Title
REF220020 - GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT SIXTH CYCLE UPDATE
Receive a presentation of and conduct a public workshop to review and receive public input regarding the Draft Housing Element Sixth Cycle Update.
Project Location: Unincorporated County of Monterey
Proposed CEQA Action: Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 15262 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
Report
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission:
a. Receive a presentation on the Draft Housing Element Sixth Cycle Update;
b. Conduct a public workshop to review and receive public input regarding the Draft Housing Element Sixth Cycle Update; and
c. Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY
State law requires that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. Local governments are required to meet this obligation by adopting housing plans as part of the General Plan. Monterey County is currently working on the 6th Cycle Update to the Housing Element of the General Plan (HEU6). The HEU6 covers a period of 8 years (June 30, 2023 - December 15, 2031). A Housing Element must address a variety of topics related to housing and homelessness including identification of sites that are capable of meeting the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), at a minimum. The RHNA for the County of Monterey in the 6th Cycle is:
Extremely Low/Very Low: 1,070 units
Low: 700 units
Moderate: 420 units
Above Moderate (Market) 1,136 units
Total: 3,326 units
In addition to the RHNA numbers, California Housing and Community Development (CA HCD) recommends that each jurisdiction create a buffer of 15 to 30 percent more than required by the RHNA, particularly in the lower income RHNA categories, to ensure sufficient capacity exists in the housing element throughout the planning period. The HEU6 provides a 24 percent buffer on the very low income category which translates into the opportunit...
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