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HomeMy WebLinkAbout75B - PH - GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENTREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 19, 2009 TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2009-O1 TO UPDATE THE SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT (2006-2014) i CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ^ As Recommended ^ As Amended ^ Ordinance on 1 S' Reading ^ Ordinance on 2"d Reading ^ Implementing Resolution ^ Set Public Hearing For_ CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER 1. Approve and adopt the Negative Declaration, Environmental Review No. 2009-51. 2. Adopt a resolution approving General Plan Amendment No. 2009-O1. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION On September 28, 2009, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve and adopt the Negative Declaration, Environmental Review No. 2009-51; and adopt a resolution approving General Plan Amendment No. 2009-01 by a vote of 6:0 to update the City of Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element for the planning period 2006 through 2014. The Planning Commission made no changes to the modifications outlined in the attached staff report (Exhibit A) . FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Jay M. Trevino Executive Director Planning & Building Agency MGM:rb mgm\P1anComm\gpa09-O1 Housing Element .cc 75B-1 75B-2 REQUEST FOR Planning Commission Action PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2009-01 TO UPDATE THE SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT (2006-2014) Prepared by Melanie G. McCann ,~-~'~- ~ Executive erector RECOMMENDED ACTION Recommend that the City Council: PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY APPROVED ^ As Recommended ^ As Amended ^ Set Public Hearing For DENIED ^ Applicant's Request ^ Staff Recommendation CONTINUED TO wE~~ ,~. Planning Ma ger 1. Approve and adopt the Negative Declaration, Environmental Review No. 2009-51. 2. Adopt a resolution approving General Plan Amendment No. 2009-01. DISCUSSION The City of Santa Ana's General Plan Housing Element (2006-2014) communicates Santa Ana's new Housing Vision and strategies for preserving and expanding housing opportunities for all income levels. The Housing Element is the primary policy guidance document for local decision-making related to housing and includes an array of programs to effectively address local and regional housing needs through the year 2014. The Housing Element is one of the seven general plan elements mandated by the State of California to be prepared and adopted by all local jurisdictions. Given the priority to address California's critical housing needs, the housing element was made the only general plan element required to be updated every five years. State law requires that the housing element include "an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies and quantified objectives, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement and development of housing". EXHIBIT A 75B-3 General Plan Amendment No. 2009-O1 September 28, 2009 Page 2 Community Outreach A variety of opportunities were created for the community to participate in the preparation of the Housing Element update - including two Community Workshops, forums with community serving organizations and local employers, and various Commission study sessions. In particular, a City Council Vision Session was held in October 2008 to discuss community needs, public input, and housing policy direction. All those parties expressing interest, including neighborhood and community leaders, were also notified when the Draft Element or related Negative Declaration was released to the public and available for view on the City web site and library. These parties have been duly noticed of the Planning Commission and City Council public hearing dates to consider the adoption of the Draft Element. Policy Plan The Draft General Plan Housing Element was shaped by community outreach resulting in the creation of a new Housing Vision statement for Santa Ana: "Santa Ana residents have an equal right and opportunity to find suitable housing in quality residential neighborhoods that allow themselves, their families, and neighbors to live the fullest lives. We support an inclusive community that is multigenerational, culturally diverse, sustainable, and economically broad. The City will facilitate the production, rehabilitation, and improvement of rental and homeownership opportunities at different affordability levels". The September 2009 Draft Housing Element (Exhibit 1) identifies over 50 Implementation Programs to achieve this New Vision. Some of the key policy programs include: • New Construction and Potential Housing Sites. The City has entitled and/or seen the construction of more than 2,300 new housing units since 2006, the majority serving market rate needs. The draft Housing Element identifies select areas in the City as a menu of "Potential Housing Sites" to meet Santa Ana's 3,393 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), particularly as it refers to the City's unmet affordable housing need. These areas include Metro East, the proposed Renaissance Specific Plan area, and transit corridors along Harbor Boulevard, First Street and Fifth Street. 