DATE: October 19, 2021
TO: Mayor, City Council, and Planning Commission
FROM: Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director
SUBJECT
Joint Housing Element Work Session: Housing Element Update and Residential Objective Standards Project
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council and Planning Commission provide feedback and guidance on the Housing Element update and the Residential Objective Standards Project.
SUMMARY
City staff is moving forward with two key housing projects in light of an evolving State legislative landscape. These key projects, which are included in the City’s Strategic Roadmap and Incentives for Housing Production Plan, include development of an updated Housing Element, as well as the Residential Objective Standards Project. These projects will align Hayward’s goals and expectations for future development with the State’s goal to address the housing crisis.
The Housing Element Update will integrate housing goals with equity, outreach to groups typically marginalized through these processes, developing and proposing programs that affirmatively further fair housing, and align climate and environmental justice.
Another key project is the development of Residential Objective Standards for residential and mixed-use development to give the community, developers, staff, and decision makers more certainty about what future development will look like as the City moves forward with these streamlined processes. This project will further address concerns previously expressed by the Council, Planning Commission, and community regarding a desire for more detailed standards related to architectural design and neighborhood context.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Recent Housing and Land Use Legislation