POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM: X A
MEETING DATE: 3/22/2022
TITLE
General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Review and Consider General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report for Submission to the Office of Planning and Research and Housing and Community Development
ANALYSIS
California Government Code 65400(a)(2) mandates that all cities and counties submit to their legislative bodies an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation. A copy of this progress report must also be sent to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1st of each year.
The intent is to ensure that the General Plan directs all land use decisions and remains an effective guide for future development. Because the role of the General Plan is to act as a “constitution” for the long-term physical development of a community and because it is required to be updated periodically to reflect current circumstances, it is critical that local planning agencies periodically review the General Plan and its implementation. The report is one of several tools for doing this.
The main purpose and most important function of the report is to provide local legislative bodies with information regarding implementation of their General Plans. The report must be presented to the local legislative body for their review and acceptance. This is typically done by placing the report on a regular meeting agenda as a consent or discussion item.
Attached is the City of Point Arena’s 2021 General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report (Attachment A). As discussed in the report, the City’s General Plan is somewhat dated, however, the General Plan continues to be valid and still serves as a useful document.
Also included in the 2021 General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report is the Housing Element progress report. The outline for this report is provided by HCD and the City follows this outline. As shown in the report, the City had no single family housing units and no multifamily units permitted in the 2021 calendar year.
Also shown in the HCD table is the City’s progress towards meeting the 2019-2027 Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) which was 9 units and the City’s progress towards completing the 2019-2027 Housing Element programs. The Table below shows the RHNA by income levels and the progress towards meeting these goals since 2019. While it is the City’s goal to meet RHNA to the greatest extent possible, the City does not build housing. The ability to meet this goal is dependent in part on the housing industry, as well as many other factors, such as employment and commercial/industrial growth in the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
Submission of the required General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the Office of Planning and Research and Housing and Community Development will not affect the City’s budget. Approximately $3,000 worth of staff time was required to complete this report.
The cost to complete the report in future years will be less by using this year’s report as a template.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2021 General Plan / Housing Element Annual Progress Report
CITY PLANNER SIGNATURE
_________________________________
Scott Perkins, City Planner
Income Level
RHNA
Allocation
by
Income
Level
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Total
Units
to
Date
(all
years)
Total
Remaining
RHNA by
Income
Level
Very Low
Deed
Restricted
3 0 0 0 - - - - - -
Non- 0 3
Deed
Restricted
0 0 0 - - - - - -
Low
Deed
Restricted
1 0 0 0 - - - - - -
Non- 0 1
Deed
Restricted
0 0 0 - - - - - -
Moderate
Deed
Restricted
3 0 0 0 - - - - - -
Non- 0 3
Deed
Restricted
0 0 0 - - - - - -
Above
Moderate - 2 0 1 0 - - - - - - 1 1
Total RHNA 9 0 1 0 - - - - - - 1 1
Total Units 0 1 0 - - - - - - 1 8
City of Point Arena
2021 City of Point Arena
General Plan/Housing Element
Annual Report
Submitted by:
City of Point Arena
451 School Street / P.O. Box 67
Point Arena, CA 95468
March 2022
ANNUAL HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORT
City or County Name
City of Point Arena
Mailing Address:
City of Point Arena
P.O. Box 67
Point Arena, CA 95468
Contact Person
Scott Perkins
Contract City Planner
(707) 354-0145
[email protected]
Reporting Period by Calendar Year
January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021
These forms and tables, including the Certificate of Accuracy, are due to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) on or before April 1, 2022. Submit separate reports directly to both HCD and OPR (Government Code Section 65400) at the addresses listed below:
Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Housing Policy Development
P.O. Box 952053 Sacramento, CA 94252-2053
-andGovernor’s Office of Planning and Research
P.O. Box 3044 Sacramento, CA 95812-3044
CERTIFICATION OF ACCURACY
The undersigned, in the capacity of City Planner on behalf of the City of Point Arena, has reviewed the information provided in the forms and report contained herein, and certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the information provided herein is true and correct.
