STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
May 7, 2024
Brad Raulston, Town Manager
Town of Yountville
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Dear Brad Raulston:
RE: Town of Yountville’s 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Revised Draft Housing Element Thank you for submitting the Town of Yountville’s (Town) revised draft housing element update that was received for review on March 8, 2024, along with revisions received on May 3, 2024. The revisions were made available to the public for seven days prior to review. The review was facilitated by conversations on April 17 and 25, 2024 with yourself; Irene Borba, Planning and Building Director and Jennifer Gastelum and Cynthia Walsh, Town’s Consultants. Pursuant to Government Code section 65585, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is reporting the results of its review.
The revised draft element, incorporating revisions, meets the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law and addresses the statutory requirements described in HCD’s April 28, 2023 review. The housing element will substantially comply with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq) when it is adopted, submitted to, and approved by HCD, in accordance with Government Code section 65585.
For your information, the housing element relies upon nonvacant sites to accommodate more than 50 percent of the regional housing need allocation (RHNA) for lower-income households and must demonstrate that existing uses are not an impediment to additional residential development in the planning period (Gov. Code, § 65583.2, subd. (g)(2).). This can be demonstrated by providing substantial evidence that the existing use is likely to be discontinued during the planning period (Gov. Code, § 65583.2, subd. (g)(2).). Absent findings (e.g., adoption resolution) based on substantial evidence, the existing uses will be presumed to impede additional residential development and will not be utilized toward demonstrating adequate sites to accommodate the RHNA. The Town must make these findings as part of its adoption resolution. Please see HCD’s Guidance memo (p. 27) for additional information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/communitydevelopment/housing-element/housing-elementmemos/docs/sites_inventory_memo_final06102020.pdf.
Brad Raulston, Town Manager
Public participation in the development, adoption, and implementation of the housing element is essential to effective housing planning. Throughout the housing element process, the Town must continue to engage the community, including organizations that represent lower-income and special needs households, by making information regularly available while considering and incorporating comments where appropriate. Please be aware, any revisions to the element must be posted on the local government’s website and to email a link to all individuals and organizations that have previously requested notices relating to the local government’s housing element at least seven days before submitting to HCD.
For your information, pursuant to Government Code section 65583.3, the Town must submit an electronic sites inventory with its adopted housing element. The Town must utilize standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD. Please see HCD’s housing element webpage at https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-communitydevelopment/housing-elements for a copy of the form and instructions. The Town can reach out to HCD at [email protected] for technical assistance.
Several federal, state, and regional funding programs consider housing element compliance as an eligibility or ranking criteria. For example, the CalTrans Senate Bill (SB) 1 Sustainable Communities grant, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities programs, and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation consider housing element compliance and/or annual reporting requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65400. With a compliant housing element, the Town will meet housing element requirements for these and other funding sources.
HCD looks forward to receiving the Town’s adopted housing element. If you have any questions or need additional technical assistance, please contact Sohab Mehmood, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager