Title
Planning Board Recommendation that the City Council Accept the City of Alameda 2018 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report and Consideration of the Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report. The review of the annual reports is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
Body
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas
Acting Planning, Building & Transportation Director
BACKGROUND
Every city and county in the State of California is required to adopt and maintain an up-to-date General Plan, which establishes the local development and conservation policies necessary to guide physical development and protect the general health, safety and welfare of the community. The General Plan should be an “integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency.” (Gov. Code, § 65300.5.)
In addition Government Code § 65400 et seq. requires that the City of Alameda annually review the adequacy of the General Plan and progress made toward meeting the City’s regional housing needs allocation (the “RHNA”).
The attached annual report on the status of the General Plan provides an assessment of the City’s General Plan and progress made toward meeting the city’s regional housing need in 2018. The attached report includes recommended priority amendments to the General Plan and Zoning Code to achieve local Alameda and State of California planning objectives and requirements. The Annual Report is attached as Exhibit 1.
On February 11, 2019, the Planning Board reviewed the draft General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report and requested a number of revisions, which have been included in the attached February 25, 2019 Draft Annual Report.
DISCUSSION
The attached February 25, 2019 Draft Annual Report includes the following improvements pursuant to Planning Board direction:
• Revisions to population and transportation data.
• Additional emphasis on the need for a comprehensive review of the City’s zoning code provisions and development impact fees to ensure that those provisions are supporting work force housing, affordable housing, and other forms of housing needed in the community.
• Revisions to the discussion regarding climate action policies and the need to address these issues immediately without waiting for publication of a climate action plan update.
• Additions of recommendations to emphasize the need for transportation improvements to support population growth and address existing deficiencies, and
• Revisions to address typographical and numerical errors.
The Planning Board also requested more information on the City’s transportation plan. Staff has attached the draft Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report for consideration by the Planning Board. The Annual Report is attached as Exhibit 2. The Board may review and comment on the report, and staff will transmit the Board’s comments on the report to the Transportation Commission on February 27, 2019 and to the City Council on March 19, 2019.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Endorsement of the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report (Exhibit 1) and consideration of the Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report are not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), nor is an annual report defined as a “project” under CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning Board endorse by motion the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report and review and comment on the Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report.
Respectfully Submitted By:
Andrew Thomas
Acting Planning, Building & Transportation Director
Exhibits:
1. General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report
2. Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report