Housing Element
Update
No. GPA-24-159
City Council
February 10, 2025
Overview
1. Housing Element Overview
2. Outreach
3. Housing Element Background Report & Housing Plan
4. Environmental Review
5. Recommendation
What is a
Housing
Element?
In 1969, a Housing Element became required by State law, which compels all local governments to do their “fair share” of planning for adequate housing.
Each local government in California is required to update its Housing Element periodically; Lathrop must update it every eight years.
The Housing Element is a required section of the City’s General Plan and analyzes housing needs of the community and constraints to housing development within Lathrop.
It lays out the City’s housing policies and identifies goals and programs that guide housing related actions.
Community
Engagement
• Housing Element Introductory Workshop
• Housing Needs and Priorities Survey
• Stakeholder Outreach
• Public Draft Housing Element 30-day review period
• Draft Housing Element Workshops (2)
• Adoption Hearings (2)
Housing
Element
Parts
Housing Plan
• Introduction
• Goals and Policies
• Housing Programs
• Quantified Objectives
Background Report
• Introduction
• Housing Needs Assessment
• Housing Constraints
• Inventory of Residential Sites and Housing Resources
• Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
• Evaluation of the 2015-2023 Housing Element
• Other Requirements
Appendices
Housing
Element
Housing Plan
Housing Element’s goals, policies, and housing
programs will address the identified housing needs and
constraints, as well as impediments to fair housing choice Housing Element must:
1. Ensure there is adequate land to meet the housing needs
2. Facilitate affordable and special needs housing development
3. Provide for housing rehabilitation and preservation
4. Mitigate governmental and non-governmental constraints on housing development
5. Affirmatively further fair housing
Lathrop’s 6th
Cycle RHNA
Lathrop’s RHNA for the 2023-2031 Planning Period is 8,402 units Lathrop must identify enough realistic sites to accommodate its RHNA, but it is not responsible for building the housing itself
Income Level Lathrop
RHNA
County Median
Income Range
(4-person
household)
Affordable
Monthly
Housing Cost
(4-person
household)
Very Low-Income
(0-50% AMI) 2,386 $0 - $41,400 $1,035
Low-Income
(50-80% AMI) 1,498 $41,401 -
$66,200 $1,665
Moderate-Income
(80-120% AMI) 1,342 $66,201 -
$102,000 $2,550
Above Moderate-Income
(>120% AMI) 3,176 $102,000 + $2,550 +
Total 8,402
Inventory of
Sites and
Accommodat
ing the
RHNA
Lathrop has capacity to accommodate approximately
11,128 units, which exceeds the RHNA by 2,276 units
Very Low Income Capacity: 2,809 units (423 excess
capacity)
Low Income Capacity: 1,908 units (410 excess capacity) Moderate Income Capacity: 1,507 units (165 excess
capacity)
Above Moderate Income Capacity: 4,903 units (1,727
excess capacity)
Inventory
of Sites
Category
Units by Affordability Level
Total Units
Very Low Low Moderate Above
Moderate
Approved Projects 0 0 60 2,777 2,837
Pending Projects 0 0 66 154 220
Vacant Sites 2,340 1,596 988 1,840 6,765
Underutilized Sites 466 308 386 112 1,272
ADUs 3 4 7 20 34
TOTAL 2,809 1,908 1,507 4,903 11,128
Excess Capacity 423 410 165 1,727 2,726
Goals and
Policies The Goals and Policies specify the City’s plans for meeting the existing and projected comprehensive housing needs of
Lathrop
The Programs specify the actions the City will take to ensure opportunities are made available to encourage development projects and other activities that meet Lathrop’s housing needs.
Goals Policies Program
Implementation
Goals and
Policies
Goal H-1: Foster development of a variety of housing
types, densities, and prices to balance the City’s
housing stock and meet Lathrop’s regional fair share
housing needs for people of all income levels,
including extremely low, very low, low, and moderate
income households.
Goal H-2: Conserve and improve the existing
housing stock and ensure that new residential
development complements the surrounding
neighborhood context.
Goals and
Policies
Goal H-3: Address and, where appropriate and
legally possible, reduce and remove governmental and
nongovernmental constraints under the City’s control
on the maintenance, improvement, and development
of housing, including housing for all income levels and housing for persons with disabilities.
Goal H-4: Affirmatively further fair and equal housing opportunities throughout the community for all
persons, including special needs populations and all
classes protected under Federal and State fair housing
laws, so that safe and decent housing is available to all persons and all income levels.
Goals and
Policies
Goal H-5: Promote building design and construction
techniques that reduce emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases, while protecting public health
and contributing to a more sustainable environment.
Housing
Program
Examples
1. Partnerships for Affordable Housing
2. Affordable Housing Financial Assistance
5. Accessory Dwelling Units, Junior Accessory
Dwelling Units, and SB 9 Units
12. Regulatory Amendments
19. Coordinate with Housing Support Agencies
22. Affirmatively Further Fair Housing
Environmental Review
The General Plan Update EIR (General Plan EIR) addressed the environmental effects of the 2022 General Plan and was certified by the City Council in September 2022.
The 6th Cycle Housing Element is a modification of the adopted 2022 General Plan and was analyzed to determine whether the 6th Cycle Housing Element would require changes to the General Plan EIR .
There would not be any new significant environmental effects or any substantial increase in the severity of previously identified environmental effects and that there is no new information of substantial importance that would require changes to the 2022 General Plan EIR.
A Finding of Consistency has been prepared to document the environmental review.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council consider all information presented at the public hearing, and if determined to be appropriate, approve the proposed City Council Resolution to amend the General Plan, thereby adopting the 6th Cycle Housing Element, including any revisions made in response to HCD comments, to address the requirements of California Government Code Sections 65580 through 65589.8.