Vallejo
Housing, Safety
and Environmental
Justice Elements
City Council and Planning
Commission Study Session
April 18, 2022
Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 2
Presentation Outline
▪ Housing Element Overview
»Regional Housing Needs Allocation
»State Housing Laws
»Public Outreach
▪ Housing Strategy
▪ Safety Element
▪ Environmental Justice Element
▪ Project Schedule
▪ Q & A
Housing
Element
Overview
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Overview
▪ Required Element of the General Plan
▪ Reviewed and certified by State (HCD) for compliance with State law ▪ State-mandated update schedule
» 5th Cycle Planning Period: January 31, 2015 – January 31, 2023 » 6th Cycle Planning Period: January 31, 2023 – January 31, 2031 » 6th Cycle Adoption Deadline: January 31, 2023
▪ Plan for accommodating a jurisdiction’s share of the Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA)
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About the Housing Element
▪ Plans for housing needs of all economic segments of the community » Must have adequate zoning to meet the housing needs (ordinance and zoning changes may be required as a result of the Housing Element)
» Must include goals and policies to ensure each jurisdiction provides adequate housing support for the entire community, including special needs households.
▪ Does not:
» Require the city or county to build the units
» Provide funding to build units
» Approve specific residential developments or projects Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 6
What does the Housing Element include?
• Analysis of existing and projected housing needs Housing Needs Assessment • Identifies fair housing issues and strategies to address any barriers to fair housingFair Housing Assessment
• Inventory of land to accommodate housingHousing Sites Inventory • Analysis of potential constraints to housing (i.e. Permit processing procedures, fees, etc.)Constraints Analysis
• Evaluates implementation progress on the past Housing ElementEvaluation of Past Performance
• Includes new programs to comply with state law and reflect the plan for accommodating the communities needsGoals, Policies, Programs Regional
Effort
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Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
• Housing and Community Development (HCD)
Region
• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) – 441,176 units • Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND)
Local
Jurisdiction
• Every town, city, and county must plan to accommodate its fair share of the regional housing need:
• Provide sites with appropriate zoning and housing development strategies • Not a mandate to construct homes
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Solano County RHNA
▪ Solano County formed a
subregion to distribute its RHNA
» The subregion established a
methodology to distribute the units to
each jurisdiction (10,992)
» Approved by HCD and the Solano
County City County Coordinating
Council in 2021
City of Benicia
7%
City of Dixon
4%
City of
Fairfield
28%
City of Rio Vista
2%
City of Suisun
5%
City of Vacaville
23%
City of Vallejo
26%
Unincorporated Solano County
5%
327
3,069
416
2,900
2,595
620
750315
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Vallejo RHNA Allocation
Income Category Income Range
(Household of 4) RHNA Example of Designations and Zones with Applicable Density
Very Low Income*
(<50% of Median Income) <$48,550 690 • Residential High Density 30 units per acre or greater (RHD zoning district allows up to 40 units per acre)
• Mixed use 30 units per acre or greater (NMX zoning district allows up to 30 units per acre; DMX and WMX zoning
districts allow up to 90 units per acre)
Low Income
(50-80% of Median Income)
$48,551-
$77,600 369
Moderate Income
(80-120% of Median Income)
$77,601-
$119,150 495 • Residential Medium Density 9 -25 units per acre Above Moderate Income
(>120% of Median Income) >$119,150 1,346 • Low Density Residential 1 -9 units per acre T otal 2,900
*It is assumed that 50 percent of very low-income units will be for extremely low-income households.
HCD 2021 Median Income for a household of four in Solano County: $99,300 Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, State Income Limits for Solano County, 2021; Solano County Subregion Final RHNA Plan Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 10
Density to Accommodate RHNA
▪ Cities and counties must show adequate land zoned for housing to accommodate the RHNA at each income level
▪ To accommodate the lower-income RHNA, sites must be in zones that meet the minimum “Default Density” standard set by State law:
• 30 units per acre for metropolitan jurisdictions: Vallejo, Vacaville, Fairfield • 20 units per acre for suburban jurisdictions: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, and Unincorporated Solano County
• 15 units per acre for nonmetropolitan w/micropolitan area jurisdictions • 10 units per acre for nonmetropolitan jurisdictions
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Ways to Accommodate the RHNA
Account for pipeline projects
Estimate Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) production
Look for suitable vacant and underutilized sites
Start with sites from the 5th cycle element
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HCD’s Site Suitability Selection Criteria
Suitable Site
≥0.5 acres and ≤10
acres for high density
sites
Availability of utilities and
infrastructure;
No unmitigable physical
constraints
SB 166 No Net Loss
Vacant
Current uses anticipated to discontinue
or move elsewhere, expiring leases
Land value
compared with
improvement
value
Proximity to transit and
amenities;
High density sites are not
concentrated
Owner interest,
common ownership
Likely to
redevelop by
2031
Adequate density and
allowed uses
Low Floor
Area Ratio
(FAR)
Nonvacant/
Underutilized
Building age/
condition
New
Laws
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State Regulatory Environment, Since 5 th Cycle
▪ The State of California is focused on housing supply and affordability:
» Accessory Dwelling Units (Multiple updates to state law in last 5 years) » Density Bonus Law Updates (AB 2753, AB 2372, AB 1227, AB 2345 and others) » Housing Accountability Act (AB 3194, AB 72 and others) » Supportive Housing Updates (AB 2162)
» Low Barrier Navigation Centers (AB 101)
» Government-Subsidized Affordable Units (SB 1521)
» Sites Inventory Updates (AB 879, AB 1397)
» Streamlined Approval for Housing Projects (SB 35 and SB 330) » No Net Loss of Housing (SB 166)
» Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AB 686)
Public
Outreach
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Public Participation to Date
▪ Collaborative Community Workshops
»January 26th and 27th – Introduction to Regional Housing Element Effort »March 30th – Housing Needs Assessment
▪ Consultations
»21 total consultations with stakeholders across the region completed between November 2021 and March 2022
• Including 7 stakeholders that directly serve Vallejo residents Safety
Element
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Safety Element Updates
▪ A mandatory part of the General Plan.
