Sand City, CA
Home Menu2023-2031 Housing Element Update
Welcome!
The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (2023-2031) will identify where and how the City will accommodate existing and projected future housing needs. This page will be the center of online activity and residents are encouraged to visit frequently to engage in the process, provide feedback, find key documents, see upcoming meeting dates, and learn other information. It will be updated regularly throughout the Housing Element Update process, which will end in December 2023.
If you have questions about the Housing Element Update, please be sure to read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Sand City supports the efforts of the State to address the affordable housing crisis, and is committed to playing our part in achieving our RHNA goal. We're on this housing journey together and we encourage everyone to get involved as we move forward.
July 2, 2024: HCD Issues Substantial Compliance Letter
On July 2, 2024, the City received a Substantial Compliance Letter from HCD acknowledging the City's Adopted Housing Element is in compliance with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq). Click on the links below to view the City's Adopted Housing Element and HCD's Substantial Compliance Letter
June 4, 2024: City Council Adopts Housing Element and CEQA Exemption
On June 4, 2024, City staff presented the Housing Element and associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption to the City Council, recommending their adoption. The City Council adopted both the Housing Element and the CEQA Exemption. On June 5, 2024, the City submitted the Adopted Housing Element to HCD. Next steps include HCD issuing a certification letter to the City, confirming that the City's Adopted Housing Element is certified for the 2023-2031 planning cycle. The following documents are linked below for review.
6th Cycle Housing Element (2023-2031) Recommendation Presentation
May 24, 2024: Housing Element In Substantial Compliance
On May 24, 2024, the City received a Substantial Compliance Letter from HCD acknowledging the City's May 20, 2024 Revised Draft Housing Element is in compliance with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq). The City plans to present the Revised Draft Housing Element to the City Council for adoption on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Click the link below to view the HCD Substantial Compliance Letter.
May 20, 2024: Revised Draft Housing Element Submitted to HCD
On May 20, 2024, the City submitted the Revised Draft Housing Element to Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review.
The following documents are available for review:
May 20, 2024 Revised Draft Housing Element Clean
May 20, 2024 Revised Draft Housing Element Track Changes
No revisions were made subsequent to the public review period that was held from May 10 through May 17, 2024. To view a Revisions Matrix detailing all revisions made to the draft since April 2024, use the link in the section below.
May 10 - May 17, 2024: Revised Draft Housing Element Seven Day Public Review Period
On April 24, 2024, City staff met with Housing and Community Development (HCD) to discuss completed revisions to the draft Housing Element, which was posted for a seven day review period on April 16. During the meeting, HCD indicated minor edits were necessary to the programs included in the draft housing element. In response, City staff made additional edits to the Revised Draft Housing Element.
Per the requirements of AB 215, the updated Revised Draft Housing Element is available for a seven day public review period, which will run from Friday, May 10, 2024 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
The following documents are linked below for review:
April 16 - April 23, 2024: Revised Draft Housing Element Seven Day Public Review Period
On April 12, 2024, City staff met with Housing and Community Development (HCD) to discuss completed revisions to the draft Housing Element submitted on February 28, 2024. During the meeting, HCD indicated additional information was necessary and provided a Comment Matrix, linked below. In response, City staff made additional edits to the Revised Draft Housing Element.
Per the requirements of AB 215, the updated Revised Draft Housing Element is available for a seven day public review period, which will run from Tuesday, April 16, 2024 through Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The following documents are linked below for review:
February 28, 2024: Revised Housing Element Submitted to HCD for 60-Day Review
On February 28, 2024, the City submitted the Revised Draft Housing Element to Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a 60-day review.
The following documents are available for review:
Revised Draft Housing Element HCD Submittal Letter
HCD Submitted Revised Draft Housing Element
Revised Draft Housing Element Revisions Matrix
No revisions were made subsequent to the public review period that was held from February 9 to February 26, 2024. To view a track changes version of the Revised Draft Housing Element, use the link in the section below.
February 9 - February 16, 2024: Revised Draft Housing Element Seven Day Public Review Period
On December 21, 2023, the City received a 90-day Initial Review letter from Housing and Community Development (HCD). The letter acknowledges that many statutory requirements were addressed in the Initial Draft Housing Element. However, revisions were necessary to substantially comply with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code Section 65580 et seq).
