4-29-2024 PC Presentations
Planning Commission
Meeting
April 29, 2024
Presentations
Item 2
6th Cycle Housing Element
and Associated General
Plan Amendments
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Planning Commission
April 29, 2024
6th Cycle Housing Element
Update Adoption
Agenda
Housing Element Overview
Outreach Summary
RHNA/Priority Sites
Policies and Strategies
HCD Review and Comments
Environmental Review
Associated GP amendments
Timeline and next steps
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Housing Element OverviewHousing Element Overview
What is a Housing Element? Why Update it?
What is a Housing Element?
State-mandated Element
of City’s General Plan
Why update it now?
Required to be updated
every 8 years by law
Update by when?
By Jan. 31, 2023 (deadline
passed)
Update it?How?
Study and plan for housing
needs in community
between 2023-2031, across
all income levels
Who certifies compliance?
CA Dept of Housing and
Community Development
(HCD)
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HE Contents
Housing Needs
Assessment
Housing Needs
Assessment
Demographic
Trends
Housing
Market Trends
Special Needs
Groups
Constraints to
Housing
Development
Constraints to
Housing
Development
Resources and
Sites Inventory
Resources and
Sites Inventory
Policies and
Programs
Policies and
Programs
Governmental
and Non-
Governmental
Market Trends
Environmental
Infrastructure
Zoning and
Capacity
ADUs and
Mobile
Homes
Inventory of
Sites
Review of
Previous
Housing Element
Implementation
Identify
2023- 2031
Programs
Assessment of
Fair Housing
Assessment of
Fair Housing
Outreach
Fair Housing
Issues
Site Inventory
Analysis
Contributing
Factors
Other updates
Conforming General Plan changes:
Land Use and appendices – Internal consistency
Mobility and appendices – address
environmental assessment/mitigations
Conforming Rezoning – Specific plan, map and text
State law requirements - Health and Safety Element
Other – necessary to implement HE programs (e.g.
Objective design standards for housing
developments)
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6th Cycle vs. 5th Cycle
RHNA 4x higher in Cupertino--4,588 vs. 1,064
Few remaining undeveloped sites, reliance on
redevelopment to meet RHNA
62 properties, 36 development sites
70% of properties 50 units/acre or more
New legislation adds requirements in:
Developing policies/programs
Greater accountability to produce housing
Site selection
Less discretion approving housing developments
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
More outreach and inclusion
Noncompliance
What can happen if City does not have a
certified Housing Element?
Loss of local land use and zoning control –
Builder’s Remedy projects
Lawsuits and attorney fees
Ineligibility for grant funding
Financial penalties, court issued fines
Streamlined ministerial approval of projects
Court receivership appointing an agent to
bring City’s Housing Element into compliance
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Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
AB 686 (2018) defines AFFH as:
“taking meaningful actions, in addition to combating
discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and
foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict
access to opportunity based on protected characteristics.”
Three community meetings focused on AFFH held
May-September 2022
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
- Cupertino
City is designated High or Highest Resource
regarding Access to Opportunities
Housing anywhere in City would regionally
Affirmatively Further Fair Housing
City must look to accommodate persons who
currently do not reside here
Meeting RHNA alone does not equate to
satisfying AFFH (Missing Middle Strategy)
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Outreach SummaryOutreach Summary
Outreach SummaryOutreach Summary
2021
Jt. Study Sessions
(Apr & May)
Comm. Mtgs (Aug
& Dec)
CC Mtg (Sept)
HC Mtg (Dec)
Jan – Jun
2023
Jul – Dec
2022
CC Mtgs (Aug, Nov)
PC (July)
CEP-SAC mtgs (Jul,
Sep, Oct)
Comm. Mtg (Jul, Sep)
Jan – Jun
2022
PC mtgs (Jan, Feb,
Apr, May, June)
CC mtgs (Mar)
HC mtg (Jun)
CEP-SAC mtgs (Mar,
Apr, May, Jun)
Comm. Mtg (May)
Jan –Mar
2024
CC Mtg (Jan)
1st Draft to HCD (2/3)
Comments from HCD
(5/4)
CC Mtg (Jul)
Comm. Mtgs (Aug,
Sep)
3rd Draft to HCD (2/26)
Revised 3rd Draft to
HCD (3/28)
Conditional
Certification letter from
HCD (4/10)
Jul – Dec
2023
2nd Draft to HCD (10/16)
Revised 2nd Draft to HCD (11/30)
Comments from HCD (12/15)
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RHNA/Sites InventoryRHNA/Sites Inventory
ABAG RHNA
State-wide Housing Needs
Determination made by HCD
for each region within State
Cupertino in 9
County ABAG region
City’s RHNA ~1% of ABAG
region’s RHNA and ~3.5%
of county RHNA
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% of totalUnitsIncome Group
26.01,193Very Low Income
(<50% of AMI)
15.0687Low Income
(50%-80% of AMI)
16.5755Moderate Income
(80%-120% of AMI)
42.51,953Above Moderate Income
(>120% of AMI)
1004,588Total
Affordable
Units =
2,635
City’s 6th Cycle RHNA
Buffer ~ 25 - 35% particularly for lower income levels recommended to
ensure city does not have to update sites inventory before next HE update
for “no net loss” purposes. RHNA + Buffer accommodates over 6,200 units.
