Housing Element Update

The City’s Consultant (MIG), along with Staff, is in the process of updating the City’s Housing Element for the 2021-2029 planning period, to identify goals and strategies to meet the housing needs of existing and future residents for the production of safe, decent, and affordable housing for all persons in the community.  This Housing Element is required by State Housing Law and must be updated every eight years. The Housing Element must be certified by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by October 15, 2021.

RHNA and Appeal

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local Housing Elements of General Plans. The RHNA quantifies the housing need, for all income levels, within each jurisdiction. Garden Grove’s RHNA allocation for the 2021-2029 planning period is 19,168 units. The State of California requires the City of Garden Grove to plan for 19,168 future units to accommodate growth in the region.  The City officially submitted two (2) applications to SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) to appeal its RHNA allocation.  Both appeals were subsequently denied by SCAG.  As part of updating the Housing Element, the Land Use Element and Zoning Code and Map will also be updated, to accommodate the City’s RHNA allocation.

Draft Housing Element and Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

The Draft of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is currently being prepared, and all associated analyses being conducted to evaluate all relevant environmental factors and potential impacts as a result of the projected increase in residential housing in the city for the 6^th RHNA Cycle (between 2021-2029).  It is anticipated that finalized Drafts of the EIR and the Housing Element will ready for public review and comment in late May 2021.

Future Hearings and Final Approval of the Housing Element

The final Housing Element, along with associated focused General Plan and Zoning Amendments, will be brought to the Planning Commission and City Council at future public hearings for approval and adoption in September 2021.  The Draft Housing Element will be submitted to HCD for initial review by July 2021, keeping the City on track for final HCD certification of the Housing Element by the deadline of October 15, 2021.

To make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community, the programs in the Housing Element aim to:

• Conserve and improve the condition of the existing affordable housing stock;
  
  
• Assist in the development of housing for low- and moderate-income households;
  
  
• Identify adequate sites to encourage the development of a variety of types of housing for all income levels;
  
  
• Address and, where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing; and
  
  
• Promote equal opportunities for all persons.

The goals and policies represent the Housing Element’s foundation. Further articulation of how the City will achieve the stated goals and policies is found in the programs. Programs identify specific actions the City will undertake toward putting each goal and policy into action. Quantified objectives identified in particular programs are estimates of assistance the City can offer based on funding and staff resources.  The Housing Element programs aim to address six (6) overarching themes:

• Housing Maintenance and Preservation
  
  
• Affordable Housing
  
  
• Adequate Housing Site
  
  
• Remove Constraints to Housing Production
  
  
• Equal Access to Housing
  
  
• Community Engagement

None.