HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 PC 18-23 GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2022-0001 HOUSING ELEMENT, CITY OF ORANGEGENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2022-OOOI
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
A RESOLI.]TION OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ORANGI
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO.
2022-OOO1 ADOPTING THE CITY OF ORANGE
2O2I -2029 HOUSING ELEMENT
APPLICANT: CITY OFORANGE
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has authority pursuant to Califomia Govemment
Code Section 65358 and orange Municipal Code Sections 17.08.020 and 17.10.010 to review
and make recommendations to the City Council lbr amendments to the City's Gcneral plan; and
WHEREAS' the California Govemment Code requires cities to review and update their
Housing Elements on a regular basis and according to a schedule set forth by the California
Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD")l and
WHEREAS, as required. the City prepared the 2021-2029 Housing Element as an update
to its previously approved Housing Element (2014-2021), in compliance with State law; and
WHEREAS, on July 15. 2021, pursuant to State law, the 2021-2029 Housing Element
was submitted to HCD for review: and
WHEREAS, on September '13, 2021, HCD issued a letter finding thar many staturory
requirements were met; however, supplemental information was needed regarding the public
participation and housing sites inventory: and
WHf,REAS, the Planning Commission conducted one duly advertised public hearing on
January 3, 2022, at which time interested persons had an opportunity to testify either in support
of, or opposition to, the 2021-2029 Housing Element update; and
WHEREAS, on January 3.2022 the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. pC
0l-22 recommending City Council adoption of the 2021-2029 Housing Element update; and
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2022, rhe City Council approved Resolution No. I l37g
adopting the 2021-2029 Housing Element updare; and
WHEREAS, on February 12. 2022, pursuanr to Stare law, the 2021-2029 Housing
Element was submitted to HCD for review: and
RESOLUTION NO. PC I8-2J
Resolution No. PC l8-23
Page 2
WHEREAS, on April 12. 2022. HCD issued a letter finding rhat most srarutory
requirements were meti however, supplemental information was needed regarding certain
aspects of the document narrative related to public outreach. integration and segregation. racially
concentrated areas of afTluence. access to opportunity, fair housing, homelessness, candidate
housing sites, accessory dwelling unit production, govemmental constraints, housing for persons
special needs groups, housing program perfbrmance melrics. and local knowledgel and
WHEREAS, on January 27.2023. HCD issued a letter finding that the revised housing
element would be in compliance with State law once certain modifications were made; and
WHEREAS, on February 14. 2023, the City Council conducted a public hearing and
adopted Resolution No. Il43l to incorporate text revisions in response to HCD and public
comments submitted to HCD on the adopted document regarding the viability of candidate
housing sites and the need for additional methods of facilitating and incentivizing the
development of affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, on February 14,2023. pursuanr to Stare law. the 2021-2029 Housing
Element was submitted to HCD for review: and
WHEREAS, on April 14.2023. HCD issued a letter finding rhat while the adopted
Housing Element met statutory requirements. it was unable to make a finding of substantial
compliance given public comment received regarding the viability and capacity of the identified
candidate housing sites and incentives for housing development at the lower income levels
identified in the City's Regional Housing Needs Assessment ("RHNA') allocation: and
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2023. pursuant to State law, the 2021-2029 Housing Element
was re-submitted to HCD for review; and
WHEREAS, on Seprember 29, 2023 HCD issued another leuer finding that. with the
incorporation of the certain revisions responsive to the comments described herein. the revised
Housing Element will be in substantial compliance with State lawt and
WHEREAS, further revisions have been made to address public comments received
following the July 2023 public comment period for the revised 202l-2029 Housing Element
update adopted on February 14,2023 regarding the viability of candidate housing sites and the
need flor additional methods of incentivizing the development of affordable housing through the
incorporation of new and refined Policy Actions and documentation of projects in the pipeline.
