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Home My WebLink AboutPC Res 22-01- 2022-01-18PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 22-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. 2021-2029 Housing Element. On January 18, 2022, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing regarding the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference as though set forth in full. At the public hearing, all interested persons were allowed to speak. Based on the record of the proceedings, the Planning Commission hereby finds as follows: A. The State of California requires every municipality to periodically update the Housing Element of its General Plan to review the housing needs of the community and revise its policies, programs and objectives to address those needs. Jurisdictions such as the City of Seal Beach that are within the Southern California Association of Governments region are required to update their Housing Elements for the 6th planning cycle, which covers the 2021-2029 period. B. California Government Code Section 65583 requires that the Housing Element contain: (i) an assessment of the City's housing needs and an analysis of the resources and constraints, both governmental and non-governmental, relevant to the meeting of these needs; (ii) an inventory of land suitable and available for residential development and an analysis of the development potential of such sites; (iii) a statement of the community's goals, quantified objectives, and policies relative to affirmatively furthering fair housing and to the' maintenance, preservation, improvement, and development of housing; and (iv) programs that set forth a schedule of actions the local government is undertaking or intends to undertake to implement the policies and achieve the goals and objectives of the Housing Element Update. C. The City's share of the regional housing need, or Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) was established at 1,243 units in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment Plan prepared and adopted by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) in March 2021. The allocation establishes the number of new units needed, by income category, to accommodate expected population growth over the planning period of the Housing Element; D. State law requires the Housing Element to identify adequate sites to accommodate the City's RHNA for all income categories, and the Housing Element Update identifies sites that can accommodate housing exceeding the City's RHNA; E. On March 8, 2021 the Seal Beach City Council and Planning Commission conducted a joint meeting to consider housing issues affecting the community and State requirements regarding the Housing Element, and received public oral and written comments. F. Between March 2021 and October 2021, the City circulated a Housing Element community online survey to the public, in order to obtain input from community members. G. On April 5 and April 27, 2021 the Housing Element Ad Hoc Committee held public meetings to discuss Housing Element policy options and the sites inventory. H. On September 9, 2021, in accordance with Government Code Sections 65352 through 65352.5 relating to tribal notification requirements, the City mailed a project description to all local tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). No requests for consultation or comments were received by the City during the requisite 90 -day response period for this notification. I. On September 20, 2021 the Seal Beach City Council and Planning Commission conducted a second joint meeting to review the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element Update and received public oral and written comments. J. On September 21, 2021 the City submitted the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element Update to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review pursuant to Section 65585(b) of the California Government Code. K. On November 19, 2021 HCD provided written comments on the Draft Seal Beach 2021-2029 Housing Element Update pursuant to Section 65585 of the Government Code. L. The City revised the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update in response to the findings of HCD pursuant to Government Code Section 65585, and the revised 2021- 2029 Housing Element Update is attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution and incorporated by this reference as though set forth in full. The revisions and responses to HCD's comments are summarized in Exhibit B to this Resolution, which is attached hereto and incorporated by this reference as though set forth in full. M. Notice of this public hearing was provided as required by law. The Draft Housing Element Update dated January 5, 2022 has been available online for public review beginning January 6, 2022. N. In accordance with Section 65585 of the Government Code, the Planning Commission has reviewed HCD's comments and the revised Draft Housing Element and finds that the 2021-2029 Housing Element has been revised to address each of the findings made by HCD. The Planning Commission further finds that the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, as revised, will be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Seal Beach General Plan, particularly the Land Use Element, identifies adequate sites to accommodate the Regional Needs Housing Assessment on sites that have been previously identified for development, and substantially complies with the requirements of State law. 2 O. The documents, staff report, and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which this resolution is based are on file for public examination during normal business hours at the City of Seal Beach City Hall, Community Development Department, 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, California, 90740. Section 2. Environmental Review. The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council find that the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), of the: GE,QA Guidelines, which states in part the general rule that CEQA applies only to p.cojects-which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it"cav_ be,seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. A. Section 15061(b)(3) consists of activities covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update would not result in any direct or indirect physical changes to the environment. The Housing Element Update is strictly a policy document and does not provide entitlements to any specific land use projects. Because the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update would not approve any development project or change any land use or development regulations, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that its adoption would have a significant effect on the environment. B. The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update contains goals, policies, and programs aimed at addressing the City's housing development, preservation, and rehabilitation needs, including accommodating the City's RHNA of 1,243 housing units by 2029, encouraging housing to serve lower income and special needs households, increase access to affordable and special needs housing, and affirmatively furthering fair housing. The proposed project does not entitle, propose, or otherwise require the construction of new development or rehabilitation of existing development, but rather includes goals and policies to facilitate the development, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing consistent with existing and proposed uses identified in the General Plan and as mandated to be allowed under State law. Section 3. Recommendation. Based upon the foregoing findings and all other evidence in the record, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council adopt the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and further recommends that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager and Community Development Director to make any technical or clerical revisions of clarifications to the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update as may be required by HCD in order to obtain a finding of substantial compliance with State law. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Seal Beach at a meeting thereof held on the 18th day of January, 2022 by the following vote: 3 AYES: Miller, Klinger, Thomas, Campbell, Massetti NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: EFTA Chairperson ATTEST: lexa Smittle Planning Commission Secretary