Planning Commission to Hear Update on Affordable Housing Availability

Although the City Council will not meet this week, the Planning Commission will, and it is set to hear informational items on important issues.

The Department of Planning and Community Development will present an update of the 2014 to 2021 Housing Element to the Planning Commission on Wednesday.

This is the second meeting of the Planning Commission since the Coronavirus pandemic forced the shutdown of nonessential events and businesses.

The update will include the city’s progress on achieving the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) targets, status of the Implementation Programs, and the 2019 Housing Element Annual Progress Report. The presentation is expected to include a report on the city’s affordable housing availability and production.

The RHNA is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local housing elements of the General Plan. The RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods.

According to the 2014 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) the city needs to build 1,332 new housing units.

The city’s housing element is one of the state-mandated elements in the General Plan and must be updated every four to eight years to address the current and projected housing needs.

The state does not require a jurisdiction to construct the number of new housing units in its RHNA. Instead, each jurisdiction is required to plan for the new housing units by providing appropriate zoning with adequate density to accommodate the number of new units in its RHNA target.

Skyrocketing housing costs have dramatically impacted the city, even pushing families with school-aged children out of the region.

Rents on some single bedroom apartments are above $2,000.

The Commission, which advises the Pasadena City Council on the preparation and review of the General Plan and on the adoption or implementation of programs under the Plan, will also receive updates to the implementation of Specific Plans under “Our Pasadena,” a three-year program launched in 2018 to implement the General Plan Land Use Element.

The public can take part in the special meeting through Zoom, by visiting www.us02web.zoom.us/j/85335372391 or calling (669) 900-6833 and using the meeting ID 853 3537 2391.