March 9, 2022
Scott Perkins, Contract City Planner Date
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
5 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT General – State Law and Local Planning
California Government Code Section 65400(a)(2) mandates that all cities and counties submit to their legislative bodies an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation. Only charter cities are exempt from the requirement to prepare progress reports, pursuant to Government Code Section 65700. A copy of this progress report must also be sent to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
The intent is to ensure that the general plan directs all land use decisions and remains an effective guide for future development. Because the role of the general plan is to act as a “constitution” for the long-term physical development of a community and because it is required to be updated periodically to reflect current circumstances, it is critical that local planning agencies periodically review the general plan and its implementation.The annual report is a tool for achieving this.
The main purpose and most important function of the report is to provide local legislative bodies with information regarding implementation of their general plans. The report must be presented to the local legislative body for their review and acceptance. This is typically done by placing the report on a regular meeting agenda as a consent or discussion item.
City of Point Arena – Growth and the General Plan
The City of Point Arena General Plan/ Local Coastal Plan was adopted by the City Council in January of 1995. Point Arena’s General Plan was revised in 2001, and again in 2006. Since the plan’s adoption, the city has sought to implement the programs contained in it through a variety of efforts including application of General Plan polices during the review of new development projects, substantive environmental review of new development, and construction of new and updated infrastructure. The City’s General Plan continues to be a valid and useful document, with its goals and policies being advanced by City actions throughout the 2021 calendar year.
City of Point Arena 2019-2027 Housing Element
The City of Point Arena 2019-2027 Housing Element update (Housing Element or HE) was adopted by the City Council on October 8, 2019. The HE was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development for compliance with state housing element law on October 22, 2019.
The Housing Element outlines the City’s goals, policies, and programs in relation to the provision of housing, addresses the City’s success in implementing the previous Housing Element, and provides a detailed demographic and analytical evaluation of how the City is planning to accommodate its share of the region’s housing needs during the planning period. The primary components of the current Housing Element remain consistent with the City’s previous Housing Element. The City has made strides toward the achievement of accommodating its regional fair share of affordable housing needs and will continue to move toward meeting the goals of the Housing Element.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As described in this report, the City of Point Arena General Plan is a useful and valuable tool to assist the City in providing policy direction to City decision-makers and information for city residents and interested parties.
In that context and in terms of the City of Point Arena and its General Plan, this report concludes the following:
• The City of Point Arena General Plan is a valid and useful document, which provides guidance and direction for the City as intended.
• In comparing current City of Point Arena General Plan projections to the current setting, it can be summarized that the main thrust of the General Plan projections are correct; the plan recognized that limited new residential development would be necessary to meet projected demand.
• Detailed information about the city and the surrounding area is included in all of the elements of the current City of Point Arena General Plan. The overarching, supporting, and descriptive information is accurate and therefore useful. • The adopted 2019–2027 Housing Element focuses on the City’s progress toward meeting its regional housing needs allocation, with the land supply available to meet itstargets.
I. IS THE GENERAL PLAN SERVING TO MEET ITS OWN GOALS?
With regard to land use, all of the goals, policies, and programs set forth by the City of Point Arena General Plan stem from Overall Goals 1 through 4, as follows:
• Goal 1 Preserve the Small-Town Rural Character of Point Arena • Goal 2 Ensure Public Safety
• Goal 3 Encourage Economic Growth and Development
• Goal 4 Preserve Open Spaces, Natural Resources, Coastal Assets and Environmental Quality
• Goal 5 Promote Affordable Housing
A determination as to whether these goals are being met may be subjective, but there are objective measures as well. One metric to determine whether a community maintains its qualities is the presence of growth interests. The section below titled Development Activity 2021 (on page 13) summarizes the development applications and activity that have occurred over the last year. Prior to that summary is a review of the stage set by the GeneralPlan.
General Plan Land Use Projections
The City of Point Arena General Plan Housing Element 2019-2028 summarizes historical population data; however, the California Department of Finance (DOF) also provide population projections for California Counties up until 2060.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
7 Population projections for the city are not currently available. However, the Department of Finance provides projections for all counties through 2060. Table 1 shows the expected population growth for both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of Mendocino County between 2020 and 2060. Based on DOF projections, the county is expected to experience an annual growth rate of approximately -0.12 percent between 2020 and 2060.
