Planning Commission Housing Element Update Meeting - November 16, 2022
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Planning Commission Housing Element Update Meeting - November 16, 2022
The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 16, 2022, to consider the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update and associated implementation actions, including zoning overlays to meet the city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 13,368 units. After extensive public comment and deliberation, the commission voted 6-0 (with one absence) to recommend approval with key modifications: removing two parcels (393 and 394) from the Holly Seacliff Specific Plan overlay and eliminating the RMH rezoning (ZMA 22-001). The recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for final consideration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jim Byrd (Tides resident): Opposed high-density rezoning at Garfield and Golden West, citing traffic, water constraints, and lack of street parking.
- Isabel Carsh (Tides HOA president): Representing 77 homes, strongly opposed 70 units/acre on 1.6 acres, saying it would destroy the area and lower property values.
- Christina Kernan (Tides resident, real estate broker): Opposed high density, concerned about infrastructure, traffic, and property depreciation.
- Shirley Detloff (50-year resident, former planning commissioner): Supported the recommendations, warning that delays could lead to state penalties, loss of funding, and loss of local planning control.
- Karen Carroll (longtime resident): Supported well-planned density, citing that nearby medium-high density apartments have not harmed property values.
- Bob Walsh (Seagate community, commercial real estate developer): Opposed insufficient notice; asked for removal of parcels 393 and 394, noting the owner does not plan to sell.
- Jeff Hubbard (Seagate charter board member, 30-year resident): Supported option three with modifications: eliminate parcels 393 and 394, limit height to three stories within 100 feet of Earnest, prohibit balconies/roof decks within 100 feet, and maintain overnight parking restrictions.
- Mickey Golden (Peninsula Park resident): Opposed due to parking issues; suggested requiring more parking spaces per unit; noted insufficient public outreach, especially to seniors.
- Teresa Holloway (Edwards Hill resident): Urged approval of option two or three, but asked for modifications to reduce density buffers; suggested spreading density more evenly.
- Dennis Holloway (Edwards Hill resident): Supported option three with modifications; expressed concern about school overcrowding and developer flexibility.
- Carl Temple (Seagate original owner): Requested removal of SP9 entirely or at least 393/394, citing close proximity to single-family homes (less than 70 feet).
- Nikki Wetzel (20-year resident, professional city planner): Supported option three but requested parcels 393/394 revert to 7 du/ac; asked for design standards prohibiting balconies/roof decks within 100 feet of Earnest.
- Davita Milo (18-year Seagate resident): Supported option three with modifications, including retaining 7 du/ac on parcels 393/394 and prohibiting overlooks.
- Laura Sire (60-year resident, Homeless United member): Thanked staff and supported option three, emphasizing time sensitivity to avoid state takeover.
- John Severini (17-year resident, prospective Edwards Hill buyer): Opposed extreme density, arguing it would ruin the character of Edwards Hill, the "crown jewel" of the city.
- Sydney Modus (32-year resident): Opposed high density, questioning the allocation of 13,000 units vs. neighboring cities; cited infrastructure strain.
- Jenny Braithwaite (resident): Supported option three, listing consequences of non-compliance (fines, loss of funds, moratorium on permits).
- Pat Goodman (original Seagate owner): Supported the agenda items, citing default risk and importance of affordable housing.
- Sherry Atkinson (44-year resident): Supported the revised housing element but urged working with the community on concerns.
- Kelly Cadis (20-year resident, Seagate): Spoke against high density, citing impacts on traffic and single-family neighborhoods.
- Robert Fisher (25-year resident): Opposed, saying insufficient notice was given to citizens; urged delay until new city council seated.
Discussion Items
- Staff Presentation (Nicole Ave): Outlined the housing element update and RHNA strategy (13,368 units total: ~5,800 very low/low, ~2,300 moderate, ~5,215 above moderate). Revisions based on City Council study session (Nov 1) included: adding Frontier site to affordable housing overlay (option three), deleting the Ellis Golden West specific plan area, and applying mixed density north of Garfield (35 du/ac) and south (70 du/ac) in SP9. Staff noted that with modifications, RHNA is still met (low-income buffer ~10.4%). The housing element is not a construction mandate; overlays do not change base zoning.
- Commissioner Questions: Commissioner Scandura asked about resident requests (parking, height) – staff responded that height limit in SP9 north is 35 feet (2-3 stories) and south 4 stories; overnight parking is outside housing element purview. Commissioner Rodriguez asked about Frontier site communication and school district feedback – staff confirmed no response from Huntington Beach City School District. Commissioner Ray and others discussed the buffer: removing parcels 393/394 would reduce low-income buffer to ~10.2% but still adequate. Commissioner Adam asked about ease of future modifications – staff said amendments are possible with council direction and state approval.
Key Outcomes
- The commission voted 6-0 (Commissioner Mandic absent) to recommend approval of all actions with modifications:
- SEIR No. 22-002: Approved (Resolution 2022-63).
- General Plan Amendment No. 21-003 (Housing Element): Approved with modifications to remove parcels 393/394 and the RMH rezonings (Resolution 2022-62).
- General Plan Amendment No. 22-001 (Land Use Element Affordable Housing Overlay): Approved with modifications to remove RMH rezonings and parcels 393/394.
- Zoning Map Amendment No. 22-002 (Affordable Housing Overlay): Approved (Ordinance 4269).
- Zoning Text Amendment No. 22-008 (Chapter 229): Approved (Ordinance 4272).
- Zoning Text Amendment No. 22-009 (Beach and Edinger Corridors): Approved (Resolution 2022-59).
- Zoning Text Amendment No. 22-007 (Holly Seacliff Specific Plan): Approved with modifications to remove parcels 393/394 (Ordinance 4271).
- The commission also noted that recommended action F (ZMA 22-001 for RMH rezonings) was removed entirely.
- All items will be forwarded to the City Council for a public hearing on November 29, 2022.
- The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for December 13, 2022; the November 22 regular meeting was canceled.
- Several commissioners thanked staff for their extensive work and noted this was likely the last meeting for four commissioners.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the November 16th, 2022 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting. While the Planning Commission welcomes public involvement in free speech, it rejects comments from anyone that are discriminated, discriminatory, defamatory, or otherwise not protected speech. Those comments will not inform nor be considered by the planning commission and may be cause for the chair to interrupt the speaker. Such comments will not be uh consented to or otherwise adopted by the planning commission in its discussions and findings for any matter tonight. Thank you. Okay, so I would like to ask Commissioner Adam to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Uh staff. Can we have the roll call? Yes, good evening, uh Commissioner Adam. Here. Commissioner Mandic. Vice Chair Acosta Galvone. Here. Chair Perkins. Here. Commissioner Scandura. Here. Commissioner Rodriguez? Here. Commissioner Ray? Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. Okay. So now is the time for public comments. Do we have any public comments? We have no public speakers for items that are not on the agenda. Thank you. So we will move on to public hearing items. Next we have public hearing. Item 21-003 and associated actions to update the general plan housing element for the 2021 through 2029 planning period. Commissioners, please state your disclosures, and I'll start with Commissioner Adam on my right. Yes, I spoke with staff. And I participated in the last uh last planning commission meeting about the housing element. I also participated in all the workshop, all the workshops and the um and the uh study sessions. I spoke with the mayor and then I uh spoke uh today with the staff along with uh along with Chair Perkins. Yes, I also spoke to staff, uh spoke to council member Natalie Mosier, and I was also part of the previous vote uh to the study sessions and voted uh at the last planning commission meeting regarding the housing element. Thank you. I have no additions to my previous uh disclosures from the last meeting. Okay, thank you, Commissioners. Uh staff. May we have the presentation? Yes, uh Nicole Ave is going to be giving our presentation this evening. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Perkins and Commissioners. The item we will discuss tonight is the 2021 through 2029 housing element update and the associated implementation actions to accommodate the RENA. So, first, there are two main components of the housing element update overall. First is the housing element document itself. This is a planning and policy document, and it's a mandated element or chapter of the city's general plan.
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