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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/12/11 Item 26CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ITEM TITLE: DRAFT 2013-2020 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AUTHORIZING THE CIRCULATION OF THE DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA GENERAL PLAN FOR THE 2013-2020 PLANNING PERIOD TO THE PUBLIC AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR REVIEW AN COMMENT SUBMITTED BY: ASSISTANT CITY MANAGE '. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER 4/STHS VOTE: YES ~ NO SUMMARY The California State Legislature has identified the attainment of a decent home and suitable living environment for every Californian as the State's major housing goal. Recognizing the important role of local planning and housing programs in the pursuit of this goal, the Legislature has mandated that all cities and counties prepare a Housing Element as part of the comprehensive General Plan. The City of Chula Vista has prepared a drafr Housing Element Update for the 2013-2020 planning period (Attachment 1). ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Draft 2013-2020 Housing Element of .the City's General Plan does not propose any changes to land uses or densities within Chula Vista, nor does it call out or approve any specific 'development projects. Future discretionary governmental approval of site specific housing projects will require review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality -Act (CEQA), and if applicable the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An Initial Study (IS-12-006) has been conducted by the City of Chula Vista (including an Environmental Checklist form) and the City does not anticipate that. the proposed project will have a significant environmental effect, and the .preparation of an Environmental Impact Report will not be required. A Negative Declaration has been prepared in accordance with Section 15070 ` of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. 26-1 DECEMBER 11, 2012, Item `Z(o Page 2 of 6 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the circulation of the Draft Housing Element Update of the General Plan for the 2013-2020 planning period to the public and the State of California, Housing and Community Development Department for review and comment. BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. On August 29, .2012, the Housing Advisory Commission recommended the proposed preliminary goals and policy revisions of the Element. On November 28, 2012, the Planning Commission approved a recommendation to the City Council to authorize the Element for public review and submission to the State of California. DISCUSSION Housing Element Requirements - .Pursuant to State Law, Chula Vista is required to prepare a Housing Element Update that covers the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020. The Housing Element includes the following components: • A' review of the previous Element's goals, policies, programs, and objectives to ascertain the effectiveness of each of these components, as well as the overall effectiveness of the Housing Element; • An assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints related to meeting these needs; ` • An analysis of programs for the preservation of assisted housing developments; • A statement of community goals, quantified objectives and policies relative to the maintenance, preservation, improvement and development of housing; and, • . A policy program that provides a schedule of actions that the City should undertake, or intends to undertake, in implementing the policies set forth-in the Housing Element Update. Draft Housing Element Update Format The Chula Vista Housing Element Update is organized into four parts, including: ---._~ Introduction Explains the purpose, process and contents of the Housing Element -- -- I. Issues & Describes the key issues and opportunities identified from needs Opportunities assessment and the public participation process upon which the update to the Housing Element should focus. _._ -- - - II. Policy & Details specific policies and programs the City of Chula Vista will Implementation Plan carry out over the five-year period to address the City's housing goals. 26-2 DECEMBER 11,2012, Item ~~ Page 3 of 6 III. Quantified ~ Specifies the number of households assisted and housing units Objectives ~ constructed, rehabilitated; conserved and preserved through the j adopted policies and programs. 1 _.._ __ _........_. _ __ Given the detailed and lengthy analysis in developing the Housing Element, supporting background material is included in the appendices. Key Issues The City has identified two key interrelated housing issues which the Draft Housing Element update focuses on given the current economy, plagued by lack of financial resources and higher unemployment rates. These issues are: , (1) A greaterneed exists to preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities for those existing extremely low- and very low-income households, particularly for those most vulnerable populations such as the homeless, seniors, and the disabled ;and (2) In addressing these needs, there are opportunities to revitalize, reuse, and enhance existing resources available and to look at new collaborations to leverage resources to benefit those'. in need of housing but also for the economic benefit of residents and the community. The Policy and Implementation Plan of this Draft Housing Element Update, (see Part II of the Element); aims to provide the City and the residential development community with policy and program tools that address these issues. The City's efforts will be concentrated on preserving and enhancing single family housing and neighborhoods, promoting balanced • and diverse housing, and looking at City government's role and processes to facilitate a mix of residential development types. Regional Housing Needs Assessment State Housing Element Law mandates that a jurisdiction must show that it has adequate sites that will be made available through appropriate zoning and development standards and with the required public' services and facilities for a variety of housing types and incomes. The projected need for housing used for this evaluation is defined as the City's share of the region's housing needs for 2013-2020. A Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) prepared by SANDAG in October, 2011 for the period beginning. January 1, 2013 to December 31,.2020 (an 8 year period) identifies Chula Vista's share of the region's housing needs as 11,125 new housing units, with 6,303'(57%) allocated for lower income households. As required by State Housing Law, the City must plan for its share of the region's new housing . needs in all five income categories by identifying an adequate supply of land zoned at the appropriate density levels to accommodate each income category.. The RIINA goals do not represent a requirement for actual housing production, but rather seek to ensure the City has, or plans to add, zoning and land capacity to accommodate new housing growth. 