Item Number: 2
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing(s)
Meeting of: January 20, 2026
Submitted By:
Alex Jauregui, City Planner
Subject:
An Amendment to Title 16 of the Victorville Municipal Code with an Environmental Exemption introducing residential development requirements on Mixed-Use zoned parcels identified in the City’s Housing Element as Regional Housing Needs Allocation shortfall sites and to correct typographical errors, including mislabeling of Mixed-Use zone districts
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Open and conduct a Public Hearing to receive public testimony; (2) Close the Public Hearing;
(3) Find the Victorville Municipal Code Amendment categorically exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3); (4) Introduce Ordinance No. 2462 for adoption and first reading by title only to amend the Victorville Municipal Code; and
(5) Waive a further reading in full of proposed Ordinance No. 2462.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Under California Government Code Section 65585, failure to implement the City’s Certified Housing Element (“City’s Housing Element”) in accordance with State Housing Element law could result in decertification, and potential fines of up to $100,000 per month. The City’s goal is to avoid these consequences by implementing the City’s Housing Element through amendments to Title 16 with the adoption of Ordinance No. 2462.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Approval of proposed Ordinance No. 2462 will enable the City to further fulfill the following Goals outlined in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan:
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Goal A: Financial Sustainability – Inasmuch as the proposed Municipal Code Amendment will ensure compliance with State Housing Element Law and maintain the City’s Certified Housing Element status, adoption of Ordinance No. 2462 will also ensure no unnecessary fines will be levied on the City and no adverse impacts to the City’s fiscal health or cost control.
Goal C: Community and Economic Development – The proposed amendment supports compliance with State law and the Housing Element by requiring residential components on designated High Density Mixed Use (MU-2) zoned properties in the City. These required changes will expand housing availability, create walkable communities, and strengthen neighborhood vitality. By promoting diverse housing options, the amendment helps retain the local workforce and foster long-term economic resilience.
Goal D: Reduce Homelessness – By requiring a residential component in some MU- 2 designated properties, the amendment aligns with State mandates and the City’s Housing Element. The proposal will also act to increase the supply of lower cost housing types and create more opportunities for individuals and families at risk of homelessness. Expanding access to stable housing is a critical step toward addressing housing insecurity and supporting vulnerable populations.
Background:
The City of Victorville adopted a comprehensive Development Code update and property rezoning in 2024 through Ordinance No. 2448, implementing the 2021 State Certified Housing Element and the 2022 Land Use Element of the General Plan. On October 7, 2025, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) issued a Letter of Technical Assistance (Attachment B) as part of its ongoing effort to ensure the City’s compliance with the State Certified Housing Element (“Housing Element”) and its required implementation measures. The Technical Assistance Letter identified one area of non-compliance concerning the required residential components on certain Mixed-Use designated properties. The issue, which was already accounted for in the Housing Element, will be addressed through the proposed amendment. HCD’s review of the City’s Housing Element is part of their statewide effort to confirm that all cities are implementing their Housing Element and following through with required rezoning of properties to accommodate housing needs identified in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (“RHNA”).
Therefore, the subject amendments to the City of Victorville Municipal Code (“VMC”) are being proposed in order to address inadvertent omissions of required residential components on some properties zoned High Density Mixed Use (“MU-2”) that were utilized to fulfill the City’s share of RHNA in the Housing Element as well as correct minor typographical errors.
At their regular meeting held on December 10, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the subject Victorville Municipal Code Amendments (Planning Case No. PLAN25-00021) by a vote of 4-0 (with one seat vacant). 4 5
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Discussion:
In order to fully address the Technical Assistance Letter received from HCD, the proposed Municipal Code Amendments outlined below will require a limited number of sites identified in the City’s Housing Element to allocate at least 50% of future development floor area to residential uses. The amendments will also correct minor typographical errors. These updates will ensure the City’s compliance with State Housing Element law and eliminate the potential for fines associated with the subject area of non-compliance related to required residential components in designated MU-2 zoned properties.
The proposed changes to Title 16 of the VMC (also known as the “Development Code”) are discussed in the following synopsis of each Section, the full text of which (including existing and deleted text) is located in draft Ordinance No. 2462 (Attachment A).
Victorville Municipal Code - Title 16
(Development Code)
Chapter 3 – Zoning and Land Use Requirements
Article 7: - Land Use and Special Requirements
Table 7-1, titled “Permitted, Conditional, Accessory and Temporary Land Uses - All Zoning Districts” was updated to correct a typographical error in the "Omitted Zone Districts" section, changing MU-1 (Medium Density Mixed Use) to the intended MU-2 (High Density Mixed Use). This administrative correction does not affect land use or development standards.
Article 9: - Mixed Use Districts
Table 9-2, titled “Mixed use Development Standards” was updated to add footnote “(8)”, noting that any development on a project site zoned MU-2 that is listed within specified sections of the City’s Housing Element requires a minimum of 50 percent of floor area dedicated to residential use.
oWhile the MU-2 Zone District is intended to allow flexibility for blended commercial/ residential developments, the City’s Housing Element designated 43 MU-2 zoned sites throughout the City to satisfy State housing requirements (Attachment C).
Specifically, California Government Code Section 65583.2 (h), states in part:
“…a city or county may accommodate all of the lower income housing need on sites designated for mixed use if those sites allow 100 percent residential use and require that residential use occupy 50 percent of the total floor area of a mixed-use project.”
A typographical error was corrected in the footnote heading of Table 9-2, which inadvertently was labeled as footnotes for Table 9-1.
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Prepared By:
Alex Jauregui, City Planner
Attachments: A. Ordinance No. 2462 – Development Code Amendment B. HCD Letter of Technical Assistance – October 7, 2025 C. MU-2 Zoned Housing Element Sites
D. Background Information from Planning Commission's December 10, 2025, Meeting