ACTION MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF VILLA PARK, CALIFORNIA
June 28, 2022
Special Meeting
SPECIAL SESSION
5:02 p.m. - City Council Chambers / Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS
PRESENT: Collacott, Miles, Pitts, Rossini, and Zimmerman ABSENT: None
PUBLIC HEARING
2021-2029 Housing Element Update General Plan Amendment No. 2021-01.
City Manager Franks stated this is one of many public hearings to address changes in the Housing Element Update for 2021-29 to be provided to California's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). He added these changes are being made in response to the feedback in HCD's January letter to the City.
In response to Councilmember Collacott's inquiry, City Manager Franks confirmed at the end of the meeting that there will be action taken to potentially approve the submittal of the Housing Element to HCD.
John Douglas of JHD Planning, LLC reviewed the timeline for the Housing Element, noting it is similar to many Southern California jurisdictions, adding only the City of Yorba Linda and the City of Irvine have had their Housing Elements approved by HCD of all Orange County jurisdictions. He stated, that once adopted, the City will have to implement the Housing Element by making numerous zoning amendments and other land use changes.
Mr. Douglas stated many of the changes from the Draft Housing Element are clerical or technical as opposed to requesting policy changes. He reported one substantial change is HCD questioning if the City can meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), adding it will require zoning changes. He reported that HCD would like to see more commitment to the City's housing rehabilitation assistance efforts, but noted the City has a very small amount of housing in need of rehabilitation and this is more of a general HCD response to all cities. He added the other substantive change involves the new June 28, 2022 Villa Park City Council Meeting Minutes
component of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and all California cities are learning how to address the element.
Mr. Douglas addressed the City's projections for potential new housing units of 86 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), 28 Town Center units, and 204 Smith Basin units, accounting for a total of 318 housing units, exceeding the City's RHNA total of 296. He added the State requested more analysis of the City's methodology behind the 318 figure and noted it has been provided, reporting on the implementation actions including in the Housing Element. He stated the City can revise the Housing Element if substantial progress has not been made by 2025.
Councilmember Collacott clarified the City owns very little property so all alternatives mentioned during Housing Element discussions included an element of property owner cooperation.
Mayor Zimmerman clarified the City does not have to coordinate with property owners on rezoning. He noted the developer outreach component applies to every City.
Mayor Zimmerman opened public comment.
Donna Buxton expressed her support for the plan, noting it will both meet the State's mandates and provide some benefit to the City.
Wayne Silzel agreed with Ms. Buxton, commended the identification of properties, and lauded Councilmember Miles' work while serving as Mayor in navigating the public end of the process. He criticized the City's slow permit and review processes as a possible deterrent to development. He recommended studying how many ADUs the City presently has.
In response to Mr. Silzel's inquiry, City Manager Franks reported the State will not give the City credit for exceeding 296 units, but added it would relieve the pressure on other projects if the City exceeds its ADU estimate.
In response to Mr. Silzel's inquiries, City Manager Franks reported the City's last ADU survey was two years ago and found 55 units. He added the City processed 18 ADUs in 2021 and currently has 15 in progress. He stated the City currently has about 2,100 housing units of all types.
Dave Hanson thanked the Council for its persistence with the Housing Element. He lauded the Smith Basin as a potential site for mixed commercial use and the notion of involving housing developers sooner rather than later. He advised these developments can also add income to the City. He encouraged the Council to approve the Housing Element.
June 28, 2022 Villa Park City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor Zimmerman closed public comment.
Mayor Pro Tem Rossini thanked the public for their comments and expressed appreciation to his peers and staff for the hard work of putting the Housing Element together. He moved to rename the Smith Basin in honor of former Mayor Bill Nelson and his late wife, Eula Nelson, as the Nelson Project. He reported former Mayor Nelson would have approved of the project.
Councilmember Collacott seconded the motion He reported speaking about the Smith Basin proposal shortly before his recent passing and stated former Mayor Nelson said he had the idea for this when discussing the previous Housing Element but the City only needed to build 19 units for the fifth cycle. He noted how much the Nelsons did to serve the community.
In response to Councilmember Pitts' inquiry, City Attorney Todd Liftin reported the Housing Element is on the Agenda and this would be an amendment to the Housing Element so it can be considered tonight. He added the name change at this late stage could confuse HCD and there could be other ways to direct staff to honor the Nelsons as projects move forward. City Manager Franks added property owner Orange County Water District (OCWD) refers to the land as the Smith Basin and recommended consulting with OCWD before renaming their land. He added they could also use a hybrid naming mechanism such as the Nelson Project at the Smith Basin. He urged caution because all maps also refer to the land as the Smith Basin.
Mayor Pro Tem Rossini stated he is agreeable to referring to the Nelson Project at the Smith Basin and deferring the renaming concept.
In response to Councilmember Miles' inquiries, City Manager Franks reported the OCWD has stated its willingness to explore a Request For Proposal for the land. He added the City has received interest letters from two developers. He confirmed both are recent developments occurring after the Draft Housing Element was submitted to HCD. He noted developers have stated there will be a lot of engineering work to be done on the site so it will likely be a larger developer eventually doing the project.
Mayor Zimmerman agreed for clarity in the Housing Element they should wait before renaming the site for the Nelsons.
Mayor Pro Tem Rossini removed his amendment.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Rossini, seconded by Councilmember Collacott, and approved by the following roll call vote, to approve the Housing Element as presented.
AYES: Collacott, Miles, Pitts, Rossini, and Zimmerman
June 28, 2022 Villa Park City Council Meeting Minutes
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ADJOURNMENT
The special meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
City of Villa Park
City of Villa Park
Note: The above minutes are a summary of actions. A DVD recording of this meeting additionally serves as an official record and is available upon request from City Hall.