Item 37 - General Plan Amendment No. 2021-01 - 6th Cycle Housing Element Update

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General Plan Amendment No. 2021-01 July 19, 2022 Page 2 2 8 1 4 City’s goals, policies, quantified objectives, and programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing for all income levels over an eight (8) year planning period. This update of the Housing Element will cover the 6th planning cycle, which spans the 2021-2029 period (October 15, 2021 - October 15, 2029). Furthermore, the Housing Element differs from other General Plan elements in two aspects: the Housing Element must be updated every eight years and must be reviewed and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to ensure compliance with State requirements. Additionally, a non-compliant housing element could result in the loss of eligibility for grant funds and State funding sources, penalties, and reduced local zoning control. The Housing Element plays a unique role in charting the course for fair and equitable housing and quality of life in Santa Ana for existing and future generations. This Housing Element Update sets priorities for advancing housing stability and anti-displacement policies, including the City’s recently adopted Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, and revisions to the Affordable Housing Opportunity and Creation Ordinance (AHOCO), formally known as the Housing Opportunity Ordinance, to better align the production of affordable housing and private investment to foster greater livability, sustainability, and resilience in housing policies. At its core, the purpose of a housing element is to provide an analysis of a community’s housing needs for all income levels and household types, and identify strategies to respond to and provide for those housing needs. Since 1969, housing elements have been considered mandatory components of local general plans in California because providing housing for all Californians is considered by the State legislature to be a matter of vital statewide importance. In addition, the Housing Element is a key part of the City’s General Plan and provides critical guidance to all housing-related decisions undertaken by the City. The Housing Element Update embodies the existing goals and policies of other General Plan elements and identifies the more detailed strategies the City will implement to achieve them with regards to housing. The update also ensures that housing goals, objectives, and policies are integrated and consistent with all the other elements of the General Plan. Pursuant to State law, the housing element must include the following key components: An analysis of existing and projected housing needs An analysis of potential constraints on housing An analysis of assisted housing developments that are “at-risk” and eligible to change from low-income housing uses An inventory of sites suitable for housing development An analysis of the plan’s conformance with affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH) requirements An analysis of any special housing needs An evaluation of the previous housing element