Related General Plan
and Zoning Amendments
October 10, 2022
City Council Work Session
2 What is the General Plan?
3 General Plan Updates Underway
Housing Element Update
SLHousingElement.com
Environmental Hazards Element Update
New Environmental Justice Element
www.sanleandro.org/EJ
Environmental
Justice
Element
5 Per Senate Bill 1000 (2016), the City’s Environmental Justice Element will define goals and policies for EJ communities in San Leandro to:
Environmental Justice (EJ) Element
Reduce Unique or
Compounded Health
Risks
Promote Engagement
in Public DecisionMaking
Prioritize
Improvements &
Programs
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
6 Environmental Justice Communities
Pollution is a regional
issue in the Bay Area. “"It's about I-580 versus I880, but it's also about where we place
environmental burdens, and
whether we're going to
move away from a model
where more disadvantaged
communities are forced to
accept greater
environmental risks in our
country" - Josh Apte, Assistant
Professor of Environmental
Health Sciences and
Environmental Engineering
San Leandro
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
7 Environmental Justice Communities
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
8 Environmental Justice Communities
9 San Leandro
Race San Leandro Bay Area
Asian
American/Pacific
Islander
36.3% 28.2%
Black/African
American
10.7% 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 25.8% 24.4%
Other or Multiple
Races
4.8% 5.9%
White 19.6% 35.8%
Racial Diversity
Source: IPUMS National Historical Geographic
Information System. US Census, 2020. Census
State Redistricting Data, Table P002.
10 San Leandro
Income Distribution
• San Leandro’s median
household income
estimated at $78,003
per 2015-2019 ACS
• 24% lower than the
median income for
Alameda County as a
whole
11 Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
• Reduce pollution exposure and improve air quality
Physical Activity and Public Facilities
• Promote physical activity and adequate and equitable access to public facilities Food Access
• Promote food access so all people in San Leandro can access nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, and affordable food
Civic Engagement and Investment Prioritization
• Prioritize engagement of people from all backgrounds and direct resources to Environmental Justice communities
Safe and Sanitary Homes
• Promote safe, healthy, and affordable homes
Draft Goals
12 Air Pollution Factors
Diesel Particulate Matter Traffic Impacts
13 Surface/Subsurface Pollution Exposure
Cleanup Sites Groundwater Threats
14 Summary of Existing Policies
• Avoid, reduce, minimize or eliminate pollution impacts and improve air quality by focusing on:
• Transportation emissions
• Indoor air filtration/improvement
• Land use compatibility
• Groundwater cleanup
• Public awareness of resources
15 Summary of Draft New Policies
• Monitor and reduce Diesel Particulate Matter, including:
• Air quality monitor installation
• Air quality monitor loan program
• Urban greening initiatives
• Promotion of Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure
• Continue monitoring and enforcing solid/hazardous waste facilities and local cleanup sites
• Continue providing public education and information on air quality hazards and options for increasing personal safety
16 Physical Activity and Public Facilities Key Findings City’s established
goal for parkland (5
acres per 1,000
residents and a park
within ½ mile of
each resident) not
currently met
17 Summary of Existing Policies
• Encourage “complete neighborhoods” and “complete streets” • Improve active transportation
• including cross-town bike routes
• Recognize link between parks and public health:
• New parks and open spaces
• new development
• conversion of underutilized right-of-way
• Joint-use agreements with school districts
• High level of personal safety and security in parks
• Equitable and affordable access to recreation and human services programs • Use health data to guide investment in new park and recreational facilities, and to shape new recreational programs
18 Summary of Draft New Policies
• Increase park access
• Seek input on community priorities and preferences
• Promote awareness about existing health resources
• Improve transit access and safety of walking and bicycle routes • Evaluate hours/access to libraries on western side of town and seek to enhance equitable services
19 Key Findings: Food
Access • No food deserts in San Leandro (>
1-mile
from a Supercenter, Supermarket, or Large
Grocery Store)
• USDA identifies three EJ Communities as: • Low-Income (LI): poverty rate > 20%, or median family income < 80% of CA
or metropolitan area
• Low Access (LA): More than 33% of
census tract more than 0.5 mile from
the nearest Supercenter, Supermarket,
and Large Grocery Store
20 Key Findings: Food
Access
• Opportunity to
support additional
food pantry/
distribution in EJ
communities
Food Pantry/Distribution Location Map
21 Summary of Existing and Draft New Policies
• Existing Policies:
• Promote reinvestment in neighborhood shopping centers and access to fresh healthy produce in all parts of the city
• Support new community gardens with a priority on underused utility-owned and School District owned properties
• Proposed Policies:
• Expand healthy food access through:
• Farmers markets
• Community gardens
• Food distribution program for low-income residents
• Coordinate with School Districts to support gardens and “Edible School Yards” on District properties
22 Key Findings:
Civic Engagement
Majority of census tracts have a
high level of linguistic isolation.
The top three languages spoken
besides English are Spanish,
Chinese, and Tagalog.
The US Census Bureau defines linguistic isolation
living in a household in which all members aged 14
years and older speak a non-English language and
also speak English less than “very well” (i.e., have
difficulty with English).
23 Summary of Existing Policies
• Advance equitable communication through:
o Language and media diversity to ensure access to information for those without easy access to electronic media and those whose primary language is not English
o Neighborhood based communications
o Multi-lingual information and cultural competency
• Engage underrepresented residents and people of all racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in the City’s Community Development and Human Services Departments’ programs to achieve equitable outcomes 24 Summary of Draft New Policies
• Implement Equity Work Plan:
• Incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) • Develop training, evaluation, and oversight protocols • Establish principles and core values that support equitable community engagement and advance integrity, trust, inclusiveness, open/transparent dialogue, co-creation, and belonging
• Conduct GIS mapping analysis of distribution and access to City resources and services and ensure equitable access and allocation of City resources and services • Coordinate and monitor City-wide outreach policies, ensure department level coordination of communication and outreach, and provide language access services that promote communication accessibility
• Increase participation by low-income, people of color, non-English speaking persons, residents with children, and those without cars in City meetings and on City boards, commissions, and committees
25 Next Steps
Existing
Conditions
Analysis &
Policy
Framework
Draft EJ Goals and
Policies
Draft
Environmental
Justice Element
Planning
Commission (PC)
Hearing and
Recommendation
City Council (CC)
Hearing and
Adoption
Community Advisory
Committee Input
9/14 Public
Workshop
Work Sessions:
PC: 10/6
CC: 10/10
11/17 PC
Public Hearing
12/5 CC
Public Hearing
ZONING CODE
AMENDMENTS
1. Implement 2015-2023 Housing Element
2. Amend development standards to facilitate
housing and meet RHNA
3. Address changes in State Law
4. Miscellaneous amendments
27 • Eight-year blueprint for meeting community’s housing needs from 2023 to 2031
• Coordinated strategy for preserving existing housing and advancing opportunities for new housing in a smart and
sustainable way – removing governmental constraints
• Strategy to address housing needs across economic and social spectrum, reflecting needs of a diverse community • One of eight mandatory elements of the General Plan
• Governed by California Government Code Article 10.6 (Sections 65580-65589.11)
• Updated every 8 years in accordance with the RHNA cycle • Only element that MUST be approved and certified by State What is the Housing Element?
