HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04132010 - C.94RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. ACCEPT this annual progress report on the General Plan as required by California
Government Code §65400.
2. DIRECT the Department of Conservation and Development to forward the annual
progress report on the General Plan to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
(OPR) as required by California Government Code §65400.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
California Government Code §65400 requires the planning agency for certain cities and all
58 counties to submit an annual report to their legislative body, Governor’s Office of
Planning and Research (OPR), and the California Department of Housing and Community
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/13/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Pat Roche 335-1242
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 13, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc:
C. 94
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:April 13, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:General Plan Annual Progress Report for Calendar Year 2009
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Development (HCD), on the status of the General Plan and progress in its
implementation by April 1 of each year. The intent of the annual report is to provide the
local legislative body (e.g. Board of Supervisors) information regarding the status and
implementation of the General Plan. It gives OPR the opportunity to identify statewide
trends in land use decision making and how local planning and development activities
relate to statewide planning goals and policies. Additionally, it enables OPR to track
progress on a local jurisdiction’s General Plan in terms of its comprehensiveness and
consistency with current OPR General Plan Guidelines and/or other state mandates.
Providing a copy of the annual progress report on the General Plan to OPR and HCD
fulfills statutory requirements.
There is no standardized form or format for the preparation of the General Plan annual
progress report. OPR leaves it up to each jurisdiction to determine what locally relevant
issues are important to include, but they do suggest general content to cover within the
report. The attached report covering calendar year 2009 follows the general guidance of
OPR in terms of content.
It is noted that under a separate section of the Government Code, all local jurisdictions
are also required to submit to HCD a report on certain housing information, including the
jurisdiction’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs and local efforts to
remove governmental constraints to the development of housing. The report to HCD on
the County’s Housing Element implementation for 2009 was submitted by the
Development of Conservation and Department on March 26, 2010 to Cathy Creswell,
Deputy Director, CA HCD. The data in the report to HCD indicates the County, as with
most local jurisdictions in California, has seen a significant drop off in residential
building permit activity for the 2009 reporting period reflecting the major downturn in
the housing market and economic recession that had begun in 2008. This slowdown in
residential building activity that began in 2008 and continued through 2009 will likely
affect the housing production targets established in the recently adopted Housing
Element. The information in the report to HCD is incorporated into the attached General
Plan annual progress report for 2009.
The 2009 annual progress report describes the major accomplishments achieved in 2009
toward implementation of the General Plan. One accomplishment of significant note is
the completion and adoption in 2009 of the Housing Element update, which covers the
5-year period from 2009 to 2014. Staff notes for the Board’s information that state HCD
has found the County’s adopted 2009 Housing Element update to be in compliance with
the State housing element law (see attached March 2, 2010 letter from Cathy Creswell,
Deputy Director, CA HCD, to County Administrator David Twa). This means that the
County now meets specific requirement for several State funding programs designed to
reward local governments for compliance with State housing element law.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None
ATTACHMENTS
Annual Progress Report
3/2/2010 letter from Cathy Creswell, CA HCD re: County Housing Element compliance
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
CALENDAR YEAR 2009
Submitted To:
Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County
April 13, 2010
Prepared By:
Contra Costa County
Department of Conservation and Development
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. PURPOSE OF ANNUAL REPORT ...................................................................... 1
II. GENERAL PLAN STATUS AND IMPLEMENTATION ........................................ 1
A. GENERAL PLAN BACKGROUND ............................................................... 1
TABLE 1: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN .........................................................................2
B. ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS, CALENDAR YEAR
2009 ..................................................................................................................... 2
C. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
RELATED TO GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION INITIATED IN 2009 ........ 3
D. COMPLIANCE WITH OPR’S GENERAL PLAN GUIDELINES AND
OTHER OPR DIRECTIVES .................................................................................. 4
III. HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTION AND PROGRESS IN MEETING
SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ........................................................ 5
A. SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEED ................................................ 6
TABLE 2: SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ...............................................................................6
B. HOUSING PRODUCTION ............................................................................. 6
TABLE 3: RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS, 2007-2009 ..........................................6
TABLE 4: UNIT COUNT OF COUNTY HOUSING PRODUCED IN 2009 ................................................7
C. BARRIERS TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACTIVITY IN CALENDAR YEAR 2009 .................... 7
IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND WORK ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTION FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2009 AND
2010 ..................................................................................................................... 8
I. PURPOSE OF ANNUAL REPORT
The intent of this report is to demonstrate the County’s compliance with Government
Code section 65400(b)(1), which mandates that all cities and counties submit to their
legislative bodies an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its
implementation. The annual report is intended as tool for providing information on a
jurisdiction’s progress in implementing its General Plan. A copy of this report will, as
required under the statute, will be provided to the Governor’s Office of Planning and
Research (OPR) and the California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD). A separate report was provided to HCD on March 26, 2010 in
fulfillment of another statutory requirement to report certain housing information,
including the County’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs and local
efforts to remove governmental constraints to the development of housing, as defined in
Government Code sections 65584 and 65583(c)(3).