75B-4 General Plan Amendment No. 2009-O1 September 28, 2009 Page 3 • Adequacy of Sites for Lower Income Households. To provide adequate sites to meet the unmet need for affordable housing, Program 17 in the Draft Element identifies the creation of a new General Plan land use designation and zoning district to achieve a minimum range of 25 to 35 dwelling units per acre (average of 30 units per acre). This Program would entail amending a minimum of 33 of the total 116 acres identified in the inventory of "Potential Housing Sites" to a land use designation that facilitates an average of 30 dwelling units. A program to create residential/mixed use multi-family development standards is also included, as well as incentive programs to promote the production of affordable housing. • Homeless and Transitional Housing. With the adoption of Senate Bill 2, state law requires that all jurisdictions identify potential sites where emergency shelters can be located as by- right, permitted uses to serve local needs. The law also states that transitional and supportive housing are to be permitted in the same zoning district as other like residential uses. The revised Draft Element identifies a program to evaluate the Light Industrial (M-1) zoning district and select commercial districts to identify appropriate areas and locations where emergency shelters can be developed without discretionary approvals to accommodate Santa Ana's homeless population. • Housing Preservation. The preservation of existing affordable housing stock has been an ongoing priority for the City of Santa Ana. Under present housing law, there is limited opportunity for the City's housing rehabilitation projects to be credited toward our Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation for new construction. The Draft Element identifies 154 apartment units that were converted from non-affordable to affordable, of which 26 units presently qualify for the RHNA construction credit. The Element also identifies a program to advocate for legislative change to allow greater flexibility in satisfying the regional housing needs' goals through housing preservation and conversion of apartments from market rate to income restricted affordable units. Public Review Following the public outreach, that included community workshops, stakeholder focus groups, Study Sessions with Commissions, and Visioning Study Sessions with the City Council, the City prepared the preliminary 75B-5 General Plan Amendment No. 2009-01 September 28, 2009 Page 4 Draft Housing Element (2006-2014). The Draft Housing Element was initially circulated for public review on September 4, 2008, and submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for their required review. At the close of the 60-day HCD review period on November 4, 2008, the City received written comments from HCD, as well as other interest groups, such as the Kennedy Commission and the Public Law Center. Revisions were made to the Draft Housing Element by City staff and forwarded to HCD for a second review in March 2009; followed by a second round of comments by HCD in June 2009. After various discussions with HCD and refinements to the Draft Element, the City received a letter from HCD on August 31, 2009 confirming the City's Draft Housing Element as in compliance with State law (Exhibit 2). All those parties expressing interest, including neighborhood and community leaders, have been notified of the ongoing progress of the Draft Element and its availability for review; as well as upcoming Planning Commission and City Council public hearing dates to consider the adoption of the Draft Element. Additionally, all drafts, environmental documents and HCD comment letters were posted on the City's web site. The Draft Housing Element not only meets the requirements of State law, it introduces a progressive new Housing Vision for Santa Ana. This vision includes programs to address an array of housing needs, promote sustainable linkage between land use development and transportation, and further Santa Ana's overall quality of life. Based on the analysis above, it is recommended that the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution approving General Plan Amendment No. 2009-O1. CEQA Compliance In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, Negative Declaration, Environmental Review No. 2009-51, has been prepared for this project (Exhibit 3). The public review period for the Negative Declaration for the Draft Housing Element was from April 30, 2009 to May 29, 2009. ~~~~ Melanie G. McCann, AICP Sergio Associate Planner Princip MGM:jm mgm\P1anComm\gpa09-O1 Housing Element.pc tz, ICP Pla er/ 75B-6 Please reference EXHIBIT 1 2006-2014 Draft General Plan Housing Element (September 2009) GPA 2009-01 EXHIBIT 1 75B-7 75B-8 STATE OF CALIFORNIA -AURINESR TRANSPORTATION ANn HO IRINC AGENCY ARNCII r1 cr~nnmR~GtiGrrGO r DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT 1800 Third Street, Suite 430 v P. O. Box 952053 ', Sacramento, CA 94252-2053 (916) 323-31771 FAX (916) 327-2643 www.hcd.ca.gov August 28, 2009 Mr. Jay Trevino, Executive Director Planning and Building Agency City of Sarita Ana 20 Civic tenter Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92702 Dear Mr. Trevino: RE: Review of the City of Santa Ana's Draft Housing Element Thank you for submitting the City of Santa Ana's housing element received for the Department's review on July 2, 2009. The Department is required to review draft housing elements and report the findings to the locality pursuant to Government Code Section 65585(b). The review was facilitated by communications with Ms. Melanie McCann, of your staff, and Mr. Mark Hoffman, the City's consultant. In addition, the Department consulted with the Kennedy Commission, pursuant to Government Code Section 65585(c). The draft housing element was well organized and presented in a format that was both informative and easy to understand. The element presents a clear vision of the community's housing values and goals. When adopted, the housing element will be an effective, user-friendly tool to implement the community's housing .and community development objectives. The draft element addresses the statutory requirements described in the Department's May 29, 2009 review. For example, the element now includes programs to rezone