Planning Commission Staff Report
Report Prepared by: Kim Espinosa, Temporary Director of Development Services and Diana Lowrance, Deputy Director of Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Study Session on Housing Element Progress and General Plan Update and Central Merced/Downtown Rail Station Area Plan Request for Proposals
ACTION: Discussion/Questions
SUMMARY
Staff will provide an update on the preparation of the City’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element. The City’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element was due to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on January 31, 2024. This update will review the City’s strategy for meeting the required Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), including the timeline for the zone changes needed to meet the RHNA shortfall, and the next steps in the Housing Element update process. Staff will also provide an update on the General Plan Update and Central Merced/Downtown Rail Station Area Plan Request for Proposals (RFP), which was issued in October 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
No action required. Discussion and questions only.
Body
DISCUSSION
Housing Element
The Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) led the creation and coordination of the effort to create a multi-jurisdictional housing element (MJHE) for the sixth cycle housing element update. Jurisdictions participating in the joint effort included the County of Merced, and the cities of Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, and Merced. MCAG led the public outreach portion of the MJHE including stakeholders/community member interviews, surveys, a project website, community events, and community workshops.
A Public Review Draft Merced’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element (HE) was released on May 13, 2024, for a 30-day public review period (May 13 - June 12, 2024). On May 20, 2024, a report was presented to the City Council. On August 9, 2024, the Public Review Draft was submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). On November 7, 2024, comments regarding the May 13, 2024, Public Review Draft Sixth Cycle Housing Element were received from HCD. Currently, the consultants are working on revisions to the HE to address HCDs comments and if necessary additional comments received from community groups.
The Sixth Cycle Housing Element was due to HCD by January 31, 2024. Due to the City’s Housing Element not being certified, adopted, and submitted to HCD by this date, the rezones necessary to accommodate the shortfall in RHNA sites must be completed as soon possible. By law, these rezones are due by January 31, 2025. To meet the RHNA shortfall, staff is proposing the rezone of twenty-eight, undeveloped, properties located throughout the City. These vacant properties will be rezoned to allow for the development of high-density residential land uses, with a minimum density of twenty (20) dwelling units per acre. Staff is working with the consultants to prepare the necessary California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document and will be holding zone change workshops with the Planning Commission and City Council in January 2025, and public hearings in February/March/April 2025.
Subsequent to the adoption of the zone changes for the RHNA shortfall, staff will proceed with the remaining steps necessary for Housing Element completion, including obtaining certification by HCD and adoption by the Planning Commission and City Council, and submittal to HCD. Amendments to the Land Use Element will also be included to incorporate the SB244 Analysis and policies for Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities in the City’s growth area.
General Plan Update and Central Merced/Downtown Rail Station Area Plan RFP
In October 2024, the City issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire consultants to prepare the General Plan Update and Environmental Impact Report and as a separate project, the Central Merced/Downtown Rail Station Area Plan (CMDRSAP). City staff will provide an overview of the process for the Planning Commission.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Presentation on Housing Element
B. Presentation on General Plan Update and Central Merced/Downtown Rail Station Area Plan RFP