In compliance with Section 65400(b)(1) of the California Government Code, this report
covering calendar year 2009 has been prepared for the Contra Costa County Board of
Supervisors consideration and acceptance. This report summarizes the status of the
Contra Costa County General Plan (2005-2020) and describes steps that have been
taken to implement General Plan policies in calendar year 2009. The report provides a
summary of General Plan Amendments that were approved by the Board of Supervisors
in 2009. It also reports on Housing Element implementation, specifically the County’s
progress in meeting its share of the regional housing needs over the current reporting
period, 2007 to 2014 (current Housing Element cycle) and on the efforts to remove
governmental constraints to maintenance, improvement, and development of housing
pursuant to Government Code Section 65583. This annual report concludes with a
discussion on goals, objectives, and work activities related to General Plan
implementation for calendar year 2010.
II. GENERAL PLAN STATUS AND IMPLEMENTATION
A. GENERAL PLAN BACKGROUND
The Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development 1 is a division
of the planning agency for the unincorporated area of Contra Costa County, and it is
responsible for the proper preparation and administration of the General Plan (County
Ordinance Code § 26-2.808(1)). The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
adopted a comprehensive General Plan in January 1991 following an extensive public
outreach and participation process initiated in 1986. This comprehensively updated
General Plan superseded the County’s prior General Plan (and each of the previously
adopted elements), and consolidated several area specific General Plans into one plan
document.
1 In May 2008 the Community Development Department and Building Inspection Department were
consolidated into one department, and re-named the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and
Development.
1
The General Plan was re-adopted by the Board of Supervisors in July 1996 to
consolidate General Plan Amendments approved between 1991 to 1995 and to correct
minor errors and omissions discovered in the original 1991 General Plan text. This
reconsolidation of the County General Plan covered the period from 1995 through 2010.
The General Plan was re-adopted again by the Board of Supervisors in January 2005 to
consolidate General Plan Amendments adopted between 1995 and 2004, to revise text
and map to reflect the 1999 incorporation of the City of Oakley (formerly an
unincorporated community that was covered under the County General Plan), and to
incorporate the Housing Element updated in 2001. The second County General Plan
reconsolidation covers the period from 2005 through 2020.
Each of the mandatory elements in the Contra Costa County General Plan (2005-2020)
were prepared and/or updated in full compliance with the General Plan Guidelines, as
established by the Governors Office of Planning and Research. There are seven
mandatory elements to a General Plan. The following table indicates the status of the
seven mandatory elements for the Contra Costa County General Plan, including the
year of origin the element was first adopted and the year the element was last revised:
TABLE 1: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN
MANDATORY ELEMENTS – STATUS
General Plan Element First Adopted Last Revised
Land Use 1963 2005
Transportation/Circulation 1963 2005
Housing 1970 2 2009
Conservation 1973 2005
Open Space 1973 2005
Safety 1975 2005
Noise 1975 2005
B. ADOPTED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS, CALENDAR YEAR 2009
Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, the Board of Supervisors conducted
hearings on and adopted three (3) consolidated General Plan Amendments for the
Contra Costa County General Plan (2005-2020) for calendar Year 2009. The following
is a summary of the three consolidated General Plan Amendments that were
considered and adopted during calendar year 2009.
2 A preliminary Housing Element was approved in 1970 one year after state legislation established the Housing Element as
mandatory element to the General Plan. Following new statutory requirements for Housing Elements established in the
mid-1970’s, the Housing Element was formally adopted by the Board of Supervisors in December 1980. The element has
been subsequently updated through the state-mandated Housing Element update process in 1985, 1991, 1996, and most
recently in December 2001. The current Housing Element, adopted in 2009, and was subsequently found in compliance
with state housing element law by HCD on March 2, 2010.
2
1st Consolidated General Plan Amendment - Calendar Year 2009
• Madden-Paulus Residential Project General Plan Amendment (County File:
GP#07-0004), adopted on January 20, 2009 under Board Resolution No.
2009/38, amending the Land Use Element Map to change 5 acres of 10
acre site from Agricultural Lands (AL) to Single Family Residential – Very
Low Density (SV) in support of residential subdivision.
2nd Consolidated General Plan Amendment - Calendar Year 2009
• 2009 Housing Element Update (County File: GP#08-0005), adopted on July
21, 2009 under Board Resolution No. 2009/512,and as revised on
December 2009, a General Plan Amendment for the 2009 update to the
Housing Element.
3rd Consolidated General Plan Amendment - Calendar Year 2009
• Bay Point Waterfront General Plan Amendment (County File: GP#03-0009),
adopted on November 3, 2009 under Board Resolution No. 2009/512, a
General Plan Amendment affecting the Land Use and
Transportation/Circulation elements in support of the Bay Point Waterfront
Strategic Plan.
4th Consolidated General Plan Amendment - Calendar Year 2009
None.
C. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION INITIATED IN 2009
The Department of Conservation and Development maintains the County General Plan
and oversees its implementation. Proposals to amend the General Plan, either from the
private sector, or County-initiated, must be authorized by the Board of Supervisors
acting in its capacity as the legislative body for unincorporated Contra Costa County. In
calendar year 2009 the Board of Supervisors authorized three General Plan
Amendment (GPA) studies, as follows:
1) QLC, Pomona Street General Plan Amendment, Crockett (County File: GP#09-
0002): General Plan Amendment study authorized to consider change in land
use designation for a 9.9 ac from Open Space (OS) to Single Family
Residential – High Density (SH) and Open Space (OS) in support of a 9-lot
residential subdivision in the community of Crockett.
3
2) Rodeo Marina General Plan Amendment, Rodeo (County File: GP#09-0003):
General Plan Amendment study to consider change in land use designation for
a portion of the Rodeo marina to industrial use as a component to the planned
redevelopment of the 12-acre Rodeo Marina site.
3) Discovery Bay Shopping Center General Plan Amendment, Discovery Bay
(County File: GP#09-0004): General Plan Amendment study to consider
change in land use designations for re-planning of the Discovery Bay Shopping
Center to include area set aside for residential use.
D. COMPLIANCE WITH OPR’S GENERAL PLAN GUIDELINES AND OTHER
OPR DIRECTIVES
Section 65400 of the Government Code requires jurisdictions to include the degree to
which the adopted the General Plan complies with the State of California General Plan
Guidelines as issued by the Governors Office of Planning and Research (OPR). The
Guidelines provide a definitive interpretation of State statutes and case law as they
relate to the General Plan. In addition, the Guidelines outline the general framework for
preparation and revision a General Plan, Attorney General Opinions, and the
relationship of the General Plan to the requirements under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). The State’s Guidelines are advisory in nature rather than
prescriptive, and thereby preserve opportunities for a local jurisdiction to address
contemporary planning topics in a locally appropriate manner. Based on a review of the
latest set of General Plan Guidelines, as issued by OPR in October 2003, the Contra
Costa County General Plan (2005-2020) is consistent with and meets the mandatory
requirements described the guidelines.
In addition to General Plan Guidelines, OPR has issued other advisories and guidance
related State planning law requirements for cities and counties. The Department of
Conservation and Development has endeavored to incorporate these advisories into the
County’s planning process. Specifically, in November 2005 OPR issued a supplement
to the General Plan Guidelines , providing advisory guidance to cities and counties on
the process for consulting with California Native American tribes during the adoption or
amendment of local General Plans or Specific Plans for the purpose of protecting
Traditional Tribal Cultural Places (also known as SB 18 Tribal Consultation). The
Community Development Department has established a protocol for SB 18 Tribal
Consultation on General Plan Amendments and Specific Plan in accordance with the
November 2005 supplemental to the General Plan Guidelines issued by OPR.
Also, OPR has recently been working to improve communication and encourage
collaboration between local governments and the United States military on land use
planning and development issues in response to passage in 2004 of SB 1462 (Kuehl)
and SB 1468 (Knight) in 2002. SB 1462 (Kuehl) requires local jurisdictions to establish a
notification process to inform the United States military of certain local land use
4
proposals to avoid conflicts with military installations and training activities. SB 1468
(Knight) resulted in the preparation of the California Advisory Handbook for Community
and Military Compatibility Planning to encourages collaboration between cities,
counties, builders and military personnel by providing tools and guidance regarding
compatibility planning between communities and military installations and activities.
Since there are only a limited number of military installations in Contra Costa County,
and only two in the unincorporated area, the impact of these new requirements for the
County to notify the U.S. Military of pending land use planning and development
applications has been negligible. Nevertheless, the Department of Conservation and
Development has established a protocol to determine whether notification to the U.S.
military is necessary if a project is located within 1,000 feet of a military installation or
within special airspace as defined in the Public Resources Code § 21098. The
Community Development Department has been using the California Military Land Use
Compatibility Analyst (CMLUCA), which was prepared by the State Resources Agency
in conjunction with OPR, to help cities and counties find the location of military
installations and training facilities within their jurisdiction and to determine if a project
triggers notification to the U.S. Military.
III. HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTION AND PROGRESS IN MEETING SHARE
OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS
The Contra Costa County Housing Element was preliminarily approved in 1970
approximately one year after state law established the element as one of the mandatory
elements to the General Plan, and it was formally adopted by the Board of Supervisors
in December 1980 following new mandated requirements for the Housing Element
established into state law in the mid-1970’s. The Housing Element has been
subsequently updated as part of the mandated cycle of Housing Element updates
adopted by the state legislature beginning in 1985. It was updated when it was
incorporated as part of the comprehensive update to the General Plan (1990-2005)
adopted in January 1991. The Housing Element was then updated in 1995 and included
in the 1996 General Plan reconsolidation (1995-2010), and it was again updated in
December 2001 and included in the 2005 General Plan reconsolidation (2005-2020).
The current Housing Element was updated and adopted in 2009. It sets forth the
County’s housing goals, objectives, policies and implementation measures based on the
Housing Element cycle from 2009 to 2014, and it was reviewed and certified for
compliance with the state housing element law by the State Department of Housing and
Community Development in March 2010.
The attached tables listed as A through C taken from Contra Costa County’s Annual
Housing Element Progress Report for 2009, submitted to the state Housing Community
and Development Department (HCD) on March 26, 2010, contain more detailed
information pertaining to current Housing Element progress and implementation
activities.
5
A. SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEED
The following table contained in the County’s Housing Element summarizes the
County’s share of projected regional housing needs in the San Francisco Bay Area over
the current Housing Element cycle, period that covers 1996 to 2006:
TABLE 2: SHARE OF REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS
Projected 5-Year (2009-2014)
Regional Housing Need (RHNA)
By Income Category for San Francisco Bay Area
and Unincorporated Contra Costa County
State Identified
Affordability -
Income Category
Nine County
SF Bay Area
RHNA
Contra Costa
Co./Cities
RHNA Allocation
County
RHNA
Allocation
Very-Low Income 48,840 6,512 815
Low-Income 35,102 4,325 598
Moderate-Income 41,316 4,996 687
Above-Moderate Income 89,292 11,239 1,408
TOTAL Housing Need 214,500 27,072 3,508
The Regional Housing Need (RHNA) data for the 2009-2014 period covering the nine-
county San Francisco Bay Area were adopted by the Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG) in May of 2008.3
B. HOUSING PRODUCTION
Like many cities and counties in California, Contra Costa County has experienced the
full effects of the worst national economic recession since the end of World War II. The
local housing market has seen dramatic changes in the last two years with a significant
drop in residential building permit activity beginning in 2008 and continuing through
2009. As the following table illustrates, there has been a significant reduction in
residential building permit activity since the economic recession began in late 2007:
TABLE 3: RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS, 2007-2009
Building Permit Applications Submitted
New Single Family and Multi-Family
Unincorporated Contra Costa County
Year
Single Family
Multi-Family
Total
Annual
Percent
Change
2007 1,225 13 1,238
2008 420 23 443 - 64%
2009 341 22 363 - 18% Source: Contra Costa Co. Department of Conservation & Development, Building Inspection Division
3 Source: ABAG Website, ABAG Housing Program, Final Official Release Nine County Regional Housing
Needs Allocation, 5/15/2008.
6
In calendar year 2009, 109 units were produced within the unincorporated area of
Contra Costa County. The following table provides a breakdown by income level of the
County’s housing production for Calendar Year 2009 along with a running total for the
current Housing Element cycle:
TABLE 4: UNIT COUNT OF COUNTY HOUSING PRODUCED IN 2009
State
Identified
Affordability –
Income Level
Current
County
RHNA
Units Added
Unrestricted
2009
Units
Added
Deed
Restricted
2009
Total
Units
Added
2009
Total Units
Added
Prior Years
(2007-2014)
in RHNA
Cycle
Total
Units
To Date
(all years)
RHNA
Cycle
Total
Remaining
RHNA by
Income
Level
Very Low 815 88 88 727
Low 598 34 34 564
Moderate 687 320 320 367
Above
Moderate
1408 109 109 799 908 500
Total 3508 109 109 1240 1349 2158 Source: Contra Costa Co. Department of Conservation & Development, Affordable Housing Program, 2009 Annual Housing Element
Progress Report, Table B: Housing Element Implementation
C. BARRIERS TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ACTIVITY IN CALENDAR YEAR 2009
Prior to the economic recession and downturn in the housing market, factors such as
the high cost of land suitable for residential development and high construction costs
were the most significant constraints on the development of affordable housing in
Contra Costa. In response, the County attempted to counter these factors with
strategies and subsidy programs to develop affordable rental housing and
homeownership opportunities. However, in 2009 the economic recession and downturn
in the housing market, were the most significant factors affecting the development of
affordable housing in Contra Costa County.
