During it’s regular meeting on Monday, May 12th, the Planning Commission in a study session will hear the City consultant’s evaluation of potential constraints to housing production and conservation as part of the 2014 update to the Housing Element of Piedmont’s General Plan. 

The City of Piedmont is in the process of updating the Housing Element of its General Plan. The Housing Element contains the City’s policies regarding housing production, affordable housing, housing for people with special needs, housing conservation, and other housing-related issues. The content and organization of the Element are defined by the State of California, and the Element itself must be certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Piedmont last adopted a Housing Element in June 2011, covering the period 2007-2014. The update will cover the period from January 31, 2015 to January 31, 2023.

This will be the fifth Planning Commission study session on the Housing Element. Previous sessions were held on October 14, 2013 (Introduction), January 13, 2014 (Needs Assessment), February 10 (Sites Inventory), and April 14 (Evaluation of Prior Element).

Staff’s goal is to hold a “Town Meeting” in late June or early July, and then a final study session with the Planning Commission to consider the completed Working Draft Housing Element. The Working Draft will then be forwarded to the City Council for review.  After Council consideration and comments, any revisions to the Working Draft will be submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) staff during the summer in order to receive their comments and suggested changes. 

City staff will work with State reviewers to revise the document during Fall 2014, so that it may be adopted by the end of the year. It is anticipated that HCD will provide comments on the Working Draft in September.  Following a rewrite in coordination with State staff and prior to adoption of the Housing Element, it could be considered further by the Planning Commission for their recommendation to the City Council.  Bay Area cities are required to adopt new Housing Elements for 2015-2023 by January 31, 2015.   The Housing Element is due to be submitted to the State HCD by January 31, 2015.  

Read the Staff Report on the Draft Housing Element.