The California Department of Housing & Community Development
 Acknowledges Receipt of the Draft Housing Element

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has acknowledged the Town's submittal of the Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element. It was sent to the HCD on January 26, 2023.  

Over the next 90-days, the HCD staff will review the Draft Housing Element for compliance with state law.  During the review period,Town staff will periodically meet with the HCD staff to answer questions and provide additional information if necessary. During this time, the Planning Department will also be working with the Town’s Housing Element consultant to update the General Plan Land Use Designation and Zoning Maps to reflect the proposed zoning changes introduced in the Draft Housing Element.  The Planning Department will also identify any corresponding Zoning Code amendments, such as modified land uses and changes to development standards, as also outlined in the Draft Housing Element’s Policies, Programs, and Actions (See Section 8 of the Draft Housing Element). The maps and Zoning Code modifications would be considered by the Town Council concurrently with the Housing Element adoption.

What happens after the 90-day review?
 If the Draft Housing Element complies with state law in the judgement of the HCD, HCD will send the Town a comment letter stating that the Draft Housing Element is in substantial conformance with the housing law. The Town will then schedule a public hearing with the Town Council for the formal adoption of the Housing Element, which includes the corresponding environmental analysis pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This consideration would be expected to occur in late April 2023.   

If the HCD requires changes to the Draft Housing Element, Town staff will meet with HCD staff to discuss how to move the Draft forward. The Town will then work towards addressing the comments from the State.  The Town will also reconvene the Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC) and the Planning Commission to publicly review the HCD comments and proposed revisions to the Draft Housing Element.  After the HEAC and Planning Commission finalize their review, the Town Council will conduct a public hearing for consideration of formal adoption of the Housing Element. This consideration is expected to occur in May 2023.

More information on the Housing Element can be found at: Housing Element Update

Public comment continues to be vital to the process.
Please direct any comments or questions to:
Heidi Scoble, Planning Director hscoble@townofsananselmo.org