FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 5, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Director of Community Development
SUBJECT: HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council receive a presentation from the Community Development Department on the City of Santa Maria General Plan Housing Element Update.
BACKGROUND:
The City is currently undertaking a multi -year effort to update its General Plan, which will establish visionary goals and policies that support economic development, sustainability, and improved quality of life through the year 2045. The required elements of the General Plan touch nearly all aspects of city governance, including but not limited to land use, traffic and circulation, parks and open space, public safety, and housing.
Unlike the other elements of the General Plan, the Housing Element must be updated approximately every eight years. These periodic updates are required to reflect recent changes in State law, provide updated information on City housing programs and policies, and to reflect newly State issued 'cycles' of Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the City. The City Council approved the current Housing Element on March 17, 2015, with subsequent certification by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). With this current update, the City will address the upcoming State - mandated planning period of 2023-2031 (State Government Code Section 65588), and the 6th Cycle of RHNA.
DISCUSSION:
Staff, along with the City's Housing Element consultant, Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc., are commencing the Housing Element update effort. To date, the City has been conducting public outreach and is currently gathering input on the housing priorities of our residents through a Housing Element Update Survey posted on the City's website.
Analyses of housing needs and housing constraints, documenting the City's furthering of fair housing, and review and updating of housing programs are some of the State - mandated components of the Housing Element update. Additionally, an 'available sites' inventory and assessment will be produced to demonstrate the City can accommodate the units identified in the City's 6th Cycle RHNA during the next eight -year planning period, and thereby facilitate the development of sufficient numbers of housing units at all income levels to satisfy projected demand. City staff will present information on Housing Element requirements and provide an overview of upcoming milestones.
Fiscal Considerations:
The costs of this project are covered under the overall approved budget for the General Plan Update, which is $1.7 million from the City's general fund, as well as funds available from the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) and Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grants awarded to the City of Santa Maria in 2021.
Impact to the Community:
This project has great impacts to the City of Santa Maria. The Housing Element update will define the anticipated housing growth and associated policies to accommodate the location and types of housing within the City for the next eight years.
FRANK ALBRO
Principal Planner
CHUEN NG
Community Development Director