26-3 DECEMBER 11, 2012, Item ~~ Page 4 of 6 To address the City's needs for very low and- low income housing, Chula Vista must demonstrate that it has an adequate supply of land for higher density housing (30 or more dwelling units per acre). Although zoning land for higher density development does not guarantee the constnrction of housing that is affordable to low and moderate income families; without such higher density zoning, the opportunity to use subsidies and implement affordable housing programs for such households would not exist. Appendix C of the' Draft Housing Element Update provides detail showing that the City has adequate sites to satisfy this requirement. Goals and Policies The centerpiece of the Element is the' Policy and Implementation Plan (Part II of the Element). with goals, policies, and implementing programs to address the identified needs. In developing the_ goals, objectives, 'policies, and programs described in this Plan, the City assessed its housing needs, evaluated the performance of existing programs, and received input from the community through participation in housing workshops. In substantial "compliance with the requirements of State law, the City will be striving to provide programs to meet the current and future housing needs of all income levels of the community through the following goals: Goal 1: A Maintained and Enhanced Housing Stock and Neighborhoods; Goa12: Housing Opporhrnities that Meet the City's Diverse Needs; and, Goal 3: Maximized Funding and Implementation of Services Vital to Community Housing Needs. To realize these'goals;,the Policy and Implementation Plan (Part II of the Element) details objectives,, policies, and implementing programs according to three major policyfocus•areas: 1) Maintain and Enhance Housing and Residential Neighborhoads; 2) Balanced and Diverse Housing Opportunities; and, 3) Government Role, and Process. While the plan covers a broad array of housing issues that are applicable Citywide, the emphasis of the 2013-2020 Policy and Implementation Plan is on actions enabling the City to maintain and increase housing opportunities affordable to very low, low, and moderate income households. The objectives, policies and programs are discussed in Section 3.0 of Part II of the Draft Housing Element Update. Public Participation Process The Development Services Department solicited community input in preparing and reviewing ' the City's Draft Housing Element Update. The City conducted a survey and workshops to obtain the views of citizens, developers, social service agencies, and other interested persons on the Citys housing needs and policies and programs to be implemented to address these needs. The following outlines the public participation process so far: Public Survey Period (March, 2012) Stakeholders meeting (March 8, 2012); Community workshops (March 21, 28, and 29, 2012); 26-4 DECEMBER 11, 2012, Item '~ Page 5 of 6 • Housing Advisory Commission Workshops (January 25, 2012, and August 29, 2012); The City will make the Draft 2013-2020 Housing Element Update available to the public for review and comment fora 30-day period, once it is approved for distribution by City Council. Staff estimates this public review period would run from approximately mid-December to mid- January. Summary of Comments Throughout the citizen participation process the City received comments and suggestions from concerned citizens, residential developers and advocates for affordable housing. A summary of the comments received are iricluded within Appendix F of the Draft Housing Element Update. Remainine Process & Schedule State Housing Element law requires that all cities and counties submit their Housing Elements to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for a determination of substantial compliance with State law. The Draft Housing Element Update substantially complies with the requirements of State Law, as summarized in Table 1 of the Element. If authorized by the Council, the following actions will be taken • Publish a Public Notice announcing the availability of the Draft 2013-2020 Housing Element Update for review and comment; • Make the draft document available for public comment at City facilities and on the City's web-site; • Concurrently submit the draft document to the State of California for preliminary review and comment (60 days); • Conductan environmental review of the draft document; • Conduct a public hearing before the Planning Commission to recommend approval of final adoption of the Housing Element Update (anticipated March 2013); and • Retum to the City Council for final adoption (anticipated Apri12013). DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not' independently aware; nor has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact. that may constitute a basis for adecision-maker conflict of interest in this matter. CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT There is no current year fiscal impact with the adoption of this resolution. 26-5 DECEMBER 11, 2012, Item 210 Page 6 of 6 ONGOING F_ ISCAL IMPACT The ongoing fiscal 'impact is uncertain at this time and will depend on the type of housing development Yhat results from the update of the Housing Element. ATTACHMENTS 1. .Draft 2013-20 Housing Element Update of the City's General Plan (on File in the ~ce'of the City Clerk) Prepared by.' Lei[ani Hines, Principal Project Coordinator, Development Services Dept-Housing Division 26-6 COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AUTHORIZING THE CIRCULATION OF THE DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA GENERAL PLAN .FOR THE 2013-2020 PLANNING PERIOD TO THE PUBLIC AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT WHEREAS, the California State Legislature has identified the attainment of a decent home and suitable living environment for every Californian as the State's major housing goal; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to State Law, Chula Vista is required to prepare a Housing Element of the General Plan that covers the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020; and, WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has prepared a draft Housing Element update for the 2013-2020 planning period that meets the requirements of State law; and WHEREAS, the City will make the Draft 2013-2020 Housing Element available to the public for review and comment fora 30-day period. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, that the City CouncIl of the City of Chula Vista authorizes the circulation of the Draft Housing Element Update of the General Plan of the City of Chula Vista for the 2013-2020 planning period to the public and the State of Califomia Housing and Community Development Department for review and comment. Presented by Gary Halbert, AICP, PE Assistant City Manager/ Director of Development Services Approved as to form by ~/` Glen R. Googins City Attorney 26-7