2023-2031 Housing Element

UPDATES:

January 2025

On January 30, 2025, the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) informed the City that with the adoption of Ordinance Nos. 788, 789, 790, and 791 (see December 2024 below), the City’s Housing Element is in substantial compliance with Housing Element law. Carpinteria now has a certified Housing Element. The certification letter from HCD is available to read here.

December 2024

The City Council conducted first and second readings (November 25 and December 9, respectively) of Ordinance Numbers 788, 789, 790, and 791, which collectively serve to implement Program 1 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element: Adequate Sites to Accommodate Regional Housing Needs. The Ordinances were adopted upon second reading, and the Council adopted Resolution No. 6350 which directs City staff to submit the Ordinances to both HCD and the California Coastal Commission for certification.

City Council First Reading Agenda and Staff Report

City Council Second Reading Agenda and Staff Report (item on consent calendar)

The Ordinances implement the following changes:

• Ordinance No. 788: Add Chapter 14.19 to Title 14- Zoning, creating the Residential/Mixed Use (RMU) zone district.
• Ordinance No. 789: Add Chapter 14.51 to Title 14- Zoning, creating Objective Design Standards (ODS) for multifamily and mixed-use developments in the RMU zone district, as well as other multifamily developments, as specified.
• Ordinance Nos. 790 and 791: Rezone 19.83 acres of land from General Commercial (GC) and Industrial/Research Park (M-RP) to RMU to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

The City submitted these Ordinances to HCD digitally on December 12, 2024.

November 2024

On November 4, 2024, the Planning Commission considered several proposed ordinances to implement Program 1 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element: Adequate Sites to Accommodate Regional Housing Needs. These ordinances would:

• Create a new Residential/Mixed Use (RMU 20/25) zone district that allows for both residential-only and mixed-use development, as specified, at a minimum density of 20 units/acre and maximum density of 25 units/acre;
• Create Objective Design Standards (ODS) that would apply to all projects in the RMU zone district, as well as certain projects that receive ministerial or streamlined review pursuant to State housing law; and
• Rezone sites in the City to RMU 20/25 to accommodate the City’s regional housing needs allocation shortfall for lower income housing.

At this meeting, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the ordinances as proposed with some minor changes to the RMU zone district and ODS, and two changes to the list of sites to be rezoned. A recording of this meeting, as well as the agenda and staff report, is available here.

May 2024

On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the City Council received an update from staff on the status of the 2023-2031 Housing Element and proposed next steps on implementation of Program 1 (Adequate Sites to Accommodate Regional Housing Needs). The hearing is available here.

March 2024

The State HCD submitted the following letter to the City on March 21, 2024:

HCD’s 2024 Letter in response to the City’s Adopted Housing Element

January 2024

On January 22, 2024, the 2023-2031 Housing Element was readopted by the City Council via Resolution No. 6288. On January 23, 2024, the City resubmitted the Housing Element to HCD for final certification, available to view below:

2023-2031 Housing Element

Technical Report

Appendix A: Evaluation of the Previous Housing Element

Appendix B: Residential Land Inventory

Appendix B Site Profiles

Appendix C: Public Participation Summary

Appendix D: Fair Housing Assessment

Appendix E: Housing Element Implementation Plan

Although the City Council originally adopted the updated Housing Element on April 10, 2023, HCD required further revisions (scroll down to see previous HCD comments, City responses, and Housing Element revisions).

On January 8, 2024, the City received notice from HCD that the Revised Draft Housing Element is substantially compliant with State law. The letter, which advises City staff to move forward with the re-adoption process, is provided at the link here: Substantial Compliance Letter from HCD

November 2023

The City has prepared a Revised Draft Housing Element in response to HCD’s letter from June 2023. A seven day public review and comment period is open from November 6 through November 13, 2023:

Notice of Revised Draft Housing Element

City’s Comments and Responses to HCD (see below under June 2023 for State’s letter)

Draft Revised Housing Element with track changes:

Revised Draft Housing Plan_redlined

• Technical Report _redlined
• Appendix A_redlined
• Appendix B_redlined
• Appendix B Site Profiles_redlined
• Appendix C_redlined
• Appendix D_redlined
• Appendix E_redlined

Draft Revised Housing Element clean version:

Draft Revised Housing Plan_clean

• Technical Report_clean
• Appendix A_clean
• Appendix B_clean
• Appendix B Site Profiles_clean
• Appendix C_clean
• Appendix D_clean
• Appendix E_clean

June 2023

State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) submitted the following letter to the City on June 12, 2023:

HCD’s Letter in response to the City’s Adopted Housing Element

April 2023

Council Adopted Housing Element

Cover Letter for Housing Element Submittal to HCD

City Response Letter to HCD

Coastal Commission Letter

Signed City Council Resolution 6218

Carpinteria Housing Element (Council Adopted)

The City’s Council adopted Housing Element was submitted to the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on April 12, 2023 for certification.