Resolution-PC2025-005RESOLUTION NO. PC2025-005
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ANAHEIM RECOMMENDING THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM APPROVE
AND ADOPT PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
(DEV2021-00002), AN UPDATE OF THE HOUSING
ELEMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim has, pursuant to the recommendations of the Planning
Commission of the City of Anaheim, adopted a General Plan for the City of Anaheim showing the
general description and extent of possible development within the City; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan has been subsequently amended over the years as conditions
warrant; and
WHEREAS, the last significant update of the General Plan was adopted in 2004 and since
that time conditions and community priorities have changed; and
WHEREAS, while various Elements of the General Plan have been updated at different times, and
provide useful guidance, other portions needed to be strengthened to deal more effectively with
contemporary issues, update its content and improve its format and usability, address relevant local
conditions, and be internally consistent and easy to use; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Element is one of the General Plan Elements mandated by the
State of California, as articulated in Sections 65580- 65589 of the California Government Code;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim is required by State Housing laws to update the Housing
Element of its General Plan for the planning period covering 2021-2029 (Sixth Cycle) to include
policies, strategies, and actions to facilitate the construction of new housing and preservation of
existing housing to meet the needs of the City's population during the Sixth Cycle period, as well
as to accommodate the City's Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation for new
housing units in various income categories throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the City, in adopting a Housing Element Update, must comply with the
statutory provisions of State law; and
WHEREAS, public meetings on the Housing Element were held beginning in early 2021,
including Community Workshops, Housing Element Update Committee (HEUC) Meetings, and
an Online Community Survey; and
WHEREAS, a draft of the Housing Element Update was made available for public
comment from August 26 to September 24, 2021; and
WHEREAS, on September 27, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended that the City
Council direct the Planning and Building Director to submit the Draft Housing Element Update to
the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review and compliance
with State law; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 65585, on October 5, 2021 the City
Council directed the Planning and Building Director to submit the draft Housing Element Update
to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review and
compliance with State law; and
WHEREAS, the City posted all subsequent revised drafts of the Housing Element Update
on its website, sent it to interested parties and the HEUC, and made the document available for
seven days prior to each submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD); and
WHEREAS, HCD has reviewed the Housing Element Update and has reported its findings
to the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has considered the findings made by HCD and addressed all the
comments and findings made by HCD to the City and incorporated them into the Housing Element
Update; and
WHEREAS, by letter dated January 20, 2025, HCD determined that the Housing Element
Update substantially complies with the requirements of State law; and
WHEREAS, the City did hold a public workshop at the Anaheim Civic Center, Council
Chamber, 200 South Anaheim Boulevard, on February 24, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. for members of the
public and the Housing Element Update Committee; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Housing Element Update was advertised and noticed for a
public hearing before the Planning Commission at the Anaheim Civic Center, Council Chamber,
200 South Anaheim Boulevard, on March 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did hold a public hearing at the Anaheim Civic
Center, Council Chamber, 200 South Anaheim Boulevard, on March 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., notice
of said public hearing having been duly given as required by law and in accordance with the
provisions of the Anaheim Municipal Code, to hear and consider evidence for and against the
Housing Element Update and related actions, and to investigate and make findings and
recommendations in connection therewith; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after due consideration, inspection, investigation
and study made by itself, and after due consideration of, and based upon, all evidence and reports
offered at said hearing, does hereby find:
1. That the Housing Element Update maintains the internal consistency of the General Plan,
as the proposed modifications to the General Plan are consistent with General Plan goals
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related to housing and will provide the City's residents with future in -fill residential
development; and
2. That the Housing Element Update would not be detrimental to the public interest, health,
safety, convenience, or welfare of the City because the proposed Housing Element Update
would provide housing policy, in compliance with State law, to meet the City's housing
needs for the 2021-2029 planning period; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(g)(2), based on substantial
evidence set forth in the Adequate Sites Analysis, Housing Policy Program, and Housing
Constraints, Resources and Fair Housing section of the Housing Element Update, any existing uses
on sites identified to accommodate affordable housing are likely to be discontinued during the
planning period, and therefore do not constitute an impediment to additional residential
development during the period covered by the Housing Element. Any sites identified to
accommodate 2021-2029 RHNA need that have existing structures, improvements and/or
activities, demonstrate a likelihood for redevelopment during the 2021-2029 planning period.
Parcels with existing uses or activities that were not likely to be discontinued during the planning
period were generally removed if they had conditions suggesting continued use during the planning
period; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(c), any non -vacant sites
identified in the prior Fifth Cycle to accommodate affordable housing or vacant sites identified in
two or more consecutive planning periods to accommodate affordable housing that were not
approved to develop a portion of the City's housing need, shall be provided by -right development
when at least 20% of the units in the proposed development are affordable to lower -income
households; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.; herein referred to as
"CEQA"), the State of California Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental
Quality Act (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; herein referred to as the "CEQA
Guidelines"), the City is the "lead agency" for the preparation and consideration of environmental
documents for the Proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission finds and recommends that the City Council
determine that the adoption of the updated General Plan Housing Element is not subject to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State
CEQA Guidelines and no further documentation needs to be prepared for CEQA at this time
because the proposed update fits within the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that
have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. In that the proposed update
would amend the Housing Element to reflect State law, and does not include specific development
projects; rather, it establishes policies and a housing plan to accommodate the Sixth Cycle RHNA.
The required zoning and land use changes that could result in physical changes to the environment
would be subject to separate environmental review, and that future housing development would
also be subject to development review by the City. Therefore, the proposed update will not have a
significant effect on the environment; and, therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA; and
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WHEREAS, the Planning Commission determines that the evidence in the record
constitutes substantial evidence to support the actions taken and the findings made in this
Resolution, that the facts stated in this Resolution are supported by substantial evidence in the
record, including testimony received at the public hearing, the staff presentations, the staff report
and all materials in the project files. There is no substantial evidence, nor are there other facts, that
negate the findings made in this Resolution. The Planning Commission expressly declares that it
considered all evidence presented and reached these findings after due consideration of all
evidence presented to it.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission hereby
recommends that the City Council adopt the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element Update, as
presented in the draft document titled 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element Update, which is
incorporated herein by reference and available for public review at the City of Anaheim Planning
and Building Department and on the City of Anaheim website.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION was adopted at the Planning Commission meeting of
March 10, 2025.
n
MgNG
THE CITY OF
ANAHEIM
CHAIRPERSON, PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
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