City Council
MEETING DATE: 11/12/2014
TITLE:
Title
Housing Element (5th cycle) Implementation
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FROM:
Leisa Lukes, Economic Development Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving an addendum to a previous Negative Declaration and approving General Plan Amendment No. 14-002; and approve the first reading, by title only, an ordinance approving Zoning Amendment No. 14-002; and approve the first reading, by title only, an ordinance approving Specific Plan Amendment No. 97-55a
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BACKGROUND:
On October 29, 2014, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to consider the proposed actions. There were no comments from the public. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Commission voted (5 ayes, 1 no) to recommend City Council approval of the amendments as presented (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION:
On November 13, 2013, the City Council adopted the 2013-2021 update to the Housing Element of the General Plan. As required by all cities, the update was then forwarded the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) seeking certification that the Element complies with state law. "Certification" enhances the City's eligibility for grant funds and supports local land use control.
On February 13, 2014 HCD issued a letter (Attachment 2) finding that changes to the Housing Element would be necessary in order to fully comply with state requirements.
Proposed revisions to the Housing Element in accordance with City Council direction were submitted to HCD for review on April 21, 2014. On June 20, 2014 HCD issued a review letter (Attachment 3) stating that, while the revisions address most statutory requirements, one issue remained with regard to the availability of adequate sites to meet the City's allocation of regional housing needs (RHNA).
The prior Housing Element (4th cycle), adopted in 2009 and certified by HCD, included Program 1.A.7 requiring the rezoning of either Assessor Parcel No. (APN) 677-050-017 or 677-050-018 to multi-family residential having a minimum density of 20 units/acre. Since this Program has not been completed, a RHNA carryover of 294 lower-income units to the new planning cycle is required. Thus, the Program is being re-stated in the update as Program A.1.7 and general plan and zoning amendments are proposed to achieve HCD certificate of the 5th cycle Housing Element.
In addition, a revision to zoning standards for emergency shelters is required pursuant to state law.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
To comply with state law and achieve certification of the Housing Element, amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map and Rio Vista Village Specific Plan are necessary to allow a density of 20 to 24 units/acre on APN 677-050-018.
The amendment to the General Plan Land Use Element and Map (Attachment 4) would create a new Medium High Density Residential (RMH) land use category with a density range of 11-20 units/acre, and revise the allowable density in the High Density Residential (RH) land use category from 11-20 units/acre to 20-24 units/acre. Properties other than APN 677-050-018 that are currently designated RH would be redesignated RMH and no change to development standards would occur for those properties. APN 677-050-018 in the Rio Vista Village Specific Plan would retain its current RH designation and would be the only non-mixed use parcel in the city with density of 20-24 units/acre.
The draft Ordinance to amend the Zoning Code and Map (Attachment 5) is proposed to maintain consistency with the General Plan. Chapter 9.22 would be renamed from "RH" to "R4" and the allowable density would be established as 20-24 units/acre. The zoning designation for Assessor Parcel No. 677-050-018 would be changed from "R3" to "R4". The draft Ordinance also includes revisions to the regulations for emergency shelters contained in Zoning Code Sections 9.56.060 and 9.56.070 to ensure conformance with state law.
Attachment 6 is a draft Ordinance to amend the Rio Vista Village Specific Plan to add a new "MF-4" land use designation and change the designation for Assessor Parcel No. 677-050-018 from "MF-2/R2" to "MF-4" allowing a density of 20-24 units/acre. No change to the maximum total of 1,362 dwelling units within the Specific Plan area is proposed.
The proposed amendments address the concerns of HCD, facilitate certification of the Housing Element, and maintain consistency between the General Plan, Zoning Code and Rio Vista Village Specific Plan.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
The City Council adopted an Initial Study/Negative Declaration (IS/ND) in connection with approval of General Plan Amendment 07-006 for the 2009 Housing Element update. The proposed amendments would implement Programs 1.A.7 and 1.B.7 of the 2009 Housing Element, and only minor revisions are necessary to the previous IS/ND to satisfy the requirements of CEQA for the proposed actions. Therefore, an Addendum to the previous IS/ND (Attachment 8) has been prepared in conformance with Section 15164 of the CEQA Guidelines.
NEXT STEPS
Upon adoption by the City Council, the Housing Element will be submitted to HCD for final review and certification.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None with this action.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Planning Commission Resolution
2. HCD letter of February 13, 2014
3. HCD letter of June 20, 2014
4. Draft Resolution for Addendum to ND and GPA 14-002
5. Draft Ordinance for ZOA 14-002
6. Draft Ordinance for SPA 97-55a
7. Draft SP 97-55 Text Amendments
8. Addendum to Initial Study/Negative Declaration for GPA 07-006