The City released the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element for a 30-day public review period that began on August 26, 2021 and ended on September 24, 2021. The Draft Housing Element was also available for review at the Anaheim Central Library and the Planning and Building Department Public Counter at City Hall.
In September, staff made minor clarifications and revisions to the document released for public review in August; none of which would change the substance of the findings or policies within the document. Additionally, staff revised Appendix B (Adequate Sites Analysis) to reflect the following:
- Sites previously identified as Potential Housing Sites that upon further analysis staff has determined would not be suitable for residential development due to size, topography, or existing land use; or,
- Sites on which the City has received a request for Conceptual Development Review or a Development Application since the release of the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element for public review through the City’s filing deadline of September 14, 2021.
Even with these revisions to Appendix B (Adequate Sites Analysis), the City continues to have enough sites to meet its RHNA allocation.
On September 27, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council direct the Planning and Building Director to submit the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for compliance with State law.
On September 28, 2021, the City Council held a workshop to receive an update from the Housing Working Group on a potential Affordable Housing Production Program, to be included in the Housing Element. The update included proposed strategies that would replace Housing Production Strategy 1A: Affordable Housing Production Program, included in the August draft document, with two new strategies, reflected in the revised September draft document. These strategies are: Housing Production Strategy 1A(i): Affordable Housing Development Fee, and Housing Production Strategy 1A(ii): Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Production Program.
On October 5, 2021, the City Council directed the Planning and Building Director to submit the Draft 2021-209 Housing Element to HCD for compliance with State law.
City Council authorized the Planning and Building Director’s staff to make additional edits to the document prior to submittal of the 2021-2029 to HCD on October 15, 2021. These edits were in response to public comments that the City has received on the draft document released in August, requesting clarification of information provided in the draft document. These edits were made to the extent that staff believes this clarification would help HCD find the document in compliance with State law and did not change the substance of the findings or policies within the document. The City has posted the document submitted to HCD on this webpage.
On December 14, 2021, HCD completed its review of the document, and issued a comment letter. Pursuant to HCD’s comments, staff and the City’s consultant revised the Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element. This revised Draft Housing Element is posted below.
On June 21, 2022, the Anaheim City Council voted to approve transmittal of the revised Draft Housing Element to HCD. Staff believes that the Revised Draft adequately addresses HCD’s comments, complies with State law, and provides an eight-year plan to address the City’s identified housing needs. However, staff anticipates that at least one additional round of review with HCD will occur, as many other jurisdictions in the region already have or are expected to receive a second round of comments from HCD. As such, rather than taking a formal action to adopt the Housing Element at this time, staff recommended that the Council direct the Planning and Building Director to resubmit the Revised Draft to HCD for its review to continue with the certification review process.
On June 24, 2022, the Revised Draft Housing Element was sent to HCD for review. HCD sent the city a comment letter on August 23, 2022. City staff and consultant have revised the Draft Housing Element to address HCD’s comments. This April 2023 draft is available below and was submitted to HCD in early May 2023 for review.
On June 28, 2023, HCD issued a comment letter based on the City's April 2023 Draft Housing Element (available below). City staff and consultant are currently reviewing this letter and will revise the Draft Housing Element prior to resubmitting for HCD review.
Once the final draft of the 2021-2029 Housing Element is completed, it will be reviewed by the HEUC, followed by the Planning Commission’s review and recommendation to the City Council. Once adopted, staff will submit the Final Document to HCD for its review and certification.