STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
Oc
tober 25, 2023
Dana E
ady, Manager
Planning Division
Community Development Department
City of Santa Maria
110 South Pine Street, Suite 101
Santa Maria, CA 93458
Dear
Dana Eady:
RE
: City of Santa Maria’s 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Revised Draft Housing Element Thank
you for submitting the City of Santa Maria’s (City) revised draft housing element update received for review on September 8, 2023, along with revisions received on October 19, 2023 and minor technical edits on October 23, 2023. Our review was facilitated by a conversation on October 4, 2023 with you and Frank Albro Jr., Principal Planner. In addition, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) considered comments from David Kellogg pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (c). Pursuant to Government Code section 65585, HCD is reporting the results of its review.
The r
evised draft element, incorporating the revisions and minor technical edits, meets the statutory requirements described in HCD’s May 3, 2023 review. The housing element will substantially comply with State Housing Element Law (Gov.
Code, § 65580 et seq) when it is adopted, submitted to and approved by HCD, in accordance with Government Code section 65585.
Publ
ic participation in the development, adoption and implementation of the housing element is essential to effective housing planning. Throughout the housing element process, the City must continue to engage the community, including organizations that represent lower-income and special needs households, by making information regularly available while considering and incorporating comments where appropriate. Please be aware, any revisions to the element must be posted on the local government’s website and to email a link to all individuals and organizations that have previously requested notices relating to the local government’s housing element at least seven days before submitting to HCD.
ATTACHMENT B
Dana Eady, Manager
For your information, pursuant to Government Code section 65583.3, the City must submit an electronic sites inventory with its adopted housing element. The City must utilize standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD. Please see HCD’s housing element webpage at https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and- community- development/housing-elements for a copy of the form and instructions. The City can reach out to HCD at [email protected] for technical assistance.
Several federal, state, and regional funding programs consider housing element compliance as an eligibility or ranking criteria. For example, the CalTrans Senate Bill (SB) 1 Sustainable Communities grant, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities programs, and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation consider housing element compliance and/or annual reporting requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65400. With a compliant housing element, the City will meet housing element requirements for these and other funding sources.
For your information, some general plan element updates are triggered by housing element adoption. HCD reminds the City to consider timing provisions and welcomes the opportunity to provide assistance. For information, please see the Technical Advisories issued by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research at:
https://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html.
HCD appreciates the hard work and dedication you and Frank Albro Jr., Principal Planner provided in preparation of the City’s housing element and looks forward to receiving the City’s adopted housing element. If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, please contact Clare Blackwell, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager