Hayward council approves zoning text changes to implement 2023–31 housing element, including rules for supportive housing and safe parking

The Hayward City Council on Jan. 21 unanimously approved zoning text amendments to implement portions of the Hayward 2023–2031 housing element, adopting a resolution and introducing an ordinance to revise Chapter 10 of the Hayward Municipal Code. The changes are intended to authorize and regulate supportive housing types, safe parking operations, SRO-style units and related development standards.

Taylor Rashad, an associate planner in the city’s development services division, told the council the amendments reflect a year of background research, stakeholder engagement and comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. "These amendments will help the city fulfill several actions within the housing element," Rashad said, adding that HCD reviewed the draft and provided minor comments that were incorporated.

The ordinance text updates multiple definitions (including permitted uses, dwelling unit, emergency shelter and "homeless" to align with HUD), clarifies that emergency shelters serve individuals experiencing homelessness, and explicitly allows individuals to sleep within their vehicles under the safe‑parking definition. Staff added short‑term and long‑term bicycle parking for SROs — one short‑term space per 10 sleeping rooms and one long‑term space per four sleeping units — and clarified that vehicles in safe‑parking operations must be parked within striped spaces. The revisions also allow temporary bathroom facilities at safe‑parking sites and set a spacing standard that emergency shelters must be at least 300 feet apart (the ordinance allows exactly 300 feet).

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval in December but asked that safe parking require a conditional use permit and proposed a neighborhood accountability group for supportive housing developments. City staff recommended keeping safe parking subject to an administrative use permit so service providers face fewer barriers; staff noted that the administrative use permit will nonetheless notify nearby residents, allow conditions of approval and be appealable to the Planning Commission. "We want to make sure we're not putting up additional barriers for service providers to do this work in the Hayward community," Rashad said.

Council members pressed staff on how the changes will work in practice. Council member Bonilla asked whether the housing element advances the idea of "inclusive neighborhoods" raised during public comment; Deputy Director Christina Morales said the city will continue to monitor and periodically evaluate its inclusionary housing ordinance and that cross‑property, multi‑owner inclusive neighborhood requirements would likely require a feasibility study. Community Services Manager Amy Cole confirmed outreach to faith‑based and tax‑exempt organizations and said staff will offer technical assistance after adoption.

Public commenters who addressed the item urged quick implementation and broader services. Roe Aguilar, who spoke both earlier in the meeting and during the hearing, supported SROs (including converted hotels) and called for wraparound services and urgent action. Aaron Horner, a Hayward resident and representative of First Pres Hayward in South Hayward, criticized an encampment sweep at Weeks Park as overly forceful and urged more dispersed shelter and resource sites, including sanctioned camping and safe parking that accommodates RVs. Kelly Abdu, a Moreau High School alumnus, raised separate concerns about a proposed data center at Eden Landing (see separate item), and other commenters encouraged broader coordination with the county and nonprofit partners.

Council members discussed appeals and council oversight. Staff noted that the zoning code allows the council to "call up" any Planning Commission item; a single council member may request an item be pulled from the Planning Commission agenda for council review. Staff also said psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities would require a use permit that can include conditions such as annual neighbor notification and a designated on‑site contact, and that conditions of approval can require neighborhood notification or forms of local accountability when warranted.

Motion and vote: Council member Syrup moved to approve the text amendments, adopt the accompanying resolution and introduce the ordinance as recommended by staff; Council member Goldstein seconded. The clerk recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote in favor.

Next steps: The motion introduced the ordinance and adopted the resolution; staff said they will notify interested providers and offer technical assistance following adoption. The introduced ordinance will return to the council for subsequent legislative steps required by Hayward Municipal Code and state law.