City staff reviewed the 90-day letter and revised the housing element in response to comments received in the letter. The Revised Draft Housing Element was made available for a seven day public review period on February 9, 2024 through February 16, 2024. To encourage community engagement, the City extended the public review period through February 26, 2024.
Public comment on the Revised Draft Housing Element is encouraged and can be submitted via email to pope@emcplanning.com.
The following documents are available for review:
HCD 90-Day Initial Review Letter
Revised Draft Housing Element - Clean Version
Revised Draft Housing Element - Track Changes Version
Revised Draft Housing Element Public Comment Report - Clean Version
Revised Draft Housing Element Public Comment Report - Track Changes Version
September 26, 2023: Initial HCD Draft Housing Element Submitted to HCD for 90-Day Review
On September 26, 2023, the City submitted the Sand City Initial Draft Housing Element to Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a 90-day review.
The following documents were submitted to HCD for review:
Initial HCD Draft Housing Element
May 5, 2023: Public Review Draft
On May 5, 2023, the City released the Sand City Public Review Draft Housing Element for a 30-day review and public comment period. The public comment period ended on June 5, 2023.
You may review the Public Review Draft Housing Element linked below.
Join the Conversation and fill out the Stakeholder Survey!
Sand City welcomes input from Sand City residents, employees, business owners, property owners, unhoused community members, and individuals who are interested in living in the City. By participating, you will help the City incorporate your ideas into the housing policy update. Please share this survey with interested parties.
Housing Elements 101
The 2023-2031 Housing Element Update
The Housing Element is one of the City’s General Plan required elements (chapters). It is a comprehensive policy document that identifies where, how, and the amount of housing Sand City needs to plan for to accommodate existing and projected housing needs for people of all income groups. In accordance with current State law, Sand City must update its Housing Element every eight years. The Housing Element was last updated in 2015 and was referred to as the 5th cycle Housing Element Update and covered the period between 2015 and 2023. The current update is commonly referred to as the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.
In the 2023-2031 6th Cycle Update, Sand City is required to plan for 260 new housing units, also known as its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The City expects that the 260 new housing units can be accommodated through past Housing Element sites and new locations. With your participation and input, we will plan for this growth while minimizing impacts on Sand City’s unique culture and charm.
Be Part of the Solution
If you're interested in helping Sand City plan for 260 new housing units, and would like to learn more about how to facilitate the creation of new housing click here to fill out our Property Owner Interest Form.
Per Government Code 65583, the Housing Element update must include, at the minimum, the following sections:
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An analysis of the City’s housing needs;
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An inventory of housing sites to accommodate future growth;
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An analysis of housing constraints that impact housing production;
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Programs that implement the City's housing policies; and
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Actions that promote and further fair housing opportunities.
The draft update will be reviewed for certification by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Milestone Tasks
Following are the milestone tasks that make up the total Housing Element Update process. As we get further into the process of preparing documents related to each milestone, new links and resources will be provided for each individual task.
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Sites Inventory - current opportunity sites plus new sites will be considered in order to meet existing and future housing needs;
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Policies, Programs, & Objectives - a review of existing policies, programs, and objectives from the 5th cycle to see what worked best along with any new policies required to meet State law including possible zoning changes to accommodate the City’s RHNA;
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General Plan Consistency - preparing General Plan updates/revisions to ensure consistency with the Housing Element; and
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California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - any update to the General Plan requires some amount of environmental review.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: The Importance of AB 686
To combat a history of racial housing discrimination, segregation, and unequal access to opportunity, the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968. The Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) disability status, and family status. However, in the nearly 50 years since the Fair Housing Act was enacted, housing inequality, lack of access to opportunity, and racial and socio-economic segregation have persisted. The passing of AB 686 in 2018 attempts to address these persistent inequities.
For more information on AFFH and AB 686 please refer to the following resources:
Resources
There is much to learn from each other on this journey towards 6th Cycle Housing Element Update certification. For a deeper dive into details and more information, click on the links below for information from the following sources:
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG)
Housing and Community Development (HCD)
City of Sand City Planning Department
We'll continue to update this list of resources throughout the planning process with any new information. Additionally, please see the What If We Don't? page for recent news on housing element updates and lawsuits across California.
Comments & Questions
The Housing Element Update is an important community process and the planning team needs to hear a wide variety of perspectives. Please send your comments and questions via email to wahl@emcplanning.com
Thank you for taking the time to leave your comments and questions, we appreciate your input. Someone from the team will reply as we are able, thank you for your patience.