28 REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA)
• Housing units each community is required to demonstrate “adequate sites” through zoning • One of primary criteria necessary to achieve HCD certification www.SLHousingElement.com 12
California Department
of Housing and
Community
Development (HCD)
Association of
Bay Area Governments
(ABAG)
City of San Leandro
504
862
270
495 352
1,161 696
1,802
5TH CYCLE RHNA
2015-2023
6TH CYCLE RHNA
2023-2031
Above Moderate
(>120% of AMI)
Moderate
(80-120% of AMI)
Low
(50-80% of AMI)
Very Low
(<50% of AMI)
2,287 units
3,855 units
29 ADDRESSING THE 2023-2031 RHNA
www.SLHousingElement.com 16
Planned
and
Approved
Projects
ADUs
Housing
Opportunity
Sites
First, we consider:
Planned and approved projects
- Extension Proposed
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Next, we select housing
opportunity sites. Preferred sites
are 0.5 – 10 acres and have access
to:
Transit
Schools and jobs
Amenities such as parks and services
Grocery stores
Infrastructure and utilities
30 Proposed Opportunity
Sites to Highlight
Where Multi-Family
is Allowed
31 • Allow Multi-Family and Mixed-Use in CC District:
• MacArthur Blvd. between Durant Ave. and Foothill Blvd. • Washington St. between Castro St. and San Leandro Blvd. • Require minimum density in RM Districts
• RM-1800, RM-2000, and R-2500 Districts: 12 du/ac
• RM-875 District: 20 units/acre
Implement 2015-2023 Housing Element
32 E.14th Corridor Planning Through the Decades
1991
2004
2007
2018
33 Downtown and South Area
Districts
Priority Development
Areas
34 Achieving Intended Development – Downtown and South Area 34 Corridor Vision: Multi-story apartments
and mixed-use buildings
35 Achieving Intended Development – Downtown and South Area 35 Current Standards: DA-2, DA-3, SA-1, SA-2,
SA-3 generally support townhomes
36 Proposed Amendments
Adjust density limitations, floor area ratio (FAR), and heights in Corridor Mixed Use Land Use area, Downtown (DA) and South Area (SA) to create a path for multi-story apartments and mixed-use buildings
Removes governmental barriers to housing and addresses San Leandro’s RHNA 37 Proposed Changes to Allowable Density in DA & SA Districts 38 • Density Bonus provisions
• Employee housing
• Transitional and supportive housing
• Emergency shelter standards
• Low barrier navigation centers
• Updating housing terms and definitions
• Clean up items
Address Changes in State Law & Misc.
39 • 2035 General Plan adopted and EIR certified in 2016 • City prepared a Supplemental EIR (SEIR) to analyze the Project:
• General Plan: new Environmental Justice Element, 2023-2031 Housing Element, Environmental Hazards Element, Land Use Element, and related amendments • Zoning: Implementation of 2015-2023 Housing Element, increase development standards to facilitate housing and meet RHNA, address changes in State Law, and miscellaneous clean-up amendments
• Draft SEIR found no new significant and unavoidable impacts associated with the project
• Three new mitigation measures proposed to comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD’s) updated CEQA guidelines • One revised mitigation measure to reduce construction noise/vibration to the extent feasible
• Two alternatives analyzed – No Project and Downtown Emphasis • Public comments on the Draft Supplemental EIR accepted until 5pm on Monday, October 31
Environmental Review
40 Community Engagement to date
Community Workshop Series:
• Oct./Nov. ‘21: Housing Element Introduction
• Dec. ‘21: Housing Policies
• Jan. ‘22: Housing Opportunity Sites & CEQA
Project Website, Email Newsletters,
and Social Media:
• www.SLHousingElement.com
Opportunity Sites Selection:
• Balancing Act tool
• Draft list online
Online Housing Needs Survey:
• English
• Spanish
• Chinese
Stakeholder Interviews &
Group Meetings
Digital and Non-Digital Outreach:
• English
• Spanish
• Chinese
41 City Council
Workshop
September 13,
2021
Introductory
Community
Workshops
October 27 and
November 6, 2021
Community
Workshops on
Policy
December 9,
2021
Community
Workshops on
Sites Inventory
January 19, 2022
Draft Housing
Element for
Public Review
June/July 2022
Public Hearings
on Adoption of
Housing Element,
SEIR and Related
Amendments
November/ December
2022
Timeline
2021 2022 24
Work Sessions
on Related
Amendments
October 2022
SEIR Comment Period
September 16 – October 31, 2022
42 • Updating Environmental Hazards Element
• NEW Environmental Justice Element
• Zoning Amendments
• Implement 2015-2023 Housing Element
• Increase development standards in select areas to facilitate housing and meet San Leandro’s RHNA
• Downtown (DA) Zoning Districts
• South Area (SA) Zoning Districts (E. 14th St between Downtown and Bay Fair) • Corridor Mixed Use General Plan Land Use Designation
• Address changes in State Law
Recap