Council approves 2024 General Plan annual report; housing production rises in 2024

The City Council on May 6 received and approved the 2024 annual report on General Plan implementation, including the housing element status and regional housing needs (RHNA) tracking. Planning staff summarized housing production, entitlement status and specific plan progress.

Housing production highlights

- Permits and completions: In 2024 the city issued building permits for 310 housing units, a 35% increase over the prior reporting year. Permit activity overall rose by 5% (about 1,600 permits in total for all building activity).

- Projects in the pipeline: Staff reported 310 units under construction and 525 residential units in plan check or ready for permit pickup; however only 28 multifamily units were shown as entitled during the reporting period, indicating a pipeline that was robust in application but with entitlements or final paperwork still outstanding.

- Specific plans and large projects: Major developments advancing include Olsen/South Chandler Ranch (1,293 units in the plan area under various stages of infrastructure buildout), Beechwood, River Oaks Phase 2 (age‑restricted units), Riverwalk Terrace (79 affordable senior apartments) and Habitat for Humanity’s nine low‑income single‑family homes. Sunrise Villas (affordable units) and other projects were noted as contributing to low‑ and very‑low‑income totals.

- RHNA tracking: Using state‑required reporting conventions (including counting ADUs at a specified ratio toward lower income categories), staff reported progress toward the RHNA allocation. The city has met or exceeded targets in some categories (moderate and above moderate) while additional work remains in the very‑low and low categories; projects already in construction and those with near‑term occupancy are expected to improve totals in subsequent reports.

Why it matters

The annual report is a statutory requirement and offers a snapshot of housing production and policy implementation. The council and staff discussed the distinction between units permitted, entitled and completed, and the importance of following projects through plan check into building permits and final occupancy. Council members emphasized that meeting RHNA targets for lower income levels remains a priority and that pipeline management is important to convert plan‑check activity into completed housing.

Speakers

- Darcy (Community Development staff) — presented the annual report and RHNA tables. - Council members and staff discussed how ADUs are counted, the status of specific plan projects and the need to track plan‑check workloads.

Next steps

Staff will submit the annual report and supplemental permit spreadsheet to the state offices of planning and research and housing and community development and continue to monitor pipeline, permitting throughput and policy actions to support housing production.