sites and demonstrates adequate sites to accommodate Santa Ana's regional housing need. As a result, the revised draft element will comply with State housing element law (Article 10.6 of the Government Code) when adopted and submitted to the Department, pursuant to Government Code Section 65585(g). The Department commends Santa Ana's commitment to adopt housing and land-use strategies to address its existing and projected housing need. Programs targeted to encourage and facilitate development of housing for lower-income .households in the City's plan areas (Programs 13-21) and the availability of affordable housing incentives (Program 25) are critical to demonstrate compliance with housing element law. The City must monitor and report on the results of these programs and others through the annual progress report, required pursuant to Government Code Section 65400. Should monitoring reveal programs has been unsuccessful in promoting the development of housing affordable to extremely low-, very low- and low-income households, the City should adopt alternative strategies.. EXHIBIT 2 75B-9 Mr..lay Trevino, Executive Director Page 2 The Department appreciates the effort and cooperation provided by Ms. McCann throughout the course of the review and looks forward to receiving Santa Ana's adopted housing element. If you have any questions, please contact Brett Arriaga, of our staff, at (916) 445-5888. Sincerely, .. ~, ~/ Cathy E. Creswell Deputy Director 75B-10 bk 10/12!09 RESOLUTION NO. 2009- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING A REVISED HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council hereby finds, determines and declares as follows: A. The California Government Code requires every city to adopt a General Plan. The Plan consists of several elements, one of which must be a Housing Element. B. The Housing Element, in general, must be revised periodically to incorporate programs, polices and objectives designed to allow the City to meet its fair share of the regional anticipated growth in housing demand. C. Government Code section 65588, as amended, requires the City to adopt a revised Housing Element. D. Pursuant to state law, the Housing Element must include the following provisions: 1. an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs; 2. a statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing; 3. the identification of adequate sites for housing, including rental housing, factory-built housing, mobilehomes, and emergency shelters; and 4. adequate provision for the existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community. E. Both the Redevelopment and Housing Commission, and Planning Commission have considered the proposed Housing Element at a regularly scheduled meeting or noticed public hearing, respectively, and recommended that the City Council adopt the Housing Element. 75B-11 F. The proposed Housing Element has also been formally reviewed twice by the California Housing and Community Development Agency (HCD). The Housing Element was revised after the first comment letter, and resubmitted to HCD. HCD, in its most recent comment letter, signed by Ms. Cathy E. Creswell, Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Development and dated August 28, 2009, states that the revised City's Housing Element "will comply with State housing element law." G. All statements and findings contained in the Housing Element and the Request for Council Action dated October 19, 2009, are incorporated herein by this reference as though fully set forth. Section 2. The City Council has reviewed and considered the information contained in the initial study and the negative declaration for ER No. 2009-51 prepared with respect to this Housing Element. The City Council has, as a result of its consideration, and the evidence presented at the hearings on this matter, determined that, as required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and the State CEQA Guidelines, a Negative Declaration adequately addresses the expected environmental impacts of the Housing Element. On the basis of this review, the City Council finds that there is no evidence from which it can be fairly argued that the Project will have a significant adverse effect on the environment. The City Council hereby certifies and approves the negative declaration and directs that the Notice of Determination be prepared and filed with the County Clerk of the County of Orange in the manner required by law. Pursuant to Title XIV, California Code of Regulations ("CCR") § 735.5(c)(1), the City Council has determined that, after considering the record as a whole, there is no evidence that the proposed project will have the potential for any adverse effect on wildlife resources or the ecological habitat upon which wildlife resources depend. The proposed project exists in an urban environment characterized by paved concrete, roadways, surrounding buildings and human activity. Therefore, pursuant to Fish and Game Code § 711.2 and Title XIV, CCR § 735.5(a)(3), the payment of Fish and Game Department filing fees is not required in conjunction with this project. Section 3. The Housing Element is hereby approved and adopted, and shall be made regularly available by the City's Planning and Building Agency. Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution. 75B-12 ADOPTED this day of Councilmembers Miguel A. Pulido Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Joseph W. Fletcher, City Attorney By: Benjamin Kaufman Chief Assistant City Attorney AYES: NOES: Councilmembers ABSTAIN: Councilmembers NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers 2009. CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2009-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on Date: Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana 75B-13 75B-14