SUBJECT: CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH 2000 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE

 

• PURPOSE: TO COMPLY WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS TO ADOPT AND CERTIFY THE 2000 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE AND ADOPTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL NEGATIVE DECLARATION.

 

Recommendation:

That the City Council:

1. Review and comment on the Draft Housing Element Update.
2. Direct staff to transmit the document to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for review and comment.

 

Background:

Each local jurisdiction is required by the State to prepare a Housing Element Update as a mandatory requirement in the preparation and maintenance of the General Plan. The City was allocated 332 housing units for development over the five year planning period through the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) program administered by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The Housing Element Update must incorporate policies, quantified objectives and programs to meet the housing allocations identified by the State and SCAG. The City’s appeal of its RHNA allocation, was denied during an appeal process which commenced in April 2000 and was concluded in June 2000. The consulting firm of Blodgett, Baylosis and Associates was subsequently retained to assist the City in completing the Housing Element Update for submission to the State by December 2000.

On September 19, 2000, the Planning Commission conducted a special meeting to consider the City’s housing policies. A draft Housing Element was prepared containing policies, quantified objectives and programs for review by the Planning Commission and City Council. On November 21, 2000, the Planning Commission considered and approved the draft document.

 

Analysis:

The City’s draft Housing Element Update has been prepared to meet the statutory requirements for submission to the State. The process for preparing the document involves identifying existing and proposed housing policies, reviewing State housing requirements, examining physical constraints on development, surveying parcel level information, identifying demographic trends and incorporating public comment received at public hearings conducted by the Planning Commission and City Council. The Housing Element Update is then forwarded to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for review, approval and certification.

Summary of Findings and Recommendations:

1. The City’s RHNA allocation calls for construction of 332 housing units by the year 2005. The required allocation of housing development has largely been achieved through new development since 1998 totaling 167 units, resulting in an unmet housing need of 165 units. Of the unmet housing need, 55 units are to be provided for very low-income household, 42 units are to be provided for low-income households and 61 units are to be provided for moderate-income households.
2. High land costs and the lack of available land is a constraint in meeting some of the City’s unmet housing need in the development of affordable housing.
3. The City can meet some its housing allocation through development of suitable vacant parcels, underutilized parcels and areas that may be suitable for mixed use development.
4. The City produced a significant number of housing units over the last ten years and remains one of the most dense communities in the State.
5. The 2000 Housing Element Update does not result in substantive changes to existing Housing Element policies as new programs generally implement many of these existing policies and the Housing Element Update is internally consistent with other elements of the General Plan.
6. Mixed use development zoning is proposed for the highway corridors to accommodate affordable housing allocation requirements and no other rezoning is proposed.
7. The City will maintain the current density bonus program consistent with State requirements.
8. The City will maintain the current second unit ordinance consistent with State requirements.
9. The City will continue to permit development of underdeveloped sites pursuant to the requirements of the Zone Code and General Plan.
10. The City has no regulatory barriers to maintenance, improvement and development of housing.

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