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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2025-BLT-ADDITIONAL MATERIALSGENERAL PLAN UPDATE:INTRODUCING DRAFT ELEMENTS Board of Library Trustees Meeting August 18, 2025 Ben Zdeba, AICP, Planning Manager TODAY’S PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 2 General Plan 101 •What is a “general plan” and why is it important? General Plan Update •Where are we in the process? Introduction of Draft Elements •What are we doing here today?  Today’s recommendation  Next steps GENERAL PLAN 101 What is a “general plan” and why is it important? 3 WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR… 4 A blueprint for the future A framework for decision making ENVISIONING OUR FUTURE Our Vision for the future When vision and policy come together to create a basis for rational decision making WHAT IS THE GENERAL PLAN? 5 The General Plan is… A framework for decision making – an aspirational blueprint of a city that includes goals and policies to guide a city to achieve that community’s future vision. Why do we have the General Plan? State law mandates that every city adopt a General Plan. The values and needs can change over time, which requires updating. What does the General Plan do? Looks at issues that affect the entire city, such as how land is used, where buildings are built, location of roads and parks, safety, noise, harbor, art and more. OUR GENERAL PLAN 6 •Last comprehensive update was 2006 •10 Elements •7 required by law •Comprehensive update initiated 2019 •Focused on Housing and Circulation to address RHNA in 2020 General Plan Harbor and Bay Arts and Culture Historical Resources Recreation NoiseHousing Circulation Land Use Natural Resources Safety GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Where are we in the process? 7 REMAINING ELEMENTS 8 LED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS 9 Council-Appointed Brown Act Committees: •General Plan Update Steering Committee (3 members) Ensure public outreach Guide the update process Oversee and direct GPAC Provide regular updates to City Council •General Plan Advisory Committee (24 members) with subcommittees formed to work on the various elements Review and guide the changes to General Plan goals and policies Make recommendations to the GPUSC APPROACH 10 We are at the tail-end of Phase 2 PHASE 1 COMMUNITY OUTREACH 11 PHASE 2 COMMUNITY OUTREACH 12 INTRODUCTION OF DRAFT ELEMENTS What are we doing here today? 13 ELEMENT DEVELOPMENT 14 Existing Conditions and Background Analysis Reports Subcommittee Review and Input, GPAC Review, and GPUSC Review Pop-Up Events, Digital Outreach and Engagement Draft Ideas for Goals Shared with Subcommittee for Review and Input Draft Ideas for Goals Shared at Community Workshops Subcommittee Review and Input, GPAC Review, and GPUSC Review Draft Goals and Policies Created, Subcommittee Review and Input, GPAC review, and GPUSC Review 2023-2024 2025 ARTS AND CULTURE ELEMENT 15 State Requirements: •Element not required and is unique to Newport Beach What's New: •Supports art in both public spaces and larger private development projects •Enhanced policy support for City libraries and services •New policy support for musical programming •Adds focus on marketing to engage the community •Emphasizes collaboration with other organizations HISTORICAL RESOURCES ELEMENT 16 State Requirements: •Element not required and is unique to Newport Beach •Largely implemented by California Environmental Quality Act What's New: •Celebrating historical resources •Enhanced outreach, education, and interpretation of Newport Beach history through signage, partnerships, walking tours, and school programs •Consideration of a legacy business program Receive and file the draft Elements and provide any initial guidance or feedback on their goals and policies. Next Steps:  Advertise drafts for additional community input  General Plan Update Open Houses (virtual/in-person)  Work with GPAC/GPUSC to refine draft Elements based on all feedback  Return to the Board and others for formal recommendation of approval  City Council adoption TODAY’S RECOMMENDATION AND NEXT STEPS 17 HOW TO GET INVOLVED 18 19 RECREATION ELEMENT 20 State Requirements: •SB 1425 (2022) - must address open space access for all communities and demographics; co-benefits of open space (i.e., buffers from source pollutants and wildlife connectivity) What's New: •Encourage new parks where needed and connections that increase resident access to recreational opportunities •Parks and recreational facilities that are adapted to meet a variety of needs for existing and future residents •A city that protects public beach access NATURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT 21 State Requirements: •SB 272 (2023) requires a Sea Level Rise Plan by 2034 •AB 1889 (2024) Wildlife and Habitat Connectivity What's New: •Clean energy charging infrastructure to serve clean vehicles •Transition of oil and gas resources as deemed appropriate •Awareness of clean energy incentives for existing buildings to reduce natural gas emissions •Native/naturalized species habitats in parks and open space HARBOR, BAY, AND BEACHES ELEMENT 22 State Requirements: •Element not required and is unique to Newport Beach •General Plan and Local Coastal Program must be consistent – HBB addresses coastal access What's New: •Beaches added by name, Upper Newport Bay enhanced •Multifaceted and integrated coastal access •Minimized risk of displacement from coastal hazards •Emphasizing Harbor’s economic strength and vitality DEEPER DIVE: HOUSING ELEMENT What’s the big deal about the Housing Element? 