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6th Cycle Housing Element Update
The City of Del Mar is currently in the process of planning an update to its General Plan Housing Element. The Housing Element Update covers an eight-year planning period from 2021-2029. Once adopted by the City Council and certified by the State, the 6th Cycle Housing Element will replace the City’s existing General Plan Housing Element (5th Cycle). In accordance with state law, the City must complete the required Housing Element Update approvals prior to April 2021.
On October 5, 2020 the City Council approved the draft 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (October 5, 2020 Item 7 Agenda Report PDF) (Resolution 2020-52 PDF) as recommended by the Planning Commission on September 15, 2020. The approved draft 6th Cycle HEU was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a required 60-day HCD review and comment period required per State law. See below for links to the approved draft and HCD’s comments on the draft
- Approved DRAFT 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (2021-2029)(PDF)
- Redline of 6th Cycle HEU (PDF)
- HCD Comment Letter 12.17.2020 on Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (PDF)
On September 30, 2020, the City of Del Mar received an enforcement letter from HCD stating written findings of the City’s existing status in violation of California’s Housing Element Law. On October 19, 2020, the City Council unanimously approved a response to HCD identifying the City’s plan to cure its non-compliance and avoid further enforcement actions. On December 4, 2020, HCD confirmed that it accepted the City’s response and would be closely monitoring the City’s progress in meeting the commitments as outlined in the City’s response letter. See below for links to correspondence with HCD relating to the City’s status and HCD’s close monitoring of City progress for prospective enforcement:
- HCD Response 12.4.2020 to City Response Letter (PDF)
- City's Response 10.20.2020 to HCD Enforcement Letter (PDF)
- HCD Letter 9.30.2020 (PDF)
- HCD Letter 7.31.2020 (PDF)
On October 5, 2020, the City Council certified the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and adopted findings of fact and the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program via Resolution 2020-51 (PDF). The Final PEIR and initial Draft EIR are available for review by clicking the links below:
- FINAL 6th Cycle Housing Element Update Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
- DRAFT 6th Cycle Housing Element Update Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
- DRAFT PEIR Appendices
Based on questions received by Staff, the City has prepared a Housing Element Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. To review the FAQ, please click the link below:
What is the Housing Element?
The Housing Element is a State-mandated policy document within the Del Mar Community Plan that provides direction for the implementation of various programs to meet existing and projected future housing needs for all income levels within the Del Mar community. The Housing Element provides policies, programs, and actions that accommodate growth, produce opportunity for the development of new housing units, preserve existing housing stock, and assist the existing population.
The City’s stated housing goal is to, “Inspire a more diverse, sustainable, and balanced community through implementation of strategies and programs that will result in economically and socially diversified housing choices that preserve and enhance the special character of Del Mar.”
Background:
The City’s current Housing Element (5th Cycle) was adopted by the City Council in 2013 and certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The adopted Housing Element covers the planning period from April, 2013, through April, 2021. Staff is currently implementing the respective actions and programs for the current planning cycle. The next housing cycle (6th Cycle) will cover the planning period from April 2021 to 2029.
To comply with State law, the City’s Housing Element must be updated to ensure the city’s policies and programs can accommodate estimated housing growth need identified in the San Diego County Association of Government’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation for the 2021-2029 planning period. Any future changes to Housing Element policy will require environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The 6th Cycle Housing Element and associated environmental document(s) will be reviewed for compliance with state law by the California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and adopted by the City Council no later than April 15, 2021.
To meet these statutory deadlines, the local Del Mar approval process will need to be completed by October 30, 2020 (detailed timeline below). The City Council will function as Del Mar’s Housing Committee so that regularly-scheduled City Council meetings may be used as a public forum to consider associated housing issues, receive public input, discuss options, and provide direction to City staff and the consultant.
Work on the 6th Cycle Housing Element is already underway in order to meet the aggressive deadlines set by State law. The update will be broken down into five main steps:
- Assessment of City-wide Housing Needs and Opportunities;
- Drafting of Goals, Policies, Programs and Objectives (GPPOs);
- Preparation of CEQA - Environmental Review Documents as applicable;
- Preparation of the Sixth Cycle Housing Element; and
- Coordination with HCD to Obtain State Certification
The identified five steps and local adoption process are envisioned to take place from November 2019 through October 2020, and will include a multitude of public outreach efforts, such as development of a community-wide survey tool(s), and public hearings both at the Planning Commission and City Council to help shape future policy decisions.
On January 13, 2020 the City Council Established a seven member 6th Cycle Housing Element Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force to work with Staff and the City Council Housing Liaisons to:
- Discuss, evaluate, and provide feedback on potential goals, policies, programs, and objectives to be included within the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update during preparation of the associated CEQA document;
- To help educate and encourage Housing Element participation among fellow Del Mar citizens; and
- Generally aid the City in the preparation and development of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update during preparation of the associated CEQA document.
For more information on the Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force you can visit their web page below:
6th Cycle Housing Element Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force Web Page
Click on each of the tabs below to read more information.
Anticipated 6th Cycle Housing Element Update Timeline (Subject to Change)
The City Council on March 14 approved an emergency declaration to address Coronavirus, cancelling ALL public meetings through April 6, and cancelling all events in City buildings and parks through May 31, 2020.