»Included in Vallejo’s Nature and Built Environment element. ▪ Must be updated every eight years along with the Housing Element. ▪ Last update occurred in 2017.
▪ Helps protect communities against natural disasters and other public safety concerns.
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New Required Content
▪ Include details about floods and wildfires, including background information and specific policies.
▪ Evaluate how climate change affects hazards locally.
»Identify risks posed to vulnerable persons and community assets. »Assess what is currently available to protect against these threats. ▪ Identification of any evacuation-constrained areas.
Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 20
Sea Level
Rise Hazard
Areas
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Vulnerability Assessment
▪ Identifies who and what in the community may be most harmed by climate change and its effects on natural hazards.
▪ Foundation for new policies.
At-risk populations
Buildings and
infrastructure
Economic activity
Natural systems
Public services
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Safety Element and Other Plans
Safety
Element
EOP
LHMP
Climate
Action
Plan
Details Vallejo’s procedures for
emergency response and
recovery
Regional short-term,
focused plan with
detailed implementation.
Long-term local plans to
help protect against
climate-related hazards.
Environmental
Justice
Element
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Environmental Justice
▪ What is Environmental Justice?
»The fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
▪ Required by SB 1000 for some Solano County jurisdictions including Vallejo.
▪ Disadvantaged Communities Analysis.
▪ CalEnviroScreen 4.0.
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Cal
EnviroScreen
Score
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Topics Covered by the EJ Element
▪ Improving air quality
▪ Public facilities
▪ Food access
▪ Safe and sanitary homes
▪ Physical activity
▪ Unique or compounded health risks
▪ Civic engagement in the public decision-making process ▪ Prioritizing improvements that address the needs of disadvantaged communities
Project
Schedule
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Project Schedule
T ask Timeline
Project Kick off Meeting February 2021
Evaluation of the 2015–2023 Housing Element February – April 2021 Housing Element Preparation February – July 2022
Consultations November 2021 – March 2022
Collaborative Community Workshops (2) January 2022
Collaborative Community Workshops – Housing Needs Assessment (2) March 30, 2022 Regional Housing Needs Assessment Submitted - Jurisdictions Review April 2022 Joint Planning Commission and Council Study Session April 18, 2022 Regional Assessment of Fair Housing Submitted – Jurisdictions Review May 2022 Housing Element Stakeholder Roundtable Sessions (2) May - July 2022 Environmental Justice, Community Engagement Round One June - August 2022 Administrative Draft Housing Element – Jurisdiction Review August 2022 Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 29
Project Schedule
T ask Timeline
Prepare Public Draft Housing Element August 2022
Prepare Administrative Draft Safety and Environmental Justice Elements
August 2022
Prepare Public Draft Safety and Environmental Justice Elements September 2022 Planning Commission Meeting to review draft Housing Element August - September 2022 Council Meeting to review the draft Housing Element August - September 2022 Prepare HCD Review Draft Housing Element October 2022
Environmental Justice Community Engagement, Round Two October 2022 Submit Draft to HCD (90-Day Review) October 2022 - January 2023 Planning Commission Meeting to review Draft Safety and
Environmental Justice Elements
November 2022
City Council Meeting to review Draft Safety and Environmental Justice Elements
December 2022
Revise Draft HE for resubmittal to HCD February 2023
Submit 2nd Draft to HCD (60-day Review) February - April 2023 Prepare Addendum January 2023
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Project Schedule
T ask Timeline
Planning Commission Authorization to Council for Adoption of General Plan Elements
May 2023
General Plan Elements Council Adoption Hearing June 2023 Submit Final Adopted Element to HCD – Certification Review (60 days) June – August 2023 Vallejo 2023-2031 Housing Element Update | 31
Solano Countywide Efforts
▪Countywide Housing Element Collaborative Website and
Survey: solhousingelements.com
▪ Please take the survey!
Questions
and
Answers
Thank You