Item Number: 7
City Council / Board of Directors
Consent Calendar
Meeting of: March 19, 2024
Submitted By:
Scott Webb, City Planner
Subject:
2023 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report & Implementation Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council receive and file the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and the 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report Fiscal Impact:
The Annual Progress Report submittals satisfy reporting requirements to the California Department of Housing and Community Development as well as the Office of Planning and Research, thereby maintaining eligibility status for certain State Grants, including Housing Grants.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Receipt of the proposed General Plan Annual Progress Reports and approval of the Implementation Measures discussed herein will enable the City to further the following Goals outlined in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan:
•Goal C (Community and Economic Development) – Implementation of the Housing Element of the General Plan includes continued development of the Community Revitalization and Investment Authority (CRIA), which will increase investment in the Old Town area and be beneficial to economic development in the future. Additionally, the recent adoption of City’s Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance update in accordance with the Land Use Element provides a greater range of land use allowance that will attract new businesses.
•Goal D (Reduce Homelessness) – The City’s continued compliance with housing laws, including: the recent adoption of the City’s Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance update; planned amendments to memorialize allowances for urban lot splits, small lot subdivisions, and secondary single-family residences; and the development of procedural manuals aimed at clarifying State allowances for affordable housing 3 5
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developers will provide for additional housing options for all income levels in accordance with the Housing and Land Use Elements.
•Goal E (Invest in Infrastructure) – Completed Capital Improvement Projects as well as a focus on future projects that improve the City’s circulation and safety will continue to address the City’s strategic goals as well as the goals of the Circulation Element.
Background:
Planning Commission Recommendation
At their March 13, 2024 meeting, the Planning Commission of the City of Victorville recommended that the City Council receive and file the subject 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and the 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, while also recommending no adjustments to the “Implementation Measures” outlined in the “Discussion” section of this report.
State Requirements
California Government Code Section 65300 requires each city and county to adopt a general plan for the physical development of the jurisdiction. The City of Victorville General Plan establishes a vision for the City’s long-term growth and enhancement and provides strategies and implementable actions to achieve this vision. State law requires that general plans include a collection of “elements,” or topic categories which must cover the following topics: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Safety, Noise, Conservation, Open Space, Environmental Justice, and Air Quality. The City of Victorville’s General Plan is organized into seven elements which include all elements mandated by California Government Code Section 65302.
The City’s General Plan, adopted on October 21, 2008, represented the first comprehensive update since 1997. Several elements, including the Housing Element, have been subsequently updated to comply with state laws. In 2022, the City updated three Elements (Land Use, Housing, and Safety Elements) and adopted a new Environmental Justice Element. The remainder of the City’s General Plan Elements (Circulation, Resources, and Noise) remain adequate and unchanged at this time, with updates to these Elements anticipated prior to January 1, 2026, in order to comply with Senate Bill 932 (2022) that necessitates an update to the Circulation Element and Senate Bill 1425 (2022) that requires an update to the Resources Element.
Section 65400 of the California Government Code requires the City to prepare an Annual Progress Report (APR) addressing the status of the General Plan and progress made toward implementing its goals and policies, including the City’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs. The APR is usually structured as two reports: one for the General Plan as a whole and one focusing on the Housing Element. Additionally, Section 65400 of the California Government Code tasks the Planning Department with making recommendations regarding reasonable and practical means for implementing the various elements of the General Plan, as discussed in the “Implementation Measures” section of this report.
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The APRs must be submitted annually to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April
1. OPR and HCD do not require approval of the APRs by City Council prior to submission; however, Section 65400 of the California Government Code requires APR’s and suggested implementation measures to be provided to the City Council in concert with submission to OPR and HCD.
Discussion:
APR Findings
The General Plan APR (Attachment A) provides the City Council and the public with the status of how the City is achieving its various General Plan Goals and Policies set forth within the General Plan and its Elements. Section 2 of this report details each of the Goals and the annual progress made within the City’s seven Elements. Section 3 of the General Plan APR provides information on annual development activity as well as capital improvements for 2023.
