposed is compatible with the uses authorized in, and the standards prescribed for, the zoning district for which it is proposed. Sites designated with an Affordable Housing Overlay will retain their base land use and zoning designation. Property owners would still be able to develop their properties pursuant to the underlying zoning district standards and requirements, which would not change with implementation of the Affordable Housing Overlay. The Affordable Housing Overlay will enable property owners to develop multi -family residential uses as an alternative to the base zoni ng district provided that a minimum of 20 percent of the units are affordable to lower income households. The development standards consider the context of the surrounding area and, in conjunction with applicable performance standards and mitigation measures, would ensure impacts between different adjacent land uses are minimized.
3. A community need is demonstrated for the change proposed . The Affordable Housing Overlay addresses the need for housing, particularly affordable housing, in the City of Huntington Beach. The Affordable Housing Overlay will incentivize the provision of housing, including affordable housing, for households and individuals who live and work in the community. The Affordable Housing Overlay also ensures the City will be able to accommodate the lower income RHNA and obtain certification of the Housing Element from the California Department of Housing and Community Dev elopment (HCD). HCD certification of the Housing Element enables the City’s eligibility for state funding to address homelessness and other housing programs.
4. Its adoption will be in conformity with public convenience, general welfare and good zoning prac tice. The areas designated for an Affordable Housing Overlay are well connected areas with access to services, jobs, and community facilities.
The Affordable Housing Overlay area s are located in areas with existing infrastructure and would not encroach i nto existing established residential neighborhoods. The standards proposed for the Affordable Housing Overlay consider the mixed use context of the area and minimize impacts between different adjacent land uses.