(3)Joint Meeting - AR 062309 General Plan Update

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Draft Housing Element Study Session June 23, 2009 Joint City Council / Planning Commission Meeting Page 5 Housing Element Strategies Over the past several years, the City of Colton has been updating land use planning throughout the community through a number of activities: General Plan update, West Valley Specific Plan Amendment, and Pellissier Ranch Specific Plan development. Each of these planning activities has helped address the requirement established in the RHNA process. Both the Pellissier Ranch and West Valley Specific Plan areas include substantial residential development as core components to those planning documents. Within these two Specific Plan areas, Colton is able to accommodate the RHNA allocations, across all state mandated income categories. Table H-10: Comparison of Sites Inventory and RHNA Without sufficient densities included in these two Specific Plan documents, the RHNA allocations would have to be accommodated in existing neighborhoods, dramatically altering the character and densities of these established neighborhoods and negatively impacting community services like schools, parks, roads, and utilities. In consolidating the density within these Specific Plan areas, Colton is able to accommodate the demands of the state RHNA allocation process while preserving the character of the existing neighborhoods within the community. City staff and the consultants hosted a visit from HCD representatives and reviewed the key policies contained within the draft Housing Element. Staff highlighted the City's opposition to the RHNA process and expressed concerns about the City's ability to maintain a sustainable community given the demands for additional density. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Not applicable for this study session. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is currently being undertaken and will be component of the final approval of the Housing Element by the Planning Commission and City Council. FINANCIAL IMPACT None Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate Total Remaining RHNA after Credits 827 569 692 1,421 3,509 Higher Density Lower Density 1,396 2,113 Vacant Sites 155 638 793 Pellissier Ranch Specific Plan 718 2,101 2,819 West Valley Specific Plan 663 630 1,293 Total Units 1536 3369 4,905 Remaining RHNA 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Without sufficient densities included in these two Specific Plan documents, the RHNA allocations would have to be accommodated in existing neighborhoods, dramatically altering the character and densities of these established neighborhoods and negatively impacting community services like schools, parks, roads, and utilities. In consolidating the density within these Specific Plan areas, Colton is able to accommodate the demands of the state RHNA allocation process while preserving the character of the existing neighborhoods within the community. City staff and the consultants hosted a visit from HCD representatives and reviewed the key policies contained within the draft Housing Element. Staff highlighted the City's opposition to the RHNA process and expressed concerns about the City's ability to maintain a sustainable community given the demands for additional density. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Not applicable for this study session. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is currently being undertaken and will be component of the final approval of the Housing Element by the Planning Commission and City Council. FINANCIAL IMPACT None