As reported in previous annual reports, Contra Costa County adopted an Inclusionary
Housing Ordinance in 2006. The in-lieu fees are to be used to support affordable
housing development. In response to the economic recession and recent court
decisions, the Board of Supervisors in late 2009 reduced in lieu fee for ownership
housing from $25,000 per market unit to $4,000 per market unit and waived the in lieu
fee requirement for rental housing.
The County’s rental inspection program is aimed at eliminating sub-standard rental
units. Landlords who rent to low income tenants can access loan funds through the
rental rehabilitation program to improve the rental units.
Additional actions undertaken by the County to decrease development costs and
eliminate barriers to affordable housing include the following:
7
• The County continues to use Planned Unit Development (P-1) zoning to permit
the use of flexible design standards for projects with an affordable or special
needs housing component. The P-1 rezoning process was initiated in the
current fiscal year for the El Sobrante area.
• The County also provides a density bonus program and expedited plan review
and permit processing, flexible design standards, and reduced fees for
affordable housing projects on a case by case basis.
Finally, barriers to affordable housing also exist in the form of discrimination. Contra
Costa affirmatively furthers fair housing through the ongoing support of fair housing
counseling, education and outreach activities. In addition, all housing projects funded
by the County are required to undertake broad marketing activities in a manner
consistent with Federal and State fair housing laws, including outreach to underserved
populations.
IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND WORK ACTIVITIES RELATED TO GENERAL
PLAN IMPLEMENTION FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2009 AND 2010
The Department of Conservation and Development will continue a significant level of
work effort for General Plan implementation initiated in calendar year 2009 that will
continue through into calendar year 2010. This work effort is in response to both state
mandates and initiatives directed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
State Mandates – General Plan Work Activities
First, in 2007 the state legislature passed and Governor signed important new
legislation aimed at improving long-term flood protection and mandating that local
planning efforts recognize the higher potential risks of flooding based on a 200-year
flood event. As required under AB162 (Wolk), the County General Plan Safety Element,
and likely the Land Use and Conservation elements, will need to be updated to reflect,
among other things, new information regarding flood hazards based on potential for a
200-year flood event and, accordingly, update General Plan goals, objectives, policies,
and measures for flood hazards for the protection of communities from unreasonable
risk of flooding based on the 200-year flood event, instead of the current standard which
is a 100-year event. Additionally, the Delta region of Contra Costa County lies within
the area identified under SB 5 (Machado) that requires the California Department of
Water Resources and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (previously known as
the State Reclamation Board) to prepare and adopt a Central Valley Flood Protection
Plan by 2012. It establishes that 200-year protection is to be the minimum level of flood
protection for urban and urbanizing areas. It sets deadlines for cities and counties within
the Central Valley to amend their General Plan and Zoning Ordinances to conform to
the State Plan within 24 and 36 months, respectively, of the state flood protection plan’s
adoption. It restricts approval of development agreements and subdivision maps in flood
hazard zones until the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance have been amended to
8
conform with the state plan unless certain findings are made, and, importantly, it
requires cities and counties to submit their draft amendment to the Safety Element (in
response to AB 162) to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board prior to its adoption.
The Community Development Department is anticipating that work activities related to
the update the Safety Element and likely the Land Use and Conservation elements in
response to AB 162 and SB 5 will be a significant undertaking for calendar years 2008
and 2009.
The second significant work effort involving General Plan implementation covering both
calendar years 2009 and 2010 is related to new state mandates through recently
enacted legislation to address climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases in
environmental review process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Specifically, under SB 97 the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has
updated CEQA guidelines for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or the effects
of greenhouse gas emissions. The Natural Resources Agency adopted the update
guidelines on December 30, 2009, and the updated guidelines took effect on March 18,
2010. The Department of Conservation and Department has initiated the process to
revise and update the County’s CEQA Guidelines in conformance with the new State
CEQA Guidelines and has already begun applying the new requirements to evaluate
the potential effects of greenhouse gas emissions related to the approval of all ongoing
General Plan Amendment studies.