Table 1. Mendocino County Population Projections
2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 Annual Growth
2020-2060
Mendocino County 87,491 89,232 88,205 85,573 83,305 -0.12% Current Setting
The City of Point Arena 2019-2028 Housing Element states that from 1990 to 2017, the city’s population increased by approximately 16 percent (65 people). During this period, the annual growth averaged 0.59 percent per year. Point Arena is one of the smallest cities in the State of California, and whose population over the last three decades has held steady between 407 (lowest) and 474 (highest). Per the 2020 Census, the City has a current population of 460. Seniors aged 65 years or older represent approximately 25.2 percent of the population of Point Arena (US Census, 2019), which is higher than nearby cities but consistent with the county average. The city is expected to maintain a stable population for the duration of the current planning period.
Regional Housing Needs
A Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Plan is mandated by the State of California (Government Code Section 65584) for regions to address housing issues and needs based on future growth projections for the area. The State also establishes the number of total housing units needed for each region. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65584, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) developed an RHNA Plan for Mendocino County, which identifies a need for a specific number of new residential units in the county over an 8-year period (2019 to 2027). The need for residential units is shared and distributed among each of the communities in the county, with each community’s share determined by its proportion of the county’s overall household population.
The intent of the RHNA Plan is to ensure that local jurisdictions not only address the needs of their immediate areas but also provide their share of housing needs for the entire region. Additionally, a major goal of the RHNA Plan is to ensure that every community provides an opportunity for a mix of affordable housing to all economic segments of its population. The RHNA Plan’s jurisdictional allocations are made to ensure that adequate sites and zoning are provided to address existing and anticipated housing demands during the planning period and that market forces are not inhibited in addressing the housing needs for all facets of a particularcommunity.
Based on the RHNA Plan for Mendocino County, the City of Point Arena’s share of regional housing needs is 9 units. The RHNA Plan identified the need for 3 units for very-low-income households, 1 unit for lower-income households, 3 units for moderate-income households, and 2 units for above City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
8 moderate-income households.
Point Arena has an estimated vacant land capacity to construct 23 single-family and 259 multifamily units (282 total units), and additional development strategies (ADUs, etc.) to meet its 2019- 2027 RHNA goal of 9 units. The available residential site inventory completed as part of the 2019– 2027 Housing Element demonstrates that even with reductions in maximum buildout projections there is an estimated 140-unit realistic capacity for all incomes, and out of that, 55 units can realistically be developed as low income.
The RHNA goal for extremely low, very low, and low-income units have not been met nor has the goal for moderate and above-moderate income units. Between January and December 2021, no permits for above-moderate income units were issued. During this period, no permits for extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income units were issued. As such, the RHNA for the 2019- 2027 time period stands at 9 units: 3 units for very-low-income households, 1 units for lower-income households, 3 units for moderate-income households, and 2 units for above moderate-income households. When considering available residential land for development, the City of Point Arena has the capacity to meet its regional housing needs.
Summary
Utilizing the General Plan’s projections compared to the current setting, it is concluded that the General Plan projections were correct in that they identified new residential development would be required to meet very limited demand. The City’s Housing Element identified some new requirements (resulting from outside legislation) that have created new targets for the City to meet, and through the required internal consistency, will work in concert to support the General Plan to address those goals. It is then concluded that the General Plan is serving to meet its goals.
II. ADEQUACY OF THE CURRENT CITY OF POINT ARENA GENERAL PLAN Government Code Section 65302 states that “the general plan shall consist of a statement of development policies and shall include a diagram or diagrams and text setting forth objectives, principles, standards, and plan proposals.” At the time the current General Plan was written the state required seven elements be included which are described in this report. Recent state legislation requires that an environmental justice element also be included in a general plan.
According to Government Code Section 65302(h)(2) this element must be included in the general plan upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018. It, however, does not have to be a stand-alone element but the environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives can be included in other elements.
For one of the required elements, the housing element, the Government Code is very specific about contents, requirements, and frequency of adoption. The requirements for the other six elements are less specific. The Government Code requires that the City’s housing element be reviewed and adopted or re-adopted every 8 years, while the other elements of the plan should be revised “as needed” to keep information current. The City of Point Arena’s General Plan contains all seven of the required elements and comprises a legally adequate General Plan.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
9 The City of Point Arena General Plan was consistent with state requirements when it was adopted in January of 1995 and during its next revision requires inclusion of newly State mandated provisions. The Housing Element was updated and adopted in October of 2019 and was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to be in compliance with state housing element law.
