Agenda Item: 8.5
To: Grass Valley Planning Commission
From: Thomas Last, Planning Director
Approved By: Joe Heckel, Community Development Director
Application: GPA 03-02 - Grass Valley Housing Element

I. Recommendation: Conduct the public hearing and adopt, by motion, findings recommending the City Council approve the City of Grass Valley Housing Element

II. Purpose: The purpose of this public hearing is to review the final Housing Element and the comments provided by the state, and provide a recommendation to the City Council. This is the second series of public hearings on the Housing Element by the Planning Commission and City Council. Once the City Council adopts the final Housing Element, the City will submit it to the State Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) for its review.

III. Background: The Housing Element is one of seven mandatory elements of the City's General Plan. It is the only element required to be reviewed by the State, and the State must also make a finding that the Housing Element "substantially complies" with the requirements of the law. The two main purposes of the housing element are: 1) to assess current and future housing needs and constraints to meeting these needs, and 2) to provide a strategy that establishes housing goals, policies, and programs. State law requires each city and county to address a significant number of issues and requires substantial public involvement.

The City's existing Housing Element was adopted on June 8, 1993 . The City met most of the 1993 goals, including meeting the fair share allocation numbers for affordable housing units. State law requires the City to update the Housing Element by December 31, 2003 . On May 20, 2003 , the Planning Commission held a Study Session on the Housing Element for the purpose of reviewing the Housing Element update process. The Planning Commission conducted a public workshop on June 23, 2003 , with the purpose of soliciting comments from the public and identifying housing related issues. During the public workshop, the Planning Commission reviewed the background information on housing issues and numbers unique to Grass Valley . The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the draft Housing Element on September 3, 2003 . The Commission provided a recommendation of support to the City Council with several recommended changes. On September 23, 2003 , the City Council conducted its public hearing and approved the draft Housing Element. The City then forwarded the draft to HCD for its 60 day review.