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BACKGROUND What is a Housing Element?2 The Housing Element is part of the City's General Plan and is a comprehensive statement by the community of its current and future housing needs and proposed actions to facilitate the provision of housing to meet those needs at all income levels. Rising housing concerns are not just a statewide or regional issue, but directly impact Pleasanton residents and those in the Tri-Valley faced with rising housing prices, increased incidence of homelessness, and lack of workforce housing. Periodic updating of the housing element is required by state law; and thus, the element reflects the state's housing goal of"attaining decent housing and a suitable living environment for every California family," as well as incorporating the unique concerns of the community. The current Housing Element, which was adopted in 2015, covers the planning period from 2015 to 2022. The next Housing Element update (the 6th Cycle) must be adopted by January 2023, to address the period from 2023-2031. Each local jurisdiction is assigned a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) - a quantifiable target which reflects a community's share of the State's projected housing need (allocated by units and affordability) for the eight-year period. State law establishes a series of very specific requirements as to the scope, content, and process by which a housing element is updated and adopted, including review and approval (known as certification) by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In accordance with State law, Pleasanton's Housing Element must look at housing trends, zoning and market constraints, and evaluate various approaches to meeting housing needs across income levels. The inventory of available sites, or "Sites Inventory," will be a key component of a Housing Element in which the City must identify land zoned for housing to meet the RHNA. Local governments must involve the public from all economic segments of the community in developing the Housing Element; a robust public outreach plan is discussed in this report and is anticipated to be a key component of the project. What Are the Components of a Housing Element? State law defines the required content of the Housing Element, with key components including: 1 . Housing Needs Assessment: Examine demographic, employment and housing trends and conditions that affect the housing needs of the community. 2. Evaluation of Past Performance: Review the prior Housing Element to measure progress in implementing policies and programs. 3. Housing Sites Inventory: Identify locations of available sites for housing development or redevelopment to ensure that there is adequate capacity to address the RHNA. 4. Community Outreach and Engagement: Implement a robust community outreach and engagement program, with a particular focus on outreach to traditionally underrepresented groups. 5. Constraints Analysis: Analyze and recommend remedies for existing and potential governmental and nongovernmental barriers to housing development. 6. Policies and Programs: Establish policies and programs to fulfill the identified housing needs. 'ABAG, "What is a Housing Element", What is a housing element.pdf(ca.gov) Housing Element Update Planning Commission 2 of 13