Usefulness of the Plan
A general plan has been described by the courts as “the constitution for development” (of a jurisdiction). All development approvals must be consistent with the general plan. Therefore, a general plan is useful if it provides up-to-date information, goals, policies, and programs that are consistent with current city growth policies, and which are physically and economically feasible to implement. Table 2 displays the dates of the currently adopted elements as well as their most recent updates and/or amendments.
Table 2. General Plan Elements
Adopted Elements Year
Adopted
Last
Comprehensive
Update
Last Amendment
Land Use and
Development
Element
1995 2006 2021
Economic
Development
Element
1995 N/A N/A
Traffic and
Circulation Element 1995 N/A N/A
Open Space and
Conservation
Element
1995 N/A N/A
Community Health
and Safety Element 1995 N/A N/A
Noise Element 1995 N/A N/A
Housing Element 1995 2019 N/A
The Point Arena General Plan elements are listed below, with a brief description of what they include, followed by a brief discussion and summary regarding what was completed during the 2021 calendar year to ensure that the goals, policies, and programs set forth in the General Plan have been addressed.
LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
A land use element which designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, open space...and other categories of public and private uses of land. [It]...shall include a statement of the standards of population and building intensity recommended for the various districts...
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
10 Goals listed in the Land Use Element of the General Plan are as follows:
• To accommodate future urban-type development within the City’s “urban Limit” line. • To maintain the city's small-town, open and rural character through low residential densities and building intensities, and through the preservation of open spaces. • To provide for a strong and healthy downtown commercial core that can also accommodate a mixture of commercial, office, small business, and residential activities. • To adopt land-use and development policies that welcome and encourage economic development and growth, job formations, a variety of new housing opportunities, infilling of new development within the Downtown area, increased but limited development at the Cove, and industrial-type uses in the City's industrial area. • To require sewer and/or water hookups, and expansion of both systems, within most of the urbanized and urbanizing portions of the urban limit line, so that development may proceed unimpeded in all areas of the city in response to needs and demands for service, provided that the systems are deemed adequate and that extensions of facilities can be shown to be financially and fiscally feasible or will be provided as a condition of development.
These goals guide several policies and programs that generally seek to ensure a high quality of life, targeted development, and economic growth. Within that framework, staff worked on the following items throughout the 2021 calendar year to ensure that the goals set forth in the General Plan have been addressed:
• In 2021, the City of Point Arena completed an amendment to its Local Coastal Program (OA 2019-01 and LCP-1-PTA-20-0040-1) that adds and amends various sections of the Zoning Code to allow for Farmstays and allow for a wider range of Animal Husbandry in the Agricultural Exclusive zone. The amendment was intended to allow additional revenuegenerating land uses on Agricultural Exclusive parcels while encouraging the continued use of these lands for agricultural purposes.
Summary/Conclusion: The Land Use Element is useful and adequate in its characterization of the nature of the city and the General Plan’s overarching goals and policies. The amendment described above that modified the permitted land uses in the Agricultural Exclusive zone was the sole amendment adopted by the City in 2021.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT
Economic Development is an optional General Plan element under California law. The Economic Development Element addresses improving the economic climate throughout the Point Arena Planning Area, including both those owned and maintained by the City of Point Arena and those under the purview of other agencies or, selectively, private entities. The Economic Development Element is closely linked both to the Land Use Element.
Goals listed in the Economic Development Element of the General Plan are as follows:
• To provide job opportunities for the local population, and new tax revenues for the City, by making it possible for the city's economic base Downtown, along Highway 1, at the Cove, and in the city's industrial area, to expand and grow.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
11 • To provide a high-quality and attractive habitat for the area's residents and business owners, and for those who are evaluating Point Arena as a place in which to live, invest and start (or transfer) a business. This implies that protection of the physical environment and enhancement of the beauty of the built environment in the city and its surroundings must be a top municipal objective for two reasons: a high-quality environment contributes to everyone's well being and health; and, a high-quality environment begets an interest in Point Arena by those whose investments are essential to help pay for environmental protection as well as public infrastructure improvements and municipal services These goals guide several policies and programs that generally seek to ensure desirable economic growth. Within that framework, staff worked on the following items throughout the 2021 calendar year to ensure that the goals set forth in the General Plan have been addressed:
• The City of Point Arena approved a Coastal Development Use Permit (CDU 3-2020) in March of 2021 to allow for the establishment of a brew pub in the downtown commercial area. As part of the approval, the City Council made a finding that the project has the capacity to attract more visitors to town, has the capacity to increase business taxes, is a unique business addition to the city, and that the project will contribute to long-term overall economic goals.
