Housing Element Working Group Overview
The Housing Element Working Group in Palo Alto is responsible for updating and implementing housing requirements to accommodate regional needs and ensure fair housing practices. The group works on site selection, RHNA allocation, and medium-density housing mandates.
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Presentation Transcript
Housing Element Working Group www.cityofpaloalto.org January 19, 2021
Housing Element Overview Mandated Element in Comprehensive Plan Only element that requires State certification Updated every 8 years Housing Element Requirements Housing Needs Analysis Site Inventory and Analysis Must accommodate Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Housing Constraints Analysis Housing Program Requirements Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (new requirement) Other 1
Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Site Selection must accommodate City s RHNA Recommended City of Palo Alto 2023-2031 RHNA Very Low Income Low Income Moderate Income Above Moderate Income TOTAL 1,556 896 1,013 2,621 6,086 Please note: The final RHNA determination for the City will be considered by the ABAG Executive Committee on January 21, 2021. A surplus of units will need to be added to meet the no net loss requirement. 2
2023-2031 Housing Element Update New Housing Element Requirements It is anticipated that these new requirements will lead to considerable more time and effort for this Housing Element update than the previous update. Site Selection Requirements Revised Site Eligibility Standards (suitable and available) No parcels <.5 acre or > 5 acres are not considered suitable for lower income housing unless the City can show realistic capacity from previous developments. If the HE site is non-vacant, must show that the use will be discontinued during planning period. Also, vacant sites cannot be used for more than two consecutive planning periods, and non-vacant sites for consecutive planning periods, unless the site is rezoned to allow at least 30 units per acre and by-right development if at least 20% of the units are affordable to lower income households. 3
2023-2031 Housing Element Update New Housing Element Requirements (cont.) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Proactive requirements to further fair housing and outreach No net loss If any HE site developed with less units than projected, other sites must be adequate to meet the unmet RHNA need Medium-Density Housing Required Must designate 25% of City s RHNA as moderate and above moderate housing. 4
Working Group Composition Wide cross section of interested housing stakeholders Recommend limiting to 15 members maximum Greater emphasis on racial inclusion and social equity members Potential Working Group Membership Recommended for Inclusion Additional Stakeholders Affordable housing developer Affordable housing resident Interest groups (such as Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning, Palo Alto Forward, League of Women Voters) Market rate housing developer Neighborhood Associations/Groups Persons with disabilities Renters Seniors Special Needs Stanford University Unhoused or formerly unhoused (including those living in vehicles) Architect and/or design professional Business community Faith community Human Relations Commission Planning and Transportation Commission Realtors School District Underrepresented Populations (Limited English Proficiency, youth, persons of color.) 5
Working Group Role Advisory Body to City Council Recommends new housing policy and programs, potential housing sites and other functions Subject to Brown Act requirements. Meets monthly from May 2021-October 2022 6
Working Group Application Schedule Task Date Outreach January 20-26, 2021 Application Period January 26, 2021 February 26, 2021 Council Working Group Selection April 5, 2021 7
Council Housing Element Subcommittee Designate Policy and Services Subcommittee or Ad-Hoc Subcommittee of two or three members Reviews and provide direction to Working Group work product Meets every other month from June 2020-October 2022 Subcommittee member selection to be made at April 5 meeting 8
April 5, 2021 Council meeting Selection of Housing Element Working Group members Selection of Council Housing Element Subcommittee members Consider staff recommended parameters for the Working Group (and the Subcommittee?). Some examples may include: Utilizing S/CAP goals as part of the site selection process. Protection of single family neighborhoods Emphasize publicly owned lands (Cubberley campus, parking lots, school district, etc.) 9
Working Group and Subcommittee Updates Housing Element Update website with latest information. Online monthly summaries of Working Group progress on website Quarterly reports to Council on Working Group and Subcommittee activity Two PTC and two Council meetings regarding Housing Element Update process 10
Housing Element Update Timeline Action Projected Date Consultant Selected Community Meetings Working Group Meets Council Subcommittee Meets PTC Housing Element Update Council Housing Element Update Council Housing Element Update Release of Administrative Draft PTC Review City Council Housing Element adoption HCD certification April 2021 May 2021 May 2021 June 2021 November 2021 January 2022 June 2022 July 2022 September 2022 November 2022 January 2023 11
Recommendation 1. Establish and provide direction to staff regarding recruitment of a Working Group to assist with the development of the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update; and 2. Designate the Policy and Services Committee, an ad hoc committee or other direction on Council participation in the update process. 12