The Housing Element APR (Attachment B) focuses on the Housing Element of the General Plan and tracks annual housing applications, housing building activity, Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) progress as well as the status of the City’s Housing Element programs. This 2023 APR is presented in an HCD-approved format, and it accounts for the second year of the 6 th Cycle Housing Element period, which spans for an eight year period. In 2022, the City Council adopted and HCD certified the 2021-2029 Housing Element for the City of Victorville. A synopsis of the main points outlined in the various tables included in the 2023 Housing Element APR is provided as follows:
Table Description
A
Indicates a total of 62 submitted housing development applications (e.g.
Tentative Tract Maps, Multi-family Residential, Accessory Dwelling Units, etc.) for a total of 1,603 units. Of the total, 36 applications (356 units) have been approved, with no applications disapproved. The remaining applications are pending.
A2 Indicates 269 units were entitled, 199 units were issued building permits, and 500 units were issued a Certificate of Occupancy.
D
Provides an update on the City’s implementation of the housing programs established through the adoption of the 6 th Cycle Housing Element.
As discussed in the General Plan and Housing Element APRs, the City continues to make progress in meeting the goals and implementing the policies outlined in the General Plan.
Implementation Measures
Pursuant to Section 65400 of the California Government Code, City Planning staff is required to investigate and make recommendations “…regarding reasonable and practical means for implementing the general plan or element of the general plan so that 3 5
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it will serve as an effective guide for orderly growth and development, preservation and conservation of open-space land and natural resources, and the efficient expenditure of public funds relating to the subjects addressed in the general plan.” After review of the APR findings previously discussed, City staff is focusing on the topics outlined below in order to ensure progress is made toward implementation of the General Plan and the goals outlined in its various elements.
Land Use Element
•Adopt the City’s Zoning Map update that coordinates with the land use designations outlined in the General Plan Land Use Map.
•Adopt the City’s Zoning Ordinance update that provides new and updated development standards to accommodate high density residential and mixed use development.
•Update the Zoning Ordinance to implement procedures and allowances for urban lot splits, small lot subdivisions, and secondary single-family residences in accordance with current State law.
Circulation Element
•Continue to implement the Circulation Element in accordance with the Circulation Element Map, the Non-motorized Transportation Plan, and the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Guidelines.
•Continue Capital Improvement Projects aimed at improving circulation and safety. •In order to comply with Senate Bill 932 (2022), begin to consider and review potential pedestrian and traffic calming plans and the incorporation of the principles of the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System Approach.
Housing Element
•Begin to consider design options and identify funding options for phase two of the Wellness Center.
•Continue implementation of the Community Revitalization and Investment Authority (CRIA) in the Old Town area.
•Implement the Land Use Element topics noted previously. •Continue to utilize available grant funding to support affordable housing and the maintenance of existing housing stock.
Resource Element (Includes Conservation and Open Space) •Continue compliance with State laws regarding conservation of protected species as well as cultural resources.
•Update the City’s City Climate Action Plan to ensure compliance with the San Bernardino County Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. •Continue to implement the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. •In order to comply with Senate Bill 1425 (2022), begin to consider plans and an action program that: provides access to open space in a manner that considers social, economic, and racial equity, correlated with the environmental justice element; addresses climate resilience and other cobenefits of open space, correlated with the safety element; and ensures Opportunities to preserve, enhance, and expand an 3 5
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integrated network of open space to support beneficial uses, such as habitat, recreation, natural resources, historic and tribal resources, water management, and aesthetics.
Environmental Justice Element
•Continue to consider the Environmental Justice Element when proceeding with the topics outlined in the Land Use and Housing Elements, specifically with regard to allowable land uses near high density development, buffers between residential and industrial development, and access to recreational amenities.
Noise Element
•Continue to apply and enforce the City’s noise standards. •Ensure appropriate mitigation is incorporated into projects near protect sensitive receptors or projects that create noise above the established thresholds.
Safety Element
•Ensure zoning restrictions on properties in hazardous areas and uses that include hazardous waste in conjunction with the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map update.
•Continue to assess any potential geological hazards during the development process as deemed necessary by the City Building Official.
•Consider the use of available grant funding to assist private property owners with structural retrofitting of their unreinforced masonry structures.
Attachments: A. 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report B. 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report