23 BACKGROUND AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH HOUSING ELEMENT BASICS 24 •State mandated •Provides goals and policies to ensure adequate supply of housing for all residents while maintaining a high quality of life •Updated every 8 years in response to Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) cycles •Includes inventory of housing opportunity sites REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT(RHNA) •Represents housing need for all income levels •General Plan and Housing Element must accommodate units at each income level •City must provide adequate planning and zoning HCD determined regional need of 1,344,740 units Developed one method for distribution to all local jurisdictions Must identify sites for potential housing, and update GP and Zoning OUR 6TH CYCLE RHNA ASSIGNMENT 26 Income Category % of Area Median Income (AMI) RHNA Allocation (Housing Units) Very Low Income 0 - 50% AMI 1,456 units Low Income 51 – 80% AMI 930 units Moderate Income 81 – 120% AMI 1,050 units Above Moderate Income >120% AMI 1,409 units Total 4,845 units OUR HOUSING ACTION PLAN Council directed to “firmly challenge and plan to comply” 1.Facilitate compliance with mandated deadlines and requirements 2.Appeal to reduce the City’s RHNA oRHNA appeal denied by SCAG 3.Focus the General Plan Update and community engagement on housing oCity Council formed Housing Element Update Advisory Committee (HEUAC) to assist with outreach and guiding the Housing Element oMembers had expertise in housing, finance, and design 4.Collaborate regionally oWorked with other jurisdictions to oppose harmful legislation and support helpful legislation Listen & Learn – 7 Workshops Housing Plan Strategy – 5 Workshops •November 12, 2019 •November 14, 2019 •November 20, 2019 •November 21, 2019 •December 3, 2019 •December 11, 2019 •December 12, 2019 68 Participants 21 Participants 16 Participants 54 Participants 17 Participants 8 Participants 26 Participants •October 20, 2020 •November 16, 2020 •November 17, 2020 •February 24, 2021 •March 22, 2021 74 Participants 53 Participants 47 Participants 61 Participants 37 Participants COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WORKSHOPS Former General Plan Update Steering Committee – 12 Meetings Housing Element Update Advisory Committee – 13 Meetings •February 20, 2019 •March 6, 2019 •March 20, 2019 •April 3, 2019 •May 1, 2019 •May 15, 2019 •May 29, 2019 •September 12, 2019 •September 25, 2019 •October 16, 2019 •November 6, 2019 •December 4, 2019 •July 1, 2020 •July 15, 2020 •September 2, 2020 •October 7, 2020 •October 21, 2020 •November 4, 2020 •December 2, 2020 •January 20, 2021 •February 3, 2021 •February 17, 2021 •March 3, 2021 •March 17, 2021 •March 31, 2021 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: COMMITTEES •Flyers •Utility Bill Inserts •eNotifications •Social Media •Committee Members •Council Announcements •City Website •Newport, Together •Printed Newspaper •Online Newspaper COMMUNITY OUTREACH: ADVERTISING DEEPER DIVE: HOUSING ELEMENT What’s the big deal about the Housing Element? 31 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT AND THE CITY’S PLAN 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT LAWS STRENGTHENED 32 •Substantial Evidence •Must meet criteria and demonstrate realistic capacity to develop •Property owner interest letters, recent development examples, etc. •Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) •Avoid concentrations of affordable units in low resource areas •No Net Loss •Maintain sites to always accommodate lower-income categories •Can't deny a project for not including affordable units •15-30% buffer recommended for each income category HOUSING STRATEGY FOR COMPLIANCE 33 6/8/21, three options presented; City Council directed to develop alternative with higher buffer and rezones 6/22/21, two alternatives presented; City Council directed to proceed with Option “B” Total development potential of 9,119 units, including 1,000 ADUs and the former Banning Ranch 10/26/21, HCD’s findings reported to City Council HCD primarily took issue with 1,000 ADUs, the use of Banning Ranch as an opportunity site, and Charter Section 423 as a constraint HOUSING STRATEGY FOR COMPLIANCE (CONT.) 34 2/8/22, based on HCD’s findings, City Council adopted with increased units across all Focus Areas to offset a reduction of 760 ADUs and the loss of Banning Ranch Total development potential of 10,138 (w/o Banning Ranch) 4/26/22, HCD’s findings reported; City Council directed to include additional sites with property owner interest 9/13/22, City Council adopted updated final Housing Element with additional sites Total development potential of 10,403 (w/o Banning Ranch) 10/5/22, HCD issued certification letter 35 FINAL HOUSING PLAN PREVENTING NO NET LOSS:IMPORTANCE OF A BUFFER 36 •If No Net Loss is triggered, must identify and rezone additional new sites within 180 days •Rezoning would force City to look elsewhere for housing sites and could jeopardize compliant status Including a buffer helps prevent No Net Loss and reduces exposure of planning for housing outside Focus Areas CONSEQUENCES OF NONCOMPLIANCE:LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL 37 •HCD Housing Accountability Unit (HAU) is highly active with education and enforcement of State Housing Element Law •Examples of penalties: oHousing Element certification revoked (Portola Valley) oBuilding permit moratoria (Beverly Hills and Encinitas) oPublic litigation with the State Attorney General’s Office (Fullerton and Huntington Beach) oLoss of State grant funding (e.g., SB1 and SB2 funds) oMonthly fines up to $600k at the discretion of the AG oSB 1037 established additional new penalties as of 1/1/25 •Builder’s Remedy used in dozens of cities, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, La Habra, Orange,Mission Viejo DEEPER DIVE: HOUSING ELEMENT What’s the big deal about the Housing Element? 38 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATIONOUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT 39 Steering Committee Meetings Related to Implementation3 Advisory Committee Meetings Related to Implementation3 Land Use Subcommittee Meetings4 Planning Commission Meetings3 City Council Meetings3 Drafts of the Implementation Language Posted3 Since Housing Element certification in 2022, we had… HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATIONLEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS 40 •General Plan Land Use Element Amendment o Provides policy support to establish rezoning for housing projects •Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) Amendment o Establishes Housing Opportunity Overlay Zones o Creates Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards •Local Coastal Program Amendment o Coastal Land Use Plan and Title 21 (Implementation Plan) o Completes rezoning for properties in the Coastal Zone 41