6^th Cycle Housing Element Certified by HCD

On June 12, 2024, the City’s Community Development Department received a letter (PDF) from the California Department of Housing and Community Development confirming that the City’s Housing Element is in substantial compliance with state law. The letter indicated that the Housing Element adopted by the Council on April 16, 2024, in conjunction with the Zoning Code amendments required as part of the element’s Program 1, addressed the statutory requirements of the housing element law. The Zoning Code amendments constitute the actions required by the Housing Element to rezone sites to accommodate the City’s regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) allocation of 647 potential new housing units in RPV across various income levels through 2029. 

City Council Adopts Revised Final Housing Element

On April 16, 2024, the City Council adopted the Revised Final Housing Element and associated implementation measures, including a Mixed-Use Overlay District (MUOD), Residential Overlay District (ROD), and the rezoning of two residential properties to a higher density. 

On April 18, 2024, City staff submitted the Final Housing Element and associated rezoning to HCD for certification — the agency’s stamp of approval that will bring the City into compliance with state housing law. On April 22, 2024, Staff submitted Local Coastal Plan Amendments that are part of the Housing Element update to the California Coastal Commission.

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video

Virtual Open House Now Closed

From March 4-April 5, 2024, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hosted a Virtual Open House with information about the Housing Element and the City’s plans for rezoning, including the MUOD and ROD. If you were not able to check out the Virtual Open House, informational materials (PDF) are available.

If you have questions or would like to share your comments, please email them to housingelement@rpvca.gov.

Planning Commission Revised Final Housing Element and Rezoning Review

On March 26, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed the Revised Final Housing Element, as well as the proposed Mixed-Use Overlay District (MUOD) impacting 26 parcels, the Residential Overlay District (ROD) impacting three parcels, and the proposed rezoning of two residential properties to a higher density.  

The Planning Commission recommended the City Council adopt the Final Housing Element and establish the MUOD, ROD, and rezoning, with the following suggestions:

1. Require that the MUOD and ROD parking is covered parking;
2. Add the façade articulation requirements that are in the MUOD to the ROD regulations;
3. Only qualify the MUOD and ROD developable areas for these development standards, specifically the developable areas on the Salvation Army site and the UCLA sites;
4. Consider the proximity of the Clipper Site #16 on the sites inventory to the landslide complex and the geological impact of development at the site and communicate with HCD to consider the removal of this site or shifting the units to another site;
5. Provide a site-by-site potential impacts summary page of information to City Council; and
6. Consider not eliminating view preservation for the two sites (#16 and #17) that are proposed for upzoning.

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video

Mixed-Use Overlay District Open Houses and Survey

On October 15, 2022, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes held a Mixed-Use Overlay District in-person Open House at the Terraces Shopping Center for the public to learn about the concept of mixed-use developments and provide their input on preferred building typologies, amenities, and uses for potential mixed-use projects in the City’s commercial zones. City Staff and the consulting team interacted with over 50 participants, answered questions, and received feedback. For those who were not able to attend the in-person event, a Virtual Open House with the same content was available on the City website from October 15-November 5, 2022. An online survey soliciting feedback was also available during this period.

BACKGROUND

The City's Zoning Code (also commonly referred to as the Development Code) is intended to be updated periodically to reflect current laws and trends of the community, and to reflect the vision and policies of the City's General Plan. Of the several mandatory elements of the General Plan, the Housing Element is updated every 8 years to include City policies, strategies, and actions to facilitate the construction of new housing and preservation of existing housing to meet the needs of the population during each housing cycle.

On August 11, 2022, the City Council adopted the Final Draft Housing Element for the 6th Cycle housing period covering 2021-2029, which incorporated implementation programs to increase housing development potential. Specifically, one of the programs included establishing a mixed-use overlay district. 

While the 6th Cycle Housing Element update was taking place, the City retained the services of planning consulting firm Dudek to assist the City in establishing the mixed-use overlay district to propose relevant development standards and prepare associated environmental reviews. A copy of the September 21, 2021, staff report requesting the City Council authorization of the Professional Services Agreement is available here. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

As the mixed-use overlay district will be the first of its kind in the City, two robust community outreach events and a scoping meeting specific to the environmental review process will be carried out to inform and educate the public as well as receive input. Please check back soon or subscribe to the mixed-use overlay district listserve here to receive additional information as it becomes available. 

FUTURE TIMELINE

In accordance with Chapter 17.68 (ZONE CHANGES AND CODE AMENDMENTS), the mixed-use overlay district will require zoning code review by the Planning Commission, who will then forward a recommendation to the City Council. A tentative schedule on future public hearings will be provided as more information becomes available.