Pipeline
State law allows credit for approved projects,
referred to as pipeline
Cupertino allowed ~2,450 units as pipeline
Lower income: 633
Moderate income: 49
Above moderate income: 1,770
Identify sites to accommodate balance of RHNA
plus 25-35% buffer
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Pre-HE Submittal Inventory
Robust discussions in 2022 at Housing and Planning
Commissions and City Council
Started with all potential sites throughout the City
which:
Met HCD size criteria: 0.5 – 10 acres
Properties outside of fire hazard and geologic
hazard zones –more environmental impacts
Owner interest a factor
Direction Pre-HE submittal
More interest in accommodating housing west of
De Anza Blvd and south of Highway 85
Less interest in accommodating housing east of De
Anza Blvd due to recent approvals
Locate housing sites to counteract declining school
enrollment
Avoid displacement of existing residents through
redevelopment of residential properties
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Policy Framework
State laws: link land use and transportation (AB 32
and SB 375)
Regional plans (Plan Bay Area 2050 and Regional
Transportation Plan) align with state law
AB 2011 (eff. July 1, 2023): Allows Residential
development on Commercial-Office Corridors
regardless of Zoning:
Density and building height varies depending on lot
size and width of transportation corridor
Identifies min. development standards
Ministerial, exempt from CEQA
Current Site selection strategy
With Council direction in July 2023, site selection
strategy adjusted based on:
New State law realities – AB 2011/SB6
Proximity to transportation – AB32/SB375
Aligning with regional plans – PBA2050 & RTP
City’s existing policies – LU-1.1 & CAP
Consultant experience based on likelihood of site
acceptance by HCD
Development potential of site
Size of sites – 0.5 acres (min.) to 10 acres (max.)
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Current
Housing
Element
Priority
Housing
Sites
Capacity compared to RHNA
SurplusTotal
Capacity
Projected
ADUs
Mixed Use
Site
Capacity
with Rezone
Residential
Site
Capacity
with Rezone
Pipeline
Capacity
2023-2031
RHNA
RHNA
Category
2982,178116596833633
1,193Very Low
687Low
1549095743636049755Moderate
1,2133,166196956621,7701,953Above
Moderate
1,6386,2261921,7271,8552,4524,588Total
A0
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Programs and PoliciesPrograms and Policies
Required Programs and Policies
Programs to provide Adequate Housing Sites
Programs to Assist Lower-Income Housing
Development
Programs to Address Housing Constraints
Programs to Conserve, Improve and Expand
Housing Stock
Programs to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing
Programs to Preserve ”at risk” Units
Programs for ADUs/Second Units
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Housing Policy Areas
Programs to provide
Adequate Housing Sites:
Identify sites to
accommodate RHNA
Create new land use
designations to ensure RHNA
can be accommodated
Programs to Assist Lower-
Income Housing
Development:
Support Grant applications;
Provide technical support;
Issue NOFA for BMR
Affordable Housing Funds
Housing Policy Areas (cont.)
Programs to Address Housing
Constraints:
Adopt Objective standards,
Continue fee waivers for
affordable units and/or 100%
affordable projects;
Evaluate Parking standards
Programs to Conserve, Improve
and Expand City Housing
Stock:
Create new R4 Zoning District;
Promote options for multi-
generational households &
house sharing;
Disallow conversion of multi-
family to Single Family
residences;
Use CDBG funds for
conservation/ improvements
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Housing Policy Areas (cont.)