The schedule below is subject to change:
Program Environmental Impact Report for 6th Cycle Housing Element Update
The City of Del Mar, the lead agency for the proposed 6th Cycle Housing Element and Program EIR, is subject to environmental review under CEQA. CEQA Guidelines §15063 provide that if a lead agency determines that an EIR will clearly be required for a project, an Initial Study is not required. In this case, the City has already determined that an EIR will need to be prepared based on the Project’s potential to create short-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts associated with other development. Therefore, a Program EIR will be prepared to fully evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed Project. The Program EIR will be comprehensive in nature evaluating all identified issues from the 2019 CEQA Initial Study Checklist.
Notice of Availability (NOA)
A Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) is available for Public Review through August 31, 2020. The purpose of the PEIR is to disclose the potential environmental impacts of adding capacity for housing at a range of affordability levels in the community. The Draft PEIR is available for public review for a period of 60 days. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15105, should you have any comments, please provide written comments on the Draft PEIR within the 60-day period between July 2, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
Two informational meetings will be available to the public—the first session is scheduled with the City Council on July 6, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. and the second session is scheduled with the Planning Commission on July 14, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Del Mar City Hall and Del Mar Branch Library, locations commonly used for placement of hard copy documents, are closed to the public until further notice. However, the Draft PEIR is available to the general public for review on the City’s website at: www.delmar.ca.us/Archive.aspx?AMID=57. Upon the re-opening of the Del Mar City Hall and/or Del Mar Branch Library to the public, a hard copy of the Draft PEIR will be made immediately available at both locations.
Public Comments on PEIR
The City requests your careful review and consideration of the Draft EIR, and invites written comments from interested agencies, persons, and organizations regarding environmental issues identified in the Draft PEIR. Comments in response to this notice shall be submitted via e-mail, U.S. Postal Service, or courier service by 5:00 PM on August 31, 2020. All comments shall be submitted in writing to the following contact:
City of Del Mar |
Attn: Joseph D. Smith, AICP, Director |
1050 Camino del Mar |
Del Mar, CA 92014 |
Email: Jsmith@delmar.ca.us |
Documents
Notice of Preparation - Program EIR for 6th Cycle Housing Element Update
Notice of Availability - Program EIR for 6th Cycle Housing Element Update
FINAL 6th Cycle Housing Element Update Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
- Draft Program EIR Appendices
Supplemental Information
On February 29, 2020, the City held its first Public Workshop on the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update. If you missed the workshop, you can review the materials and watch the recording below:
- Presentation from Public Workshop #1
- Welcome Packet and Materials from Public Workshop #1
- Watch the Recording of Public Workshop #1
The following documents have been presented to the City Council:
- 6th Cycle Housing Element Update Info Flyer
- Housing Element Informational Presentation - January 13, 2020 CC Meeting
- Housing Element Outline and Goal Setting - April 20, 2020 CC Meeting
- Housing Element Online Survey Data - May 4, 2020 CC Meeting
- Priority Program Data (Excel)
- In this section of the survey, participants were asked to click through three individual slides and provide various program areas with a 1 to 5-star rating (1 being least appealing, 5 being most appealing). Each slide consisted of five potential programs targeted at a specific goal. The slides covered the topic areas of preservation of existing housing stock, production of housing stock, and community assistance programs.
- Potential Housing Location Data (Excel)
- In this section of the survey, eight different areas of the City were listed where future housing could be located. Participants were asked to select at least three areas where they would like to see housing be developed. Of the three selected, participants were also asked to rank them in order: #1 being most desirable location, #2 being the second most desirable, and #3 being the third most desirable.
- Removing Constraints Data (Excel)
- In this section of the survey, eight different incentives were listed with the goal of addressing potential constraints to developing housing. Participants were given a total of 45 stars or “chips”, and asked to distribute the chips amongst the potential incentives that interested them the most.
- Wrap-up Slide Comments and Inputs (Excel)
- Priority Program Data (Excel)
The 6th Cycle Housing Element Ad-Hoc Citizens’ Task Force, as a part of their overall work effort, divided themselves into three separate subcommittees. Each subcommittee composed a final report with detailed information and recommendations. The final reports are posted below for public review:
- Communications Subcommittee Final Report
- Community Assistance Subcommittee Final Report
- Housing Production and Preservation Subcommittee Final Report
The following are City documents related to the 6th Cycle Housing Element:
The following are regional and State resources related to Housing Elements:
Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State law to quantify the need for housing throughout the State and each city in the San Diego Region. This informs the local planning process to address existing and future housing need resulting from projected state-wide growth in population, employment, and households.
As the Council of Governments (or regional planning agency), SANDAG is responsible for overseeing the RHNA process for the San Diego region. SANDAG is currently overseeing the 6th cycle RHNA, which covers the planning period from 2021-2029.
For the planning period of 2021-2029, the City of Del Mar is allocated 163 units to accommodate estimated growth need at various income levels. The Housing Element must provide sites to accommodate this estimated growth. The 6th Cycle RHNA for Del Mar is as follows:
More information about the 6th Cycle RHNA process can be found on SANDAG’s website here: https://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=189&fuseaction=projects.detail