confirmation ofcandidate housing site viability, and streamlining and outreach eflbrts on the part
of the City; and
WHEREAS, on November 28,2022. pursuanr to Srate law, revisions to the 2021-2029
Housing Element update consistent with HCD guidance were submitted to HCD for review; and
Resolution No. PC I 8-23
Page 3
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission conducted one duly advertised public hearing on
october 16, 2023. regarding the revised 2021-2029 Housing Element, at which time interested
persons had an opportunity to testify either in support of, or opposition to, the revised 2OZl -2029
Housing Element update; and
WHEREAS, based on a variery of factors. as further described in the 2021-2029
Housing Element update, incorporated herein by this reference including: a demand for housing
in the Southern califomia region. real estate development trends within the City of orange,
property owner interest. the presence ol under-utilized commercial property. and available
development capacity on Urban Mixed Use (UMU) zoned sites that already accommodate
residential development; additional incentives. resources, and staff commitment through
programs within the Housing Plan section to promote the development of housing at all income
levels (including the low and very low income levels); and, redevelopment trends on existing
infill sites for lower income housing units, the existing uses on the sites identified in the site
inventory to accommodate the lower-income RHNA do not constitute an impediment to
additional residential development during the period covered by the Housing Element;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that rhe planning Commission recommends
that the city council review. consider and make certain findings pursuant to CEeA and approve
ceneral Plan Amendment No. 2021-0001. adopting the 2021-2029 General plan Housing
Element attached as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference, based on the findingi
contained in Section I of this Resolution.
BE IT FURTHtrR RESOLVED that the planning Commission recommends that the
city council direct staff to implement the policy action programs identified in the 20zl -z0zg
Housing Element.
SECTION I _ FINDINGS
The General Plan Housing Elemenr meers rhe require ments of the Califurnio Government
Code.
The Housing Element contains a housing needs assessment. resources and constraints
analysis. review of past performance. housing policy actions, adequate sites analysis, and
fair housing analysis. consistent whh State requirements. The content of the Housing
Element addresses comments provided by the state of califomia Department of Housing
and Community Development Department (HCD) on the City,s 2O2l -2029 Housing
Element adopted on February 14.2023. Following City re-adoption of the 2021-2029
Housing Element, a copy will be submitted to HCD for final certification.
The Housing Element i.s generally .'onsisrent with the goals and policies sloted within oll
other elements of the Cii,v-'s General Plan.
The Housing Element is consistent with the city's land use plan and is consistent with the
goals and policies ofthe remaining elements ofthe General plan.
)
Resolution No. PC l8-23
Page 4
3. The Housing Element advances the State's housing goal of "decent housing and a suitable
living environment for all members of the communitlt".
The Housing Element contains a needs assessment documenting housing needs in the
Orange community and establishes policy actions to meet those needs through the
preservation, conservation, improvement and production of housing units in Orange. The
housing policy actions aim to provide opportunities for production ofnew housing units for
all income levels, funher fair housing. and also address housing for special needs groups
including seniors and large families. As such, city adoption of the Housing Element and
implementation of the housing policy actions advances the State,s housing goal of
providing "decent housing and a suitable living environment for all members of the
community."
ADOPTED this l6'r'day of October 2023.
Da vt d Vazquez. Pla t't,'t ing Commission Chair
SECTION 2 - EN!'IRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Housing Element update is exempt from the Califomia Environmental euality Act (cEeA)
as lollows: (i) pursuant to section 15061(bX3) of the state cEeA Guidelines (common Sense
Exemption) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed
2021-2029 Housing Element Update would have a significant effect on the environment; liiy no
propeny re-zoning is needed to accommodale the city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation,
and potential residential development densities have already been analyzed and mitigated in an
earlier Environmental Impact Report (the Program Environmental Impact Report piepared for
the 2010 comprehensive ceneral Plan update, stare clearinghouse No. 2006031117); (iii)
pursuant to cuideline 15283" CEQA does not apply to Regional Housing Needs determinations
made by a city. For these reasons, no further CEeA documentation is required.
Resolution No. PC I 8-23
Page 5
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Planning Commission
of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the l6th day of October 2023, by the
following vote:
AYES: Vazquez, Martinez, Simpson, Maldonado, Vejar, Tucker and McCormack
NOES:
ABSENT:
Anna Pehoushek
Assistant Community Development Director