City of Taft City Council
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
City Council –
ZOA 2025-16 & SPA 2025-17
Implementation of 6th Cycle Housing Element
Programs and CEQA Exemption
ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION
• Resolution approving Specific Plan Amendment 2025-17 (amending the Downtown Taft Specific Plan to implement 6th Cycle Housing Element Programs) and CEQA Exemption (Section 15051(b)(3)); and
• Introduction of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2025-16 (amending Title 6 of the Taft Municipal Code to implement 6th Cycle Housing Element Programs), Waive Full Reading, and Set Date for Public Hearing for January 20, 2026. 2 BACKGROUND
• The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update for 2023-2031 was adopted by the City Council on August 19, 2025.
• The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) issued a finding of substantial compliance on August 22, 2025, confirming conformance with State Housing Element Law.
• With an adopted and certified Housing Element, the City must implement, monitor, and report on the progress toward implementing the Housing Element through 2031. 3 PROJECT ANALYSIS
• The Housing Element analyzes future housing needs, provides adequate sites for accommodating the City’s forecasted growth, analyzes housing constraints, assesses fair housing, and identifies housing programs to achieve housing goals and objectives. • The Housing Element identifies 52 housing programs organized across 10 areas to achieve the identified housing goals and objectives.
4 • Adequate Sites
• Housing Rehabilitation
• Homeownership Opportunities
• Rental Assistance & Tenant Protections
• Removal of Constraints
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
• Fair Housing Services
• Homelessness Prevention
• Housing Production, Streamlining, and Incentives
• Central and West Taft Neighborhood Revitalization
PROJECT ANALYSIS
5 • The action before the City Council consists of amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Downtown Specific Plan to implement 23 housing programs. • The amendments are required for:
• Compliance with State Law.
• Removal of constraints.
• Incentivization and encouragement of housing production.
PROJECT ANALYSIS
Program 5. Removal of Constraints
• Program 5.a. Multi-Family Rental Housing
• Program 5.b. Housing for Agricultural Employees
• Program 5.c. Emergency Shelters
• Program 5.d. Low Barrier Navigation Centers
• Program 5.e. Transitional Housing
• Program 5.f. Supportive Housing
• Program 5.g. Single Room Occupancy
• Program 5.h. Manufactured Housing
• Program 5.i. Mobile Homes
• Program 5.j. Unit Size Requirements
6 • Program 5.k. Setbacks
• Program 5.m. Definition of Family
• Program 5.n. Residential Care Facilities
• Program 5.o. Reasonable Accommodation
• Program 5.p. Water and Sewer Priority
• Program 5.q Objective Findings
Program 6. ADUs
• Program 6.a. ADU Ordinance
PROJECT ANALYSIS
Program 9. Housing, Production, Streamlining, and Incentives • Program 9.b. Infill Housing
• Program 9.g. Developmental Disabilities
• Program 9.j. SB 9
• Program 9.k. Multi-Family on Commercially-Zoned Property (AB 2011) • Program 9.l. Density Bonus Provisions and Development Incentives • Program 9.m. Lower-income Opportunity Sites
7 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
• Proposes policy updates, programmatic changes, and actions to meet RHNA allocation and state housing requirements.
• The amendments serve to implement the identified housing programs and actions. • Any future development will remain subject to site-specific environmental review and compliance with the General Plan, Specific Plan, and Zoning Ordinance. • Project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it would not have the potential to cause a significant physical effect on the environment. 8 FINDINGS
Zoning Ordinance Amendment
1. The proposed zoning ordinance amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives, policies and programs of the general plan and is necessary and desirable to implement the provision of the general plan.
2. The proposed zoning ordinance amendment will not adversely affect the public health, safety and welfare, or result in an illogical land use pattern.
3. The proposed zoning ordinance amendment is consistent with the purpose and intent of the remainder of this title not under consideration.
4. The potential environmental impacts of the proposed amendment are insignificant, have been mitigated, or there are overriding considerations that outweigh the potential impacts. 9 FINDINGS
Specific Plan Amendment
1. The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives, policies and programs of the general plan, or with the general plan as revised by the proposed amendment, and will not result in any internal inconsistencies within the general plan.
2. The proposed amendment will not adversely affect public health, safety or general welfare.
3. The proposed amendment is consistent with the purpose and intent of the remainder of this Zoning Ordinance not under consideration.
4. The potential environmental impacts of the proposed amendment are insignificant, have been mitigated, or there are overriding considerations that outweigh the potential impacts. 10 STAFF RECOMMENDATION
• Conduct a Public Hearing
• Motion to adopt a resolution entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT 2025-17 (AMENDING
THE DOWNTOWN TAFT SPECIFIC PLAN) TO IMPLEMENT HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE (2023-2031) AND
FIND THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 15061(B)(3) OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES; and
• Introduce by title only AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAFT APPROVING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2025-16 AMENDING TITLE 6 OF THE TAFT MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE (2023-2031), waive full reading, and set the date for the required public hearing for January 20, 2026. 11