Programs to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing:
Upzone sites adequately to allow accommodation
of RHNA;
Support teacher housing and ELI projects;
Continue to support the development of ADUs and
adopt "missing middle" housing policies, which
offer opportunities with modest increases in density
(HE Strategy-1.3.6)
Housing Policy Areas (cont.)
Programs to Preserve ”at risk”
Units:
Programs to meet with
affordable housing operators
annually
Programs for ADUs/Second
Units:
Continue to offer streamlined
pre-approved plans;
Evaluate and participate in
local and regional efforts on
ADU programs
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HCD Review and CommentsHCD Review and Comments
Process with HCD
February 3, 2023: 1st submittal to HCD
May 4, 2023: 16 page letter #1 received
October 16, 2023: 2nd submittal to HCD
Informal meeting with HCD resulted in Revised
2nd draft submitted to HCD on Nov. 30, 2023
December 15, 2023: 5 page letter #2 received
February 26, 2024: 3rd submittal to HCD
Informal meeting with HCD staff resulted in Revised
3rd draft submitted to HCD on March 28, 2023
April 10, 2024: CONDITIONAL COMPLIANCE LETTER
RECEIVED FROM HCD
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Revisions to address HCD comments
Second draft (Oct/Nov) –substantial rewrite of first
draft based on HCD comments from May
All analysis (review of prior housing element, fair housing,
needs and constraints analysis) revised
Sites inventory updated based on Council direction and
consultant advice
Existing policies and strategies revised
New policies and strategies added in first draft revised or
replaced/added to address state law, HCD comments, AFFH
Third draft (Feb/Mar) –targeted edits to second
draft based on HCD comments
Related to sites and sites inventory
Refinements to missing middle strategy
Environmental AssessmentEnvironmental Assessment
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Settlement/Environmental Assessment
February 2023: California Housing Defense
Fund/YIMBY Law sue City for noncompliant HE by
adoption deadline
January 2024: Stipulated Judgment entered into
Established schedule to complete HE update in
compliance with State law
Gov’t Code Sec. 65759(a)
CEQA does not apply to actions to bring HE into
compliance with Court Order.
Environmental Issues Analyzed
Aesthetics
Air Quality
Biological Resources
Cultural and Tribal
Cultural Resources
Energy
Geology and Soils
GHG Emissions
Hazards and Hazardous
Materials
Hydrology and Water
Quality
Land Use and Planning
Noise
Population and Housing
Public Services, Parks,
and Recreation
Transportation
Utilities and System
Services
Wildfire
Any significant environmental impacts are avoided, minimized, rectified,
reduced or eliminated, and/or compensated.
The General Plan incorporates policies and strategies to protect,
preserve, and/or enhance environmental resources.
The following topics were evaluated in environmental assessment:
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Environmental Assessment Conclusions
2015 General Plan EIR
– Identified Mitigation Measures for air quality, biological resources, hazardous
materials, transportation, and utilities and services systems.
Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 17.04, Standard Environmental
Protection Requirements
– Since certification of the 2015 General Plan EIR, Cupertino Municipal Code
amended to require those mitigation measures as environmental protection
requirements for all construction projects.
2024 General Plan Policies and Strategies
– Updated policies and strategies reflecting current best management practices
to ensure that potential future development will continue to reduce impacts
from construction and operation phases (e.g. Mobility Element)
Environmental Assessment Conclusions
Program-level significant and unavoidable impacts for
air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation
(vehicle miles traveled).
Identification of program-level impacts does not
preclude finding of less-than-significant impacts for
subsequent projects that meet project-level thresholds.
Due to programmatic nature of impacts, no additional
mitigation measures are available at this phase of
project approval (i.e. adoption of HE and associated
amendments)
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Associated General Plan
Amendments
Associated General Plan
Amendments
Other General Plan Amendments
Chapter 3, Land Use and Community Design Element
and Appendix A, Land Use Designations:
Text changes to address state law requirements &
Housing Element requirements
Figure changes – reflect density and heights reqd. for
developing Priority Housing Sites
Chapter 5: Text changes to minimize environmental
impacts resulting from development
General Plan Land Use Map – conforming changes
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Next StepsNext Steps
Timeline and Next StepsTimeline and Next Steps
April 2024
Letter from
HCD – 4/10
HC Study
Session – 4/25
PC rec. – 4/29
Summer 2024
Fall 2024June 2024
First reading – 6/18
May 2024
CC adoption
–5/14
PC rec. On
zoning – 5/28
Mar 2025
Complete rezoning
Prepare objective
design standards
Adopt objective
design standards
APR submitted
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