• The City participates regularly with Point Arena Merchant’s Association to identify community-oriented approaches to increase the vibrancy and appeal of downtown businesses.
• The City maintains an active seat on the Economic Development Finance Corporation (EDFC) board of directors, and partners with EDFC on business loan programs to provide capital to Point Arena businesses.
Summary/Conclusion: The Economic Development Element contains standards and guidelines that protect existing recreation uses, and new potential recreation uses. The Economic Development Element contained within the General Plan has been used by staff and has provided valuable guidance and policy direction for the City. The Economic Development Element contained within the General Plan is current and accurate and remains useful and legally adequate.
TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION ELEMENT
A circulation element consisting of the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities, all correlated with the land use element of the plan… Goals listed in the Traffic and Circulation Element of the Point Arena General Plan are as follows:
• Improve safety on all streets.
• Preserve peace and quiet in residential areas.
• Improve parking downtown.
• Provide pleasant and safe systems for pedestrians and bicyclists. • Create an efficient system of streets for the movement of vehicles through town and for the circulation of vehicles within the city.
These goals guide several policies and programs that generally seek to enhance the movement of City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
12 goods and people throughout the city, provide safe routes for mobility, and maintain and improve the quality of the roadways within the city. During the 2021 calendar year, the City undertook the following measures to advance the Traffic and Circulation Element:
• In 2021, the City of Point Arena completed a parking lot repair project in Arena Cove. The project was repaired damage from a large storm with the assistance of FEMA disaster funding. The project resurfaced the parking area and repaired damage caused by debris from the storm surge. The newly repaired parking lot provides public parking for Arena Cove businesses and for the public to access the beach and pier in Arena Cove. • The City began street repair projects on Mill Street and Center Street in downtown Point Arena in 2021. These projects improve the safety of damaged and substandard streets. The Mill Street repairs also provide on-street parking for many residents in that neighborhood and provides supplemental parking for downtown businesses.
Summary/Conclusion: The Traffic and Circulation Element in the General Plan is devised and designed to support the Land Use Plan and policies for both current uses and future growth. The Traffic and Circulation Element has not been amended since its adoption, and the goals, policies, and programs of the element are valid. The Traffic and Circulation Plan within the element continues to serve to facilitate the implementation of the Land Use Plan, and the assumptions and projections supporting its designations of streets and roadways are accurate and provide a legally adequate and viable plan.
OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENT
A conservation element for the conservation, development and utilization of natural resources including water...soils, rivers...and other natural resources.
Goals listed in the Open Space and Conservation Element of the Point Arena General Plan are as follows:
• To preserve identifiable open space and conservation resources, as well as the "sense of open space" that now contributes to the town's character. • To create an open space system adequate to serve local needs and expectations, and to provide visual and psychological relief from the built-up environment that will result when the city is more fully urbanized, which system shall be comprised of parks and recreation areas, urban pathways and trails, waterways and riparian corridors, permanently-preserved urban open space lands held in a single or common ownership, and the coastline and beaches.
• To preserve key scenic corridors, vistas and viewsheds, and the special open space and scenic qualities of ocean bluffs, hillsides, hilltops, and farmlands. • To strive to preserve existing open space lands: farmlands and ranches, and forested areas, located outside Point Arena and yet within its sphere of influence. • To protect all sensitive and endangered habitats from grading, diking, dredging, filling and development, and from water and air pollutants.
• To retain waterways and associated riparian buffer areas, marshes and wetlands, and beaches, in as close to a natural state as possible.
• To promote opportunities for outdoor recreation within open spaces, at Arena Cove, and within the waters of the Cove.
• To attempt to conserve existing natural land contours.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
13 • To promote the planting of trees for wind protection and scenery, and to work to conserve existing trees of significance.
• To preserve and improve coastal access by foot and vehicle, and for the handicapped. • To promote coastal-dependent economic development and visitor-serving uses at Arena Cove, subject to the environmental-protection policies and regulations of this general plan. • To protect the integrity and quality of the City's domestic water supply. • To ensure that all pollutants, including unwanted sounds, are not allowed to impact negatively on the environment.
• To preserve the existing qualities associated with a low level of artificial lighting on public and private properties.
• In order to protect the environmental integrity of its marine resources, to oppose the construction of a breakwater at Arena Cove.
• To preserve the City's unique archaeological, architectural, and historic resources.
The City made an effort in 2021 to advance the goals and programs of the Open Space and Conservation Element. This effort includes:
• In 2021, the City of Point Arena applied for and received funding from California State Parks (Prop 68) to renovate the City’s downtown park. Public meetings with City Council were held to receive input on the application, which identified the following improvements for the park: additional playground facilities, establishment of a dog park, and drainage improvements to restore a former wetland. This project’s development was informed by and consistent with the policies of the Open Space and Conservation Element. • In 2021, the aforementioned Arena Cove project was implemented in part to preserve and improve coastal access by foot and vehicle, and for the handicapped by repairing and fortifying the public parking lot. The project also helped to ensure that pollutants are not conveyed to waterways with the inclusion of a bioretention basin to collect runoff and filter pollutants before releasing the stormwater to Arena Creek.
Summary/Conclusion: The Open Space and Conservation Element remains useful and relevant and have served the City over the last year. The element has not been amended since its adoption, and the goals, policies, and programs of the element remain valid.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT
A safety element for the protection of the community from any unreasonable risks associated with the effects of […earthquakes, dam failures, subsidence, liquefaction, and other known geologic hazards]. It shall also address evacuation routes, peak load water supply requirements...
Goals listed in the Community Health and Safety Element of the Point Arena General Plan are as follows:
• Strive to protect the community from injury, loss of life, and property damage resulting from natural catastrophes and hazardous conditions.
• Strive to reduce the impact of pollutants on the well-being of Point Arena citizens, and on plants and wildlife.
• Provide an adequate, consistent, and safe supply of water to meet Point Arena’s domestic, commercial and firefighting needs, and protect the city’s ground water from pollutants.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
14 • Recognize the importance of the Garcia River and of the Garcia River Watershed and ecosystem to the City’s well-being.
• Ensure that the city and its citizens, and businesses, are prepared for an effective response to major emergencies.
The City made an effort in 2021 to advance the goals and programs of the Community Health and Safety Element. This effort includes:
• All discretionary permits are referred to Calfire and the Redwood Coast Fire Protection District for comment and to ensure consistency with their safety policies and requirements. • The City participated in the California Geological Survey’s update to Mendocino County’s Tsunami Hazard Areas mapping. The map aids in the development of safe evacuation routes and warning systems.
Summary/Conclusion: The Community Health and Safety Element contains information and goals, policies, and programs regarding emergency preparedness, flood and geologic hazards, fire and police protection, and hazardous waste and materials. The element has not been amended since its adoption. However, an update to include new flood management and fire hazards requirements is required and should be revised upon each Housing Element Revision.
NOISE ELEMENT
A noise element which shall identify and appraise noise problems in the community. [It] shall...analyze and quantify, to the extent practicable...current and projected noise levels for all of the following sources...[including highways, industrial uses, and others identified by Council as contributing to the community noise environment]. Noise contours shall be shown for all of these sources...The noise contours shall be used as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the land use element...
Goals listed in the Noise Element of the General Plan are as follows:
• To Preserve low ambient noise levels in residential neighborhoods, especially at night (8PM7AM. • To protect existing developed areas from excessive noise levels. • To encourage low-noise commercial and industrial developments. • To implement planning and zoning regulations that will guard against the loss of the low ambient sound levels, especially at night.
• To implement and enforce the State of California Noise Insulation Standards for all new developments.
The City made an effort in 2021 to advance the goals and programs of the Noise Element. This effort includes:
• The City ordinance includes Section 9.35 that outlines the noise limitation policies for activities in Point Arena. In 2021, the City responded to citizen complaints about excessive noise generated by a construction project. The City monitored noise levels and informed project proponents of the applicable noise policies so that operations could be altered to meet the City’s noise requirements.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
15 Summary/Conclusion: The Noise Element contains standards and guidelines that protect both existing noise-generating uses and new potentially noise-sensitive land uses. The Noise Element contained within the General Plan has been used by staff and has provided valuable guidance and policy direction for the City. The Noise Element contained within the General Plan is current and accurate and remains useful and legally adequate.
