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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 General Plan Amendment- Housing AGENDA MEMO DATE: January 26, 2010 TO: MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER By: Brian T. Saeki, Director of Community Development SUBJECT: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 08-77, AN UPDATE TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE 2006-2014 PLANNING PERIOD RECOMMENDATION Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the following titled resolution: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO 08-77, THEREBY UPDATING THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE 2006-2014 PLANNING PERIOD BACKGROUND In January 2005, the City of Downey adopted a new General Plan (Vision 2025), which guides the City’s growth over the next 20 years. As part of this process, all of the elements were updated, with exception to the Housing Element. The current Housing Element of the General Plan was adopted in December 2001 and covered the planning period of January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2005. State law requires all cities within the SCAG region to update the Housing Element for the planning period of January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2014. Even though the Planning Period for the Housing Element started in 2006, the City was unable to begin preparing the element since we had to wait for SCAG to issue the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The final RHNA numbers were issued by SCAG in July 2007 and approved by the State of California in September 2007. In order to obtain the experience necessary to have the Housing Element approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the City began the process of hiring a consultant in September 2007 and the City Council authorized staff to enter into a contract with Willdan in January 2008. On June 18, 2008, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the draft Housing Element, at the conclusion of which the Planning Commission authorized staff to submit the draft element to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review. This action allowed staff to submit the Draft Housing Element prior to the June 30, 2008 deadline. Since that time, staff and the City’s consultant worked with HCD to make the necessary modifications to the element in order to obtain certification of the element by HCD. Staff received notification from HCD on November 2, 2009 that the element will comply with State Housing Element Law and therefore, HCD will be able to certify the element. CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA On November 10, 2009, pursuant to the requirements of CEQA, a Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration was filed with the Los Angeles County Recorders office. On December 2, 2009, after conducting a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 09-2618 (attached), thereby recommending that the City Council adopt the Negative Declaration and approve the General Plan Amendment. 1th On January 15, 2010, notice of the proposed project was published as a / page ad in 8 theLong Beach Press-Telegram. DISCUSSION Updating the Housing Element of the General Plan will bring it in to compliance with State law and ensure that the City will remain eligible for certain types of funding. The process of the Housing Element update started when SCAG adopted the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The RHNA process looks at the total housing needs for the SCAG region and theoretically assigns each jurisdiction its “fair share” of dwelling units. For the current planning period of 2006-2014, SCAG has assigned the City of Downey the following units: Very low Moderate Above moderate Low income incomeincomeincomeTotal households households households households Number 277 174 187 470 1,108 Percent 25.0% 15.7% 16.8% 42.4% 100% In addition to meeting the RHNA requirements, the Housing Element includes several policies and programs to provide for affordable housing opportunities and to maintain a quality housing stock across all income levels, which includes: Maintaining Code Enforcement efforts and neighborhood preservation programs. Maintaining the housing improvement programs and senior paint/fix up programs. Adopt an ordinance allowing transitional housing, supportive housing, emergency shelters, and single room occupancies, within certain zones of the City by right. Continue to provide a first time homebuyers program and rental assistance. Adopt a reasonable accommodation ordinance to address constraints on providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. During the Planning Commission hearing on the Housing Element the Planning Commission did not receive any correspondence prior to the meeting and no members of the public spoke during the hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing the Planning Commission recommended approval of the General Plan Amendment by a 5-0 vote. Staff would like to note that a letter was received on December 11, 2009 regarding the Housing Element (attached). Should the City Council approve the Housing Element, staff will forward a final copy to the Department of Housing and Community Development for certification. ATTACHMENTS Draft City Council Resolution Planning Commission Resolution No. 09-2618 Planning Commission Minute Excerpts, dated December 2, 2009 Planning Commission Staff Report, dated December 2, 2009 Initial Study for Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact. Letter received from Shelter Partnership, dated December 10, 2009 RESOLUTION NO._______ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO 08-77, THEREBY UPDATING THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE 2006-2014 PLANNING PERIOD. WHEREAS, in January 2005, the City of Downey adopted a new General Plan (Vision 2025), which guides the City’s growth over the next 20 years. As part of this process, all of the elements were updated, with exception to the Housing Element. The current Housing Element of the General Plan was adopted in December 2001 and covered the planning period of January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2005; and, WHEREAS, State law requires all cities within the SCAG region to update the Housing Element for the planning period of January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2014; and, WHEREAS, on June 18, 2008, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the draft Housing Element, at the conclusion of which the Planning Commission authorized staff to submit the draft element to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review. Since that time, staff and the City’s consultant worked with HCD to make the necessary modifications to the element in order to obtain certification of the element by HCD. Staff received notification from HCD on November 2, 2009 that the element will comply with State Housing Element Law and therefore, HCD will be able to certify the element; and, WHEREAS, on November 10, 2009, pursuant to the requirements of CEQA, a Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration was filed with the Los Angeles County Recorders office; and, WHEREAS, on December 2, 2009, after conducting a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 09-2618, thereby recommending that the City Council adopt the Negative Declaration and approve the General Plan Amendment; and, 1th WHEREAS, on January 15, 2010, notice of the proposed project was published as a / 8 page ad in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS : SECTION 1. The City Council finds, determines and declares that after preparing an Initial Study in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, which found that there would be no significant environmental impacts created by the proposed General Plan Amendment, a Negative Declaration was prepared. Based on its own independent judgment that the facts stated in the initial study are true, the City Council hereby finds that the approval of the General Plan Amendment it will not have any potential negative environmental impacts. SECTION 2. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at said public hearings, the City Council further finds, determines and declares: RESOLUTION NO. PAGE TWO 1. The General Plan Amendment is consistent with other goals, policies programs, and land uses of applicable elements of the General Plan. The Housing Element sets forth policies to encourage affordable residential construction, mixed use developments, and maintaining/improving residential neighborhoods. This is consistent with the policies in the Land Use and Design Elements. 2. The General Plan Amendment will not adversely affect the surrounding environment. Based on an Initial Study of Environmental Impacts, which was prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, adoption and implementation of the Housing Element will not impact the environment within the City of Downey and the surrounding areas. 3. The proposed General Plan Amendment will promote the public health, safety, and general welfare. The Housing Element contains several policies and programs that will support the improvement and upkeep of the existing housing stock. Furthermore, the element provides policies and programs to increase the affordable housing opportunities within the City. These policies and programs will promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by providing better housing in the City. SECTION 3. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Resolution, the City Council of the City of Downey hereby adopts a Negative Declaration and approves General Plan Amendment No. 08-77, thereby updating to the Housing Element of the General Plan for the 2006-2014 planning period. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. th APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 26 day of January, 2010. ANNE M. BAYER, Mayor ATTEST: KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council th of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof held on the 26 day of January, 2010 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Member: NOES: Council Member: ABSENT: Council Member: ABSTAIN: Council Member: KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk