HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmailed Comments from Sr. Project Mgr Mildred Perez with the Kennedy Commission - Joint MeetingMarch 8, 2021
City Council & Planning Commission
City of Seal Beach
City Hall 211 Eighth Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
RE: A. Study Session: 2021 Housing Element Update
Dear Honorable Mayor Kalmick, Councilmembers and Comissioners:
www.kennedycommission.org
17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
949 250 0909
The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad-based coalition of residents and community
organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than
$27,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in
partnering and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing and land -use
policies that has led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower income working families.
During the current 5th cycle planning period the City had a total Regional Housing Needs
Assessment (RHNA) of two, one at very low-income, one at low-income and none at moderate or
above moderate. To date, the City has approved twelve housing units at above moderate and none at
any of the lower income levels'. Seal Beach will need a total of 1,243 new housing units for the 6th
RHNA cycle. Of those units, 258 should be very low income and 201 should be low-income units.2
We ask that the City prioritize the housing needs of large families of very low and extremely low
income, who encounter difficulties in finding decent, affordable housing during the development of
its new Housing Element.
The Commission understands the importance of each cities' Housing Element in guiding housing
programs and policies, zoning, funding, and reducing current obstacles to housing development.
The Commission has not received any other meeting notification for stakeholders or the public
although we sent a public participation request on 08/18/2020. That letter outlined ways the City
could encourage more public participation and remove possible barriers. The City's Housing
Element Website lists only this public meeting before the public review of the Draft Housing
Element leaving very little room for engagement before the document is released. The agenda for
this meeting also notes that public comments will only be accepted prior to the meeting via email.
This may exclude members of the public from providing input on the information being presented
and does not actively engage residents and stakeholders. We look forward to engaging with the City
and consultant in the upcoming Housing Element revision to encourage effective housing policies
that will help create balanced housing development and create much needed affordable housing in
our local communities.
We hope to hear from the City on how we can collaborate to create opportunities to increase
affordable homes for lower income households in the Seal Beach. If you have any questions, please
free to contact me at (949) 250-0909 or cesarckkennedycommission.org.
1 Seal Beach 2019 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, Table B
2 SCAG 6th Cycle Proposed Final RHNA Allocation
Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission
March 8, 2021
Page 2 of 2
Sincerely,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director