HOUSING ELEMENT
The housing element shall consist of an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing. [It] shall identify adequate sites for housing, including rental housing, factory-built housing, and mobile homes, and shall make adequate provision for the existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community... (Section 65580). Each local government shall review its housing element as frequently as appropriate...but not less than every five years (Section 65588).
In 2020, 1 building permit was issued for a single-family home. No permits were issued for multifamily units in 2020. In 2021, no building permits or certificates of occupancy were issued for singlefamily homes. No permits were issued for multi-family units in 2021.
The updated City of Point Arena Housing Element is based on three strategic goals:
1) Promote and facilitate housing unit construction at all income levels, with specific emphasis on increased housing opportunities for Point Arena’s low-income households. 2) Preserve existing housing in safe and sound condition, particularly rental units. 3) Support ongoing efforts of existing agencies and non-profit organizations in creating, preserving, and updating healthy and affordable housing for all.
Summary/Conclusion: The long-term housing goal is to facilitate and encourage housing that fulfills the diverse needs of the community. The 2019-2027 Housing Element was adopted in October 2019 and has been certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development for compliance with state housing element law. Generally, the Housing Element provides information and policy guidance on issues including affordable housing and housing for special needs groups and identifies potential programs that the City utilizes to help fill underserved housing needs in the community. The 2019-2027 Housing Element contains 3 goals and 34 programs designed to establish the City’s approach to the planning of housing in Anderson. The 2019-2027 Housing Element has functioned as a useful and adequate element of the General Plan over the course of the past year (see Annual Element Progress Report – Housing Element Implementation).
Overall Summary
The City of Point Arena adopted its General Plan in 1995 and it was revised in 2001 and 2006. The document has been providing policy guidance and direction in a meaningful way. The General Plan states that the City should promote the development of a variety of housing types to provide more housing. The General Plan is legally adequate and sufficiently represents the City’s policydirection.
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY 2021
The amount of development in recent years has remained steady without much variance in building City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
16 permit applications or applications for entitlement permits. The table below shows a summary of applications submitted in 2021.
Planning Applications – 2021
Application Type # of
Apps
Status
(Approved, Pending)
Conditional Use Permit 4 Three approved, one pending
Sign Permits 2 Two permits approved.
General Plan Amendment 2 One adopted, one pending
Zoning Ord. / Map Amendment 2 One adopted, one pending
Lot Merger 0
Subdivision 1 One application pending
Variance 1 One variance approved
Annexation 0
Design Review 0
Property Line Adjustment 1 One adjustment approved
Coastal Development Permits 7 Four approved, three pending Summary
In 2020, 1 building permit was issued for a single-family home. No permits were issued for multifamily units in 2020. In 2021, no building permits or certificates of occupancy were issued for singlefamily homes. No permits were issued for multi-family units in 2021.
As indicated previously in this report, the City of Point Arena General Plan provides meaningful direction to elected officials, City staff, landowners, citizens, and parties interested in the future of Anderson. Through the end of calendar year 2021, the General Plan remained consistent in its direction and policy foundations from the time of its adoption in 1995. The only change to the General Plan in 2021 was an amendment to the Land Use Element to address land uses in the Agricultural Exclusive land use classification. There were no changes to the General Plan’s goals, policies, and programs during 2021.
Although the General Plan is pending a comprehensive update, the current General Plan continues to provide accurate and useful policy guidance for the City. The document is adequate and functional, and succeeds in meeting its own goals, policies, and programs and in serving the needs of the City of Point Arena.
City of Point Arena 2021 General Plan and
Housing Element Annual Report
17 REFERENCES
1. City of Point Arena. General Plan / Local Coastal Plan. 2006.
2. 2021 City of Point Arena Planning Department Application Processing Log and Activity Reports.
3. City of Point Arena. 2019-2027 Housing Element Update. 2019.
4. California Department of Finance. Demographic Research Unit, P-2A Total Population for California and Counties.2021.
5. U.S. Census Bureau. 2019 American Community Survey 5-Yeat Estimates. Table S0101. 2019.