HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE

EL CERRITO 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT 

The  6th Cycle  Housing Element was certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development on August 22, 2023.



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Contact Us

  1. Planning Division

    planning@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us

    Physical Address
    10890 San Pablo Ave.
    El Cerrito, CA 94530

    Phone: 510-215-4330

    Directory

On August 22, 2023, HCD found the City's 2023-2031 Housing Element to be in compliance with State Housing Element Law. During this eight-year planning period, El Cerrito is tasked with providing 1,391 new housing units (526 of which must be affordable to low- and very-low income households.) We would like to thank the community for its input and involvement throughout this process. There will be future community workshops, meetings and discussions to implement various components of the Housing Element. To stay involved, subscribe to our eNewsletter at www.el-cerrito.org/CommDev. 

On July 27, 2023, HCD issued a conditional approval letter to El Cerrito's draft Housing Element, acknowledging that the draft Element meets all statutory requirements. The Planning Commission moved a recommendation that the City Council adopt the draft Housing Element at its July 27, 2023 meeting, as detailed in the meeting packet here.  On August 15, 2023, the City Council adopted the 2023-2031 El Cerrito Housing Element that was submitted to HCD for final review.

The El Cerrito Second Revised Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element   and 2023-2031 Housing Element Update Errata Sheet  (dated July 19, 2023) was available for a 7-day public review period, from July 19, 2023 – July 26, 2023. There was one public comment received during the review period. In consideration with the public comment, the City revised the 2023-2031 Housing Element Errata Sheet (dated July 27)  on July 27, 2023, and submitted to HCD for review. 

The El Cerrito Second Revised Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element was available for a 7-day public review period, from June 8, 2023 – June 15, 2023. There were no public comments received during the 7-day review period. The City submitted a revised draft to HCD for review on June 15, 2023. HCD had 60 days to provide comments back to the City.

Draft 2023-31 Housing Element - June 8, 2023

City Response Letter – June 8, 2023

HCD Comment Letter – May 19, 2023

The El Cerrito Second Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element was available for a 7-day public review period, from March 9, 2023 – March 16, 2023. There were no public comments received during the 7-day review period. The City submitted a revised draft to HCD for review on March 17, 2023. HCD had 60 days to provide comments back to the City.

Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element - March 8, 2023

City Response Letter - March 8, 2023

HCD Comment Letter - December 12, 2022

Draft 2023-20231 Housing Element Flyer - March 8, 2023

The El Cerrito Public Review Draft Housing Element  was available for a 30-day public review period, from July 29 to August 29, 2022. Public comments received during the 30-day review period were considered and incorporated into a revised draft from July 29 to September 16, 2022. A red-line version of the Draft Housing Element is available here .The First Submittal Draft of the 2023-2031 Housing Element was submitted to HCD for review on September 16, 2022.  HCD has up to 90 days to provide comments back to the City. 

About the Housing Element 

The Housing Element is one of seven mandatory elements that must be included in the City of El Cerrito’s General Plan. The Housing Element is a plan for the City to meet the future housing needs and priorities of everyone in the community. The Housing Element must be updated every eight years and certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). We are currently in the process of updating our Housing Element for the 2023 to 2031 planning period and we invite you to take part in outreach meetings, provide your input, and stay up to date on our progress.

Background

The City’s current 2015-2023 Housing Element was adopted by the El Cerrito City Council on April 21, 2015 and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development on May 18, 2015, and covers the January 1, 2015, through January 23, 2023 planning period. This update provides the opportunity to evaluate the previous element and determine which policies and programs have been effective and which need to be improved.

Overview

State law does not require that jurisdictions build or finance new housing, but they must plan for it by identifying sufficient sites, analyzing and addressing housing development constraints, and identifying programs and policies that will address the community’s needs.

The Housing Element is how local governments make decisions about where safe, accessible, and diverse housing could be developed to offer a mix of housing opportunities for a variety of household incomes. Further, the Housing Element must identify how the City will meet its share of the regional housing need. The State determines each city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) based on growth and demographic trends. El Cerrito’s RHNA for 2023 to 2031 is 1,391 new housing units, and 526 of those units must be affordable to low- and very low- income households. The Housing Element will provide a strategy to meet this housing need.

El Cerrito, 2023 - 2031 RHNA by Affordability

Very Low

Low

Moderate

Above Moderate

Total Units

334

192

241

624

1,391

 

The Housing Element includes the following components:

  • Housing Needs Assessment: Provides demographic and housing need information.
  • Constraints Analysis: Analyzes existing and potential constraints to the development of housing and how those will be addressed.
  • Evaluation of Past Performance: Assesses progress in implementing the policies and programs set forth in the prior Housing Element.
  • Housing Sites Inventory and Analysis: Identifies sites available for development or redevelopment and that are appropriately zoned to support housing development to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
  • Fair Housing Assessment: Describes the jurisdiction’s unique fair housing circumstances.
  • Housing Resources: Identifies financial and other resources available to support housing development, especially affordable housing.
  • Policies and Programs: Establishes new policies and programs designed to address the housing needs identified in the City.

Project Schedule

The Housing Element update began in January 2022 and will continue until early 2023. Community engagement will begin in early 2022, with a Public Review Draft anticipated in the middle of 2022. After public review, revisions will be made to the Housing Element to prepare and submit for review by HCD in Summer 2022. The Final Housing Element is anticipated to be brought forward for adoption by the City Council along with the Final CEQA in early 2023.

ElCerritoHE_ProjectSchedule

Get Involved & Share Your Input

There are many ways/opportunities for the community to participate and provide feedback throughout this process.

  • Sign-up to receive updates: Subscribe to our Community Development E-Newsletter here
  • Visit our website www.el-cerrito.org/HousingElement2023
  • Take the Community Survey (closed on 7/8/2022)
  • Attend workshops/meetings
Community WorkshopApril 26, 2022Click here to access the recording or view the slides here
Community SurveyApril 7, 2022 - July 8, 2022Survey Results are available here.
Public Draft Housing ElementJuly 29, 2022 – August 29, 2022Download and review the Draft Housing Element here. Comments can be submitted to planning@ci.el-cerrrito.ca.us
Community WorkshopAugust 1, 2022 @ 7pm
Virtual		Click here to view the workshop flyer
Click here to access the recording or view the slides here.
City Council MeetingAugust 16, 2022 @ 6pm
Virtual and In-Person		City Council meeting materials will be available here
Revised Draft Housing Element
September 16, 2022 - Submitted to HCD

Revised Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element  
Revised Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element - Tracked Changes


Documents and Resources

Contact Us

Aissia Ashoori, Housing Analyst, aashoori@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us | 510-215-4361