Board of Supervisor Initiatives – General Plan Work Activities
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has directed the Department of
Conservation and Development and the County Redevelopment Agency to prepare
General Plan Amendment study and Specific Plan for a 200 (+/-) acre area in North
Richmond. The purpose of the Specific Plan is to set policies and implementation
measures for the transformation of an industrial area in North Richmond into an
attractive, safe, healthy, and vibrant new neighborhood with residential, commercial,
light industrial, public, park, and open space uses. A total of 2,100 residential units
could potentially be developed, at an average density of 27 units per acre. There is the
potential for up to 110,000 square feet of retail commercial space and up to 350,000
square feet of light industrial/commercial service space under the Specific Plan.
9
List of Attachments
(4 tables taken from 2009 Housing Element Progress Report to HCD)
Table A: Annual Building Activity Report Very Low, Low, and
Moderate Income Units and Mixed Income Multi-Family
Projects
Table A-2: Annual Building Activity Report for Above Moderate Income
Units (not reported in Table A)
Table B: Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
Table C: Program Implementation
G:\Advance Planning\adv-plan\General Plan\General Plan Annual Progress Report\AnnualProgressRpt2009.doc
10
Attachment 1page 1 of 5-1-Dec-0934Note below the number of units determined to be affordable without financial or deed restrictions and attach an explanation how the jurisdiction determined the units were affordable. Refer to instructions.55a 109Reporting PeriodJan-0912Housing Development InformationProject Identifier(may be APN No., project name or address)Unit Category* Note: These fields are voluntary (10) Total by income Table A/A3 ► ► ANNUAL ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTHousing Element Implementation(CCR Title 25 §6202 )JurisdictionContra Costa CountyHousing with Financial Assistance and/or Deed Restrictions67 8Housing without Financial Assistanceor Deed RestrictionsAssistance Programs for Each DevelopmentTenureR=RenterO=OwnerAffordability by Household IncomesVery Low-IncomeLow-IncomeModerate-IncomeSee InstructionsAboveModerate-IncomeTotal Unitsper ProjectDeed RestrictedUnitsEst. # Infill Units* See Instructions109 (9) Total of Moderate and Above Moderate from Table A3 ► ►0 109Table A109 Annual Building Activity Report Summary - New Construction Very Low-, Low-, and Mixed-Income Multifamily Projects (11) Total Extremely Low-Income Units*
Attachment 1page 2 of 5-1-Dec-09Reporting PeriodJan-09ANNUAL ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTHousing Element Implementation(CCR Title 25 §6202 )JurisdictionContra Costa CountyTable A3Activity Type(4) Description of Activity Including Housing Element Program Reference00000(3) Acquisition of Units(2) Preservation of Units At-RiskVery Low-IncomeLow-IncomeTOTAL UNITS(1) Rehabilitation ActivityPlease note: Units may only be credited to the table below when a jurisdiction has included a program it its housing element to rehabilitate, preserve or acquire units to accommodate a portion of its RHNA whichmeet the specific criteria as outlined in GC Section 65583.1(c)(1) Extremely Low-Income*Affordability by Household IncomesAnnual building Activity Report Summary for Above Moderate-Income Units(not including those units reported on Table A)* Note: This field is voluntary(5) Total Units by Income 0 06. Total1095. Mobile Homes2. 2 - 4 UnitsNo. of Units Permitted for Above Moderate1. Single Family3. 5+ Units* Note: This field is voluntary4. Second Unit1097. Number of infill units*No. of Units Permitted for ModerateTable A2Annual Building Activity Report Summary - Units Rehabilitated, Preserved and Acquired pursuant to GC Section 65583.1(c)(1)0
Attachment 1page 3 of 5-1-Dec-09Reporting PeriodJan-09ANNUAL ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTHousing Element Implementation(CCR Title 25 §6202 )JurisdictionContra Costa CountyNote: units serving extremly low-income households are included in the very low-income permitted units totals.Total Remaining RHNAby Income Level3672,1581,350908113207Remaining Need for RHNA Period ► ► ► ► ► 109727564Deed Restricted 34Year9Total Units to Date (all years) 88 109Income LevelRHNA Allocation by Income LevelYear3Non-deed restrictedLowDeed Restricted Total RHNA by COG.Enter allocation number:19Table BRegional Housing Needs Allocation ProgressEnter Calendar Year starting with the first year of the RHNA allocation period. See Example.Year8Year72007 2010Year4Year1Year5Moderate1381530Very LowDeed RestrictedNon-deed restrictedNon-deed restrictedAbove Moderate 3,508Total Units ► ► ►4626463375006871,4088151Permitted Units Issued by Affordability598Year6872008 2009 2012 Year2 69835952013
Attachment 1page 4 of 5-1-Dec-09Reporting PeriodJan-09ANNUAL ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTHousing Element Implementation(CCR Title 25 §6202 )JurisdictionContra Costa CountyHousing Programs Progress Report - Government Code Section 65583.Describe progress of all programs including local efforts to remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing as identified in the housing element.Table CProgram Implementation StatusProgram Description(By Housing Element Program Names)Name of Program ObjectiveTimeframein H.E.Status of Program Implementation
Attachment 1page 5 of 5-1-Dec-09Reporting PeriodJan-09ANNUAL ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTHousing Element Implementation(CCR Title 25 §6202 )JurisdictionContra Costa CountyGeneral Comments:
Contra Costa County 2009 Housing Element Report
TABLE C
Housing Implementation Programs Summary
Housing Program Program Goal
Key Five-year
Objective(s) Timeframe
Status of Program
Implementation
Housing and Neighborhood Conservation
1. Neighborhood
Preservation Program
Improve the quality
of existing housing &
neighborhoods.
Disseminate
information.
Rehabilitate 40
units.
Ongoing 24 units rehabilitated
Lower than expected funds
reduced number of units rehab’d
2. HACCC Rental
Rehabilitation
Assistance
Improve the quality
of the rental housing
stock.
Disseminate
information.
Rehabilitate 15
units.
Ongoing 3 units rehab’d
Four projects for 25 units under
review
3. Public Housing
Improvement
Maintain and
improve the quality
of the public housing
stock.
Maintain and
improve 608
public housing
units.
Ongoing
4. Weatherization
Program
Assist homeowners
and renters with
minor home repairs.
Assist 250
households.
Ongoing 530 homes Countywide in 2009
5. Code Enforcement Maintain & improve
the quality of
existing housing &
neighborhoods.
Continue to
implement
program.
Ongoing 1470 cases opened, 1063 cases
closed, apprx 92% are
residential
6. Rental Inspection
Identify blighted and
deteriorated housing
stock and ensure the
rehabilitation of
abatement of
housing that does
not comply with
State and local
building code.
Continue to
implement
program.
Ongoing 969 units inspected
7. Redevelopment
Replacement Housing
Provide replacement
housing to lower- &
moderate-income
households.
Continue to
facilitate the
development of
replacement
housing as
required.
Assess
replacement
obligations
every 2-3 years
8. Condominium
Conversion Ordinance
Preserve the rental
stock & protect
apartment tenants.
Continue to
enforce ordinance.
Ongoing
9. Preservation of
Assisted Housing
Preserve the existing
stock of affordable
housing.
Monitor at-risk
units. Participate
in preservation of
units. Conduct
tenant education.
On-going
Housing Production
10. New Construction of
Affordable Housing
Increase the supply
of affordable
housing.
Assist in the
financing and
development of
650 affordable
units.
Ongoing No units in the unincorporated
County in 2009.
Financing provided to support
220 new units in County cities.
Contra Costa County 2009 Housing Element Report
TABLE C
Housing Implementation Programs Summary
Housing Program Program Goal
Key Five-year
Objective(s) Timeframe
Status of Program
Implementation
11. Inclusionary Housing Integrate affordable
housing within
market-rate
developments.
Continue to
implement
ordinance.
Ongoing In lieu fee for rental housing
suspended in response to Palmer
decision
12. Acquisition/
Rehabilitation
Improve existing
housing and increase
supply of affordable
housing.
Assist in the
acquisition and
rehabilitation of
50 affordable
units.
Ongoing No units in the unincorporated
County in 2009.
Financing provided to support 82
existing units in County cities.
13. Second Units Facilitate the
development of
second units.
Continue program
implementation.
Ongoing
Special Needs Housing
14. Special Needs
Housing
Increase the supply
of special needs
housing.
Provide financial
and other
incentives for the
development of
housing for
special needs
populations.
Ongoing Funded construction of Respite
Care facility at Central County
emergency adult shelter in
County. Facility provides more
privacy and care for frail
homeless adults.
15. Accessible Housing Increase the supply
of accessible
housing.
Require inclusion
of accessible units
in all new County-
funded
construction
projects.
Ongoing
15a. Reasonable
Accommodation
Increase the supply
of special needs and
accessible housing.
Document
County’s
reasonable
accommodation
activities as
written
procedures.
