REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution to Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element and Adopt a Negative Declaration for the 2023-2031 Housing Element
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Planning Commission considered this item on November 27, 2023 (see Attachment 1, Report to Planning Commission No. 23-1094). The Planning Commission voted to approve Alternative 1 to Recommend that the City Council make the findings and adopt the Resolution in Attachment 2 to Adopt the Negative Declaration in Attachment 3, and Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element as included as Exhibit A. The vote was 6-0, with Commissioner Iglesias absent. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting are provided in Attachment 5.
The Housing and Human Services Commission (HHSC) considered this item on November 29, 2023. The Report to the HHSC is a duplicate of the November 27, 2023 Report to Planning Commission, which is provided in Attachment 1. The Housing and Human Services Commission voted to approve Alternative 1 to Recommend that the City Council make the findings and adopt the Resolution in Attachment 2 to Adopt the Negative Declaration in Attachment 3, and Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element as included as Exhibit A. The vote was 5-0, with Commissioners Hiremath and Riviere absent. Minutes of the Housing and Human Services Commission meeting are provided in Attachment 6.
DISCUSSION
As noted in the reports to the Commissions, on October 12, 2023 staff submitted a 2nd revised draft Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD has 60 days to review the document and send notice to the City. The sixty days falls on December 11, 2023, one day before the scheduled City Council meeting. Based on conversations with the HCD reviewer staff anticipates a positive outcome. The letter was not received prior to the completion of the staff report and will be provided to the Council and public as soon as it is available.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. Email notifications were sent to interested parties, including housing advocacy organizations and neighborhood groups. The hearing date was included on the City’s Housing Element Update webpage and published in the Sunnyvale Sun newspaper. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Make the findings and adopt the Resolution in Attachment 2 to:
a. Adopt the Negative Declaration in Attachment 3; and
b. Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element as included as Exhibit A.
2. Make the findings and adopt the Resolution in Attachment 2, with modifications, to:
a. Adopt the Negative Declaration in Attachment 3; and
b. Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element as included as Exhibit A.
3. Do not adopt a Resolution.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Make the findings and adopt the Resolution in Attachment 2 to the report to:
a. Adopt the Negative Declaration in Attachment 3 to the report; and
b. Amend the General Plan by Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element as included as Exhibit A.
The 2023-2031 Housing Element update process has lasted over two years and included robust community engagement and multiple revisions to create a stronger, more impactful plan to meet the City’s housing needs. The Sites Inventory dramatically increases housing supply and exceeds the City’s RHNA in all income categories. Policies and programs will reduce constraints to the development of housing, including missing middle housing and accessory dwelling units. The City has also incorporated community feedback to affirmatively further fair housing by increasing density in higher resource areas of the City. With conditional approval from HCD expected by December 11, 2023, the City’s Housing Element is now ready for adoption.
Staff
Prepared by: Ryan Dyson, Housing Specialist
Reviewed by: Ernie DeFrenchi, Affordable Housing Manager (Acting Housing Officer)
Reviewed by: Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Reviewed by: Connie Verceles, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Planning Commission [23-1094, November 27, 2023] (without attachments, same as Report to Housing and Human Services Commission)
2. Draft Resolution (with 5 Exhibits)
a. Exhibit A: 2023-2031 Sunnyvale Housing Element, including Errata
b. Exhibit B: HCD Finding Letter, dated October 6, 2022
c. Exhibit C: HCD Finding Letter, dated July 21, 2023
d. Exhibit D: Response to HCD Findings, dated May 2023
e. Exhibit E: Response to HCD Findings, dated October 5, 2023
3. Initial Study/Negative Declaration
4. November 17, 2023 Errata to Second Revised Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element
Additional Attachments for Report to Council
5. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of November 27, 2023
6. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Housing and Human Services Commission Meeting of November 29, 2023