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Housing Element Update (2023-2031)

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Housing Element

The City is required by State law to prepare an updated Housing Element for the 2023-2031 planning period. Below is information on the Housing Element update project, ordered beginning with the most recent events.

Review Public Comment Received for the Housing Element

State Review of Adopted Housing Element

On December 7, 2023, the City submitted the amended Housing Element 2023-2031 to the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The City received notification on February 5, 2024, via a letter from HCD (posted below), that the amended Housing Element 2023-2031 meets the statutory requirements and substantially complies with State housing element law. Below is the letter received from HCD and the documents submitted by the City on December 7, 2023:

City Council Adoption

On December 5, 2023, City Council adopted amendments to the Housing Element 2023-2031, as well as a CEQA Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report, and General Plan and zoning amendments to implement certain Housing Element 2023-2031 programs. 

Below are the notices for the hearings:

 The City Council resolutions and ordinances adopting the Housing Element 2023-2031, as well as a CEQA Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report, and General Plan and zoning amendments to implement certain Housing Element 2023-2031 programs can be found below:

Planning Commission Review

On November 13 and 15, 2023, the City's Planning Commission considered the amendments to the Housing Element 2023-2031 detailed below, as well as a CEQA Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report, and General Plan and zoning amendments to implement certain Housing Element 2023-2031 programs. On November 15, 2023, the Planning Commission recommended to City Council adoption of the amendments to the Housing Element 2023-2031 and General Plan and zoning amendments to implement the Housing Element, as well as adoption the CEQA Addendum. Below are the Housing Element 2023-2031 with proposed amendments the Planning Commission considered as both a clean document and showing the changes to the document in underline and the staff reports for the November 13 and 15, 2023 public hearings:

Below are the notices for the hearing:

State Review of Housing Element Revisions 

The City of Goleta’s draft revisions to the Housing Element 2023-2031 were reviewed by HCD. The City received notification on October 16, 2023, via a comment letter (below), that the draft Housing Element revisions met substantially comply with State housing element law.  Read the press release sent by the City here.

Additional Revisions Sent to State

Based on preliminary feedback from HCD on the City's proposed additional revisions to adopted Housing Element 2023-2031, the City prepared additional revisions to the document. These revisions, shown in track changes, were provided to HCD on October 12, 2023 and are provided below:

Note: In the documents above, the track changes (red text) reflect revisions proposed to the adopted (January 2023) Housing Element. Revisions in yellow highlights are revisions made by the City in response to HCD comments prior to the March 20, 2023 HCD review letter. Revisions with no highlights are changes made in response to the March 20, 2023 HCD review letter that were released on August 10, 2023 (see below). Revisions in blue highlights are changes made in response to HCD's preliminary review of the City's August 18, 2023 resubmittal. 

State Review of Revised Adopted Housing Element

In response to HCD’s March 20, 2023 comments on the City's adopted Housing Element 2023-2031, City staff drafted revisions to the Housing Element. The revised documents must be submitted to HCD for a 60-day review, at which time the public can still provide comments to the City. Below are the revisions submitted to HCD, after being made available for a 7-day public review period, and a table identifying how the City addressed HCD comments:

Sites Inventory Rezoning Study Sessions

The City Council and Planning Commission held a continued joint study session to address the HCD letter detailed below on July 31, 2023. More information about the July 31 study session can be found below:

The City Council and Planning Commission held a continued joint study session to address the HCD letter detailed below on  July 25, 2023. The Alternative Sites listed in the staff report were discussed. More information about the July 25 study session can be found below:

A Joint Study Session City Council and Planning Commission was held on July 20, 2023 to provide the City Council, Planning Commission, and public with an opportunity to provide feedback regarding the City’s Draft Revised Housing Element 2023-2031 Sites Inventory. Candidate and Alternative rezoning sites were presented at the July 20 Study Session. Staff received input and feedback regarding the Candidate sites. However, the City Council and the Planning Commission did not conclude their review of all Alternative sites. The Study Session was continued to July 25, 2023 to allow more discussion. More information about the July 20 study session can be found below:

State Response to Adopted Housing Element

On March 20, 2023, the City received a letter from HCD reporting the results of its review of the City’s Adopted Housing Element 2023-2031. The City will now prepare a revised Housing Element for future re-adoption hearings. This letter can be viewed below:

Adopted Housing Element Revisions

Based on preliminary feedback from HCD on the City's adopted Housing Element 2023-2031, the City prepared revisions to the document. Below is the adopted Housing Element 2023-2031 with the revisions shown in tracked changes.