June 2011
16. Contra Costa
Interagency Council
on Homelessness
Meet the housing &
supportive services
needs of the
homeless
Support
development of
permanent
supportive
housing.
Ongoing Funded construction of Respite
Care facility at Central County
emergency adult shelter in
County. Facility provides more
privacy and care for frail
homeless adults.
Housing Affordability
17. First-Time Homebuyer
Opportunities
Provide additional
homeownership
opportunities.
Assist 50 low and
moderate income
first-time
homebuyers.
Ongoing Implemented Neighborhood
Stabilization Program.
Provided assistances to six low
income buyers in the Bella Flora
development.
18. Section 8 Rental
Assistance
Assist very low-
income households
with rental
payments.
Continue to
provide Section 8
assistance. Apply
for additional
vouchers.
Prepare PHAP –
Action Plan
annually.
19. Home Sharing
Program
Provide for home
sharing
opportunities.
Support
appropriate
agencies offering
shared housing
opportunities.
Ongoing
Contra Costa County 2009 Housing Element Report
TABLE C
Housing Implementation Programs Summary
Housing Program Program Goal
Key Five-year
Objective(s) Timeframe
Status of Program
Implementation
19a. Extremely Low
Income Housing
Promote
development of
housing affordable to
extremely low
income households.
Continue applying
for funding that
supports housing
for extremely low
income
households.
Promote funding
assistance to
profit and non-
profit builders
develop for
extremely low
income housing
projects.
Ongoing See items 10 & 12 above.
Developments will include units
affordable to extremely-low
income tenants.
Provision of Adequate Housing Sites
20. Sites Inventory Provide for adequate
housing sites,
including ‘as-right
development’ sites
for homeless
facilities
Adopt revised
zoning text.
Maintain sites
inventory.
June 2010 for
zoning changes.
Ongoing
maintenance of
site inventory.
21. Mixed-Use
Developments
Encourage mixed-
use developments.
Pursuant to El
Sobrante MAC’s
recommendations,
establish mixed
use designations
under the General
Plan for sections
San Pablo Dam
Road and Appian
Way in El
Sobrante.
Ongoing
22. Density Bonus &
Other Development
Incentives
Support affordable
housing
development.
Offer density
bonuses and other
incentives for
affordable
housing.
Ongoing
23. Infill Development Facilitate infill
development.
Identify small
vacant multi-
family lots with
potential for lot
consolidation.
Ongoing
23a. North Richmond
Specific Plan
Prepare and process
Specific Plan to
convert a 100 (+/-)
acre industrial area
in North Richmond to
new residential
neighborhood with
potentially 2100 new
dwelling units.
Meet and
coordinate plan
preparation with
stakeholders.
Complete EIR
under CEQA.
Conduct public
hearings.
Board adoption.
December 2010
Removal of Governmental Constraints
Contra Costa County 2009 Housing Element Report
TABLE C
Housing Implementation Programs Summary
Housing Program Program Goal
Key Five-year
Objective(s) Timeframe
Status of Program
Implementation
24. Planned Unit District Provide flexibility in
design for residential
projects.
Encourage
rezoning to P-1
District in
unincorporated
areas, where
appropriate.
Consider
elimination of 5-
acre minimum
parcel size.
25. Planning Fees Reduce the cost of
development.
Offer fee
deferrals,
reduction, or
waivers to
developers of
affordable
housing.
Ongoing Re: Inclusionary Ordinance:
Reduced in lieu fee for owner-
occupied housing from $25,559
per market rate unit to $3,875
per market rate unit. Waived
rental in lieu fee.
26. Streamlining of Permit
Processing
Expedite review of
residential projects.
Consider only
Zoning
Administrator’s
review of projects
with <100 units.
Expedite permit
processing.
Ongoing
27. Review of Zoning &
Subdivision Ordinance
Ensure County
regulations do not
unnecessarily
constrain housing
development.
Revise Zoning
Code to allow
emergency
homeless shelters
by right, define
transitional and
supportive
housing as
residential uses,
allow agricultural
worker housing,
and provide SRO
development
standards.
Periodically review
Planning and
Zoning Code.
a) June 2010
b) Ongoing
Equal Housing Opportunity
28. Anti-Discrimination
Program
Promote fair
housing.
Support local non-
profits offering
fair housing
counseling and
legal services.
Carry out AI
recommendations.
Complete update
to the AI by
2010 and
ongoing
provision of
services.
29. Residential
Displacement
Program
Limit number of
households being
displaced or
relocated.
Continue to
implement
program.
Ongoing