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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-15; Planning Commission; Resolution 7228 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN TO ADOPT AN UPDATE OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT FOR THE 2013-2021 HOUSING CYCLE AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE. CASE NAME: 2017 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE CASE NO: GPA 16-02 WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad, “Applicant,” has filed a verified application with the City of Carlsbad to adopt a General Plan Amendment for the 2017 Housing Element Update, a document that affects properties throughout Carlsbad; and WHEREAS, although the current Housing Element of the General Plan, adopted September 2015, provides an eight-year housing plan for the planning period 2013-2021, state law (SB 575, Steinberg) requires the city to develop a mid-planning period (four-year) Housing Element Update; and WHEREAS, the 2017 Housing Element Update serves as the mid-planning period update and will provide the housing plan for the second half of the eight-year planning period, or from April 30, 2017, through April 29, 2021; and WHEREAS, because the recently approved General Plan and the Housing Element remain relevant and effective, the 2017 Housing Element Update includes no significant changes to programs or policies and no land use changes and demonstrates that Carlsbad continues to meet its share of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA); and WHEREAS, the city submitted the document to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for initial review as required by state law. On December 20, 2016, HCD determined the draft update, revised as required by the agency, met the statutory requirements of state housing element law; and WHEREAS, the city has provided the public with opportunities to review and comment on housing issues and the 2017 Housing Element Update, including (1) a noticed Housing Commission workshop (with workshop notices mailed to stakeholders and interested parties) to discuss housing issues PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 7228 PC RESO NO. 7228 -2- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 on September 22, 2016; (2) the release of the first draft of the update via an October 27, 2016 posting on the city’s website as part of a webpage with project-related information; (3) the placement of paper copies of the first draft of the update at the city’s libraries, Faraday Center, Senior Center, and the city clerk’s office on November 10, 2016; (4) notice of the update’s availability for public review and comment and locations where it could be reviewed in a news release, newspaper ad, a city website posting, and in a mailing, all on November 14; (5) in the November 14 notice, announcement of a 30-day public review and comment period from November 15 to December 15, 2016; (6) a city website posting of the 2017 Housing Element Update, revised according to the changes required by HCD, on January 18, 2017, and its distribution to city libraries and other city facilities the following day; and, (7) a news release and stakeholder mailing on January 23 and 24, 2017, that provided project updates and advised of upcoming public hearings on the proposed project; and WHEREAS, additional opportunities for public review and input will occur as part of the Housing Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council public hearings to consider adopting the 2017 Housing Element Update; WHEREAS, implementation of the City of Carlsbad’s housing programs have significantly contributed to the production of affordable housing as nearly 2,500 housing units affordable to lower income families have been developed in the city since passage of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in 1991; WHEREAS, said verified application constitutes a request for a General Plan Amendment as shown on Exhibit A dated January 2017, attached hereto and on file in the Carlsbad Planning Division, 2017 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE – GPA 16-02, as provided in Government Code Section 65350 et. seq. and Section 21.52.150 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did, on February 15, 2017, hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider said request; and PC RESO NO. 7228 -3- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all persons desiring to be heard, said Commission considered all factors relating to the General Plan Amendment. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, as follows: A) That the above recitations are true and correct. B) That based on the evidence presented at the public hearing, the Commission RECOMMENDS APPROVAL of 2017 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE – GPA 16-02, based on the following findings: Findings: 1. The 2017 Housing Element Update is necessary to ensure the General Plan Housing Element remains consistent with state housing law as found in the California Government Code, commencing with Section 65580. 2. Through its Housing Plan, the 2017 Housing Element Update ensures the city will continue to provide all required and necessary affordable housing programs, policies and regulations to successfully meet a priority of Government Code Section 65580(a), which states "the availability of housing is of vital statewide importance, and the early attainment of decent housing and a suitable living environment for every Californian, including farmworkers, is a priority of the highest order." 3. The 2017 Housing Element Update maintains the city’s compliance with growth projections as determined by the State Department of Housing and Community Development and as allocated by the San Diego Association of Governments through the RHNA process. 4. The 2017 Housing Element Update, revised by the city according to California Department of Housing and Community Development comments and incorporated as Exhibit A to this resolution, meets the statutory requirements of state housing element law. 5. The 2017 Housing Element Update is consistent with the applicable elements of the General Plan as demonstrated by analysis of the project with the following Land Use and Community Design Element goals. A. Goal 2-G.1 (“Maintain a land use program with amount, design and arrangement of varied uses that serve to protect and enhance the character and image of the city as expressed in the Carlsbad Community Vision, and balance development with preservation and enhancement of open space.”). The update makes no substantive changes to the Housing Element or its housing plan adopted as part of the General Plan on September 22, 2015, and makes no changes to existing land uses, land use patterns, or densities. Therefore, the update maintains consistency with the land use program approved as part of the General Plan on September 22, 2015, and by extension does not conflict with the goals and policies of the elements that have bearing on or are impacted by residential land uses, such as the Mobility Element, Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation Element, Public Safety Element, and Sustainability Element. PC RESO NO. 7228 -4- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 B. Goal 2-G.4 (“Provide balanced neighborhoods with a variety of housing types and density ranges to meet the diverse demographic, economic and social needs of residents, while ensuring a cohesive urban form with careful regard for compatibility.”) The update promotes housing for all economic segments at various densities, in different forms, and in locations throughout the city. C. Goal 2-G.14 (“Participate with other cities in the county, through the San Diego Association of Governments, in working towards solution of regional issues.”) The update maintains compliance with Carlsbad’s share of the RHNA for the 2013-2021 housing cycle. RHNA, an estimate of housing needed to accommodate forecasted growth, is allocated by SANDAG across the San Diego region as a way to address regional housing issues. 6. The 2017 Housing Element Update is consistent with the City's Local Coastal Program in that none of its policies or programs allow for degradation of agricultural or scenic resources, encroachment into environmentally sensitive areas, restriction of coastal access, or creation of geologic instability or erosion. The update also maintains a program intending to preserve and/or replace affordable housing within the Coastal Zone, as required by state law. 7. The 2017 Housing Element Update is consistent with the City's Growth Management Program in that it does not conflict with Growth Management dwelling unit limitations and performance standards to ensure public facilities and services keep pace with development; and is consistent with a purpose and intent of the Growth Management Program, which is to provide quality housing opportunities for all economic segments of the community and to balance the housing needs of the region against the public service needs of Carlsbad's residents and available fiscal and environmental resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .