CITY COUNCIL
Amy Thomas Howorth
Mayor
David Lesser
Mayor Pro Tem
Joe Franklin
Councilmember
Nina Trieu Tarnay
Councilmember
Steve S. Charelian
Councilmember
MANHATTAN BEACH CITY HALL
1400 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
www.manhattanbeach.gov • (310) 802-5000
April 16, 2025
The Honorable Diane Papan
Member, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 4220
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 650 (Papan) Planning and Zoning: Housing Element: Regional Housing Needs Allocation.
Notice of SUPPORT (As of 3/28/25)
Dear Assemblymember Papan,
The City of Manhattan Beach is pleased to support measure AB 650 (Papan), which would allow local governments to begin the housing element update process six months early, provide greater certainty and reduce ambiguity in the housing element review process, and ensure that local governments have adequate time to respond to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) review letters.
Since 1969, California’s local governments have planned and selected sites for housing at all income levels through the housing element portion of a local government’s general plan. Every five to eight years, local governments are required to adopt a blueprint outlining where developers can or cannot build residential developments within their respective communities and obtain certification from HCD. Local governments plan for their fair share of housing development as determined through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process. As part of this complex process, local governments submit in their housing elements a variety of essential data, actions, and programs to promote fair, equitable, and affordable housing in their community.
Currently, local jurisdictions are planning and zoning for nearly 2.5 million additional homes statewide.
During the 6
th RHNA cycle, local governments experienced various
unprecedented challenges in obtaining certification from HCD. Some of the challenges include a short timeline for completing these complex documents and responding to HCD’s feedback, a lack of clarity regarding what the State expects from local governments when reviewing additional housing element drafts, and the introduction of new requirements late in the housing element review process. Importantly, the bill would exempt local jurisdictions from the requirement to approve builders remedy projects while draft housing elements are under review by HCD and while revisions are being made, in a timely manner, in response to comments provided by HCD on the draft housing element.
AB 650
April 16, 2025
AB 650 would address these issues by allowing local governments to begin updating their housing element six months early. The bill would also require HCD to provide specific text and analysis that must be included in the housing element to remedy deficiencies, ensuring that local governments are not penalized when HCD identifies additional deficiencies not previously identified in prior review letters.
Many municipalities, including Manhattan Beach, agree that HCD’s 6 th cycle housing element
review was inconsistent and arbitrary. A standardized reporting format and extended timeline would be greatly beneficial, as the City experienced several of the aforementioned challenges firsthand during the approval process of the 6th Cycle Housing Element.
For these reasons, the City of Manhattan Beach is pleased to support your measure AB 650 (Papan).
Sincerely,
Amy Thomas Howorth
Mayor
City of Manhattan Beach
Cc: City of Manhattan Beach City Council
The Honorable State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi
The Honorable State Senator Ben Allen
South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Jeff Kiernan, League of California Cities Public Affairs Manager League of California Cities, [email protected]
California Contract Cities Association