2013 Housing Element Update

Background

State law recognizes the vital role local governments play in the supply and affordability of housing. Each governing body (City Council) of a local government in California is required to adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development of a City. The Housing Element is one of the seven mandated elements of the General Plan.

Housing Element law, enacted in 1969, mandates that cities adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. The law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address housing needs and demand, cities must adopt land use plans and regulatory systems which provide opportunities for, and do not unduly constrain, housing development.

As a result, housing policy in the State rests largely upon the effective implementation of local General Plans and, in particular, local Housing Elements. Housing Element law also requires the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to periodically review Housing Elements for compliance with State law and to report its written findings to the City.  The last update to the City’s Housing Element was certified by the HCD in 2008 (click here to view a copy of the City’s current Housing Element).  According to State law, the next Housing Element update is due to HCD by October 15, 2013.

As part of the Housing Element update, State law mandates the Development of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).  The RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each City during a specified planning period.  The RHNA does not necessarily encourage or promote growth, but rather allows communities to anticipate growth, so that collectively the region can grow in ways that enhances quality of life, improves access to jobs, promotes transportation mobility, and addresses social equity through fair share housing needs.

The RHNA Allocation Plan, which covers the planning period from October 2013 to October 2021, identifies a total of 31 new housing units needed for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to accommodate growth during the planning period.  As with all cities, Rancho Palos Verdes’ 31 units are segmented into specific income needs categories – 13 above moderate income units, 5 moderate income units, 5 low income units, and 8 very low income units.  While the City is not required to construct these units, within the Housing Element, the City is required to identify programs and sites to address the need.  The City is also required to address other housing needs within the Housing Element.

Housing Element Update Process

The City has recently embarked upon the Housing Element Update process in order to ensure its completion and submittal to HCD prior to the October 15, 2013 deadline.  The City has retained a Housing consultant to work with Staff in drafting the Housing Element update.  Staff envisions that a draft of the Housing Element update will be available for public review in August and will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council during September and October, respectively.

We Need Your Help – Housing Needs Survey

In updating the City’s Housing Element, the City is required to make a diligent effort to achieve the public’s participation through all economic segments of the community.  As such, the City created a brief Housing Needs Survey to obtain input from residents regarding housing needs and programs.  The survey results will help guide the City’s efforts. 

We hope you can take a few minutes to fill out the Housing Needs Survey, consisting of a total of 8 questions.  Please be assured, no individual responses will be identified.  To complete the survey, please proceed by clicking the link below.  The Housing Needs Survey will be available until January 31, 2013.   

Housing Needs Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K7NKM9Q

Your participation is greatly appreciated!

More Information

The City’s project manager overseeing the Housing Element Update is Associate Planner, Ms. So Kim.  She may be contacted by telephone at (310) 544-5228 or via email at sok@rpv.com.  If you have any questions regarding the Housing Element Update, please contact Ms. Kim.  Further, if Ms. Kim is unavailable, then you may also contact Deputy Community Development Director, Mr. Gregory Pfost at the same phone number or via email at gregp@rpv.com.

If you would like to receive future information and notification of future public hearings regarding the Housing Element, please subscribe to the email list server group for the Housing Element Update by clicking here.