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
August 8, 2022
Colleen T. Doan, Director
Community Development Department
City of Signal Hill
2175 Cherry Avenue
Signal Hill, CA 90755
Dear Colleen T. Doan:
RE: City of Signal Hill’s 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Revised Draft Housing Element Thank you for submitting the City of Signal Hill’s (City) revised draft housing element received for review on June 15, 2022, along with revisions received on August 4, 2022.
Pursuant to Government Code section 65585, subdivision (b), the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is reporting the results of its review.
The revised draft element, incorporating the revisions submitted, meets the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law, as described in HCD’s May 11, 2022 review. The housing element will comply with State Housing Element Law (Article 10.6 of the Gov. Code) when it is adopted, submitted to, and approved by HCD, in accordance with Government Code section 65585.
For your information, pursuant to Senate Bill 197 (Chapter 70, Statutes of 2022), as the City did not adopt a compliant housing element within 120 days of the statutory deadline (October 15, 2021), as of this writing, any rezoning must be completed within one year of the statutory deadline (October 15, 2022). However, if the City’s adopted element is found in compliance by October 15, 2022, the City may maintain its scheduled rezone deadline of October 2024 (Program 1.1). HCD encourages the City to adopt and submit its housing element by August 15, 2022 to ensure completion of the review of the housing element by the October 15, 2022. If the element is not found in compliance by October 15, 2022, HCD cannot find the element in compliance until the rezoning is complete.
Public 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.
Attachment B
Colleen T. Doan, Director
As noted in prior reviews for non-vacant sites, absent findings (e.g., adoption resolution) based on substantial evidence, the existing uses will be presumed to impede additional residential development and will not be utilized toward demonstrating adequate sites to accommodate the regional housing need allocation (RHNA). The City must make these findings as part of its adoption resolution. Please see HCD’s prior review and Guidance memo (p. 27) for additional information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/communitydevelopment/housing-element/housing-elementmemos/docs/sites_inventory_memo_final06102020.pdf.
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/community-development/housingelement/index.shtml#element 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 Strategic Growth Council and HCD’s 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.
HCD appreciates the hard work and dedication you and the housing element update team in the 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 me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager