Title
Housing Element Implementation Program Amendments
Recommendation
In September 2022, the City Council adopted the General Plan 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2021-2029, which was then certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as being statutorily compliant. The Housing Element sets a housing strategy for Newport Beach to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 4,845 new housing units by 2029. As required by the State, implementation of this plan mandates updates to the General Plan Land Use Element and rezoning to enable redevelopment of identified housing sites, with a February 2025 deadline for implementation. The City is in the process of releasing a draft environmental impact report (EIR). Revised drafts of the Land Use Element, Housing Opportunity Overlay Zoning Districts, and Objective Design Standards have been made available for community review. These revisions, influenced by public feedback, aim to ensure a balanced approach to urban development, fulfilling State housing requirements while preserving Newport Beach’s unique character and retaining local control. An overview of these documents and the overall project timeline will be presented to the City Council for further input.