TO: Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
THRU: Anna Pehoushek, Assistant Community Development Director
FROM: Arlen Beck, Associate Planner
1. Subject
title
General Plan Annual Progress Report to the State of California.
body
2. Summary
California Government Code Section 65400 requires that cities submit an annual report on the status of their General Plan and progress in its implementation to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the Department of Housing and Community Development each year.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Receive and file the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
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4. AUTHORIZING GUIDELINES
California Government Code Section 65400 requires that cities submit an annual report on the status of their General Plan and progress in its implementation to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition to submittal to the State, the annual report must be presented to the City Council for review and acceptance. As a procedural matter, staff is bringing this annual report to the Planning Commission for receipt and acceptance prior to the City Council action given the role of the Commission as advisory to the Council in planning matters, including implementation of the General Plan.
5. project background
The City’s 2010 General Plan was adopted on March 9, 2010. State law requires generalized annual reporting on General Plan implementation, with specific reporting requirements and forms related to the Housing Element.
6. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Over the course of 2024, the City undertook a number of activities that implement the goals and policies of the Land Use, Circulation & Mobility, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation, Infrastructure, Urban Design, Public Safety, Economic Development, and Housing Elements. These activities also reflect progress made on the programs of the General Plan Implementation Plan.
7. discussion
General Plan Implementation
General Plan implementation supports the quality of life objectives for the community that serve as the foundation for the General Plan (Attachment 1). Activities undertaken by the City through its Capital Improvement Program, project plans and studies, facility maintenance and management, and inter-agency coordination each play a part in General Plan implementation. Annual report and tracking activities enable the City and State to track progress made on General Plan implementation. Over the course of 2024, the City continued to make measurable progress in implementing important goals, policies, and programs that span a range of General Plan Elements. The General Plan Implementation Report (Attachment 2) details the key implementation actions that the City accomplished or made progress on in 2024. Some highlights of the City’s accomplishments in 2024 include:
• Opened 1,199 code enforcement cases and closed 1,263 cases.
• Completed one signalization project, with another under construction.
• Improved the intersection at Chapman Avenue and Batavia Street.
• Provided a Police storage facility through a Corp Yard Renovation
• Accomplished a Mobile Data Computer Replacement Program
• Established a Police Enterprise System (Axon & Central Square)
• Replaced HVAC at the Orange Public Library & History Center
• Continued annual public right-of-way and infrastructure maintenance including pavement patching and maintenance, slurry seal, 24,795 tons of asphalt concrete replacement, 1,832 linear feet of new or replaced curb and gutter, installation of 105 new ADA wheelchair access ramps, water meter replacement, street tree maintenance, pothole repairs, 6,860 square feet of sidewalk installation, fleet vehicle maintenance, water lateral replacement
• Adopted an objective design standards ordinance, a transfer of development rights ordinance, an update to the homeless shelter ordinance, an update to the Density Bonus ordinance, and an update to the ADU ordinance.
• Continued work on ordinances to update the City’s sign and landscape standards.
Housing Element
The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requires the reporting of Housing Element implementation on specific state reporting forms. Staff shall submit the report to HCD subsequent to presentation to the Planning Commission. The reporting format of Housing Element implementation is established by HCD with the purpose of tracking overall housing production in a community, as well as a jurisdiction’s progress toward meeting its regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) allocation. The City’s Housing Element Implementation Progress Report is included in Attachment 3 of this report.
In 2024 the City issued 111 building permits which will result in 274 housing units, 166 of which are Low-Income Deed Restricted. In 2024 a total of 79 building permits were finaled resulting in 188 housing units, 112 of which are Very-Low or Low-Income Deed Restricted.
The City received 93 ADU applications and approved 94 ADU applications in 2024.
The City’s progress in meeting its Year 2021-2029 RHNA goals is summarized in the table below.
2024 Building Permit Issuance In Relation to RHNA
|
Income Level |
2021-2029 RHNA (# of units) |
2021 New Units (As of 10/15/2021) |
2022 New Units |
2023 New Units |
2024 New Units |
2021-2029 Remaining RHNA Need |
|
Very Low |
1,067 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
1,017 |
|
Low |
604 |
0 |
62 |
24 |
166 |
352 |
|
Moderate |
677 |
2 |
82 |
69 |
104 |
392 |
|
Above-Moderate |
1,588 |
1 |
50 |
1 |
4 |
1,532 |
|
Total |
3,936 |
3 |
194 |
144 |
274 |
3,293 |
As further detailed in Table D of Attachment 3, the City also continues its efforts to implement the Policy Actions of its Housing Element. Furthermore, preparation of this annual report constitutes implementation of Policy Action 2A: Annual Review of Housing Element
8. public notice
No public notification is required for this report to the Planning Commission.
9. environmental review
Since this item is informational in nature and involves no action by the Planning Commission, CEQA does not apply. Notwithstanding, Final Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) No. 1815-09 for the Comprehensive General Plan Update was certified on March 9, 2010 and prepared in accordance with CEQA. The implementation activities identified in the subject report are addressed in the previously-approved General Plan EIR.
10. ADVISORY BOARD ACTION
None.
11. ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 - 2010 General Plan Vision Statement
• Attachment 2 - 2024 General Plan Implementation Report
• Attachment 3 - 2024 Annual Housing Element Implementation Progress Report