State Review of Adopted Housing Element

As required by State law, the City submitted the adopted Housing Element 2023-2031 to HCD on January 23, 2023. The submittal letter and attachments can be viewed below:

Adoption of Housing Element 2023-2031 

On January 17, 2023, the City adopted the Housing Element 2023-2021.

State Review of Draft Housing Element

On September 27, 2022, the City received a letter from HCD reporting the results of its review of the City’s Draft Housing Element 2023-2031. The City will now prepare a revised draft for future adoption hearings. This letter can be viewed below:

On June 30, 2022, staff submitted the City’s Draft Housing Element 2023-2031 to HCD for a 90-day review. The cover letter and submitted Draft Housing Element 2023-2031 can be viewed below. 

Prior Public Meetings 

On January 17, 2023, the City Council adopted the Housing Element 2023-2031. The adopted Housing Element 2023-2031 includes the Revised Draft Housing Element 2023-2031 that is provided as Exhibit A to Attachment 1 of the staff report with the revisions detailed in the Errata Sheet (see files below). The staff report and meeting materials can be reviewed below:

On December 12, 2022, the Planning Commission reviewed the Revised Draft Housing Element 2023-2031 (Revised Draft) at a public hearing. The Revised Draft includes significant revisions to the previous draft based on HCD's comment letter (posted above). At the public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended to City Council the adoption of the Housing Element with minor revisions. The staff report and meeting materials can be reviewed below:

On June 28, 2022, the City Council reviewed the Draft Housing Element and unanimously directed staff submit the Draft Housing Element as presented with the changes provided in the Errata Sheet, updated to reflect public comment received at the meeting, and with minor revisions to subprograms HE 2.2(a) and HE 2.3(d), to the State for a 90-day review. The staff report and other meeting materials can be viewed below:

On June 22, 2022, the City participated in a South Coast Housing Workshop that brought together the Cities of Goleta, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara and the County of Santa Barbara to discuss each jurisdictions Housing Element process, regional housing needs, and local challenges. The event included a panel discussion and breakout groups for each jurisdiction. 

On May 23, 2022, the Planning Commission continued the review of the Draft Housing Element. At the meeting, the Planning Commission recommended to City Council submittal of the Draft Housing Element to the State for a 90-day review with revisions to subprograms HE 1.7 and 5.2 and a new subprogram HE 1.8. The City Council will review the Planning Commission's recommendation on June 28, 2022. The staff report and other meeting materials from May 23, 2022 can be viewed below:

 The City’s Planning Commission considered the Draft Housing Element on May 9, 2022. The staff report and other meeting materials from May 9, 2022 can be viewed below:

On March 14, 2022, City staff and the project consultant conducted a public workshop with the Planning Commission to present background information on the Housing Element update, display some of the work done to date, and allow for public and Planning Commission questions and comments related to the Housing Element update. Information from this workshop is below:

On September 7, 2021, City staff presented a proposed Housing Element Update approach and schedule to the City Council. Information from this item is below:

Background

Below is Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan adopted by SBCAG. This document outlines the City’s RHNA share.

The City prepared a Frequently Asked Questions handout to help explain the Housing Element update process. This document was updated on May 25, 2022 and can be viewed below. A second Frequently Asked Questions document was prepared and posted on November 29, 2023 and is also posted below.

The City also conducted a survey to understand the concerns of the public regarding housing issues within Goleta. The results of the survey can be found below:

For more information, contact Advance Planning at HousingElement@cityofgoleta.org.