Taft planning commission recommends city council adopt sixth-cycle housing element after public comments on homelessness

The City of Taft Planning Commission on Aug. 6, 2025, voted 4-0 to recommend that the City Council approve General Plan Amendment No. 2023-01, the sixth-cycle housing element (2023–2031), and find the update exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

The housing element update responds to a Regional Housing Needs Allocation that requires Taft to demonstrate capacity for 538 housing units during the eight-year planning period. Jenna Chilingarian, planner and project consultant with Precision Civil Engineering, told commissioners the city’s sites inventory shows capacity well above that requirement: roughly 336 lower‑income units, more than 1,000 moderate‑income units and more than 2,600 above‑moderate units. Chilingarian said the draft lists 52 implementation programs organized into 10 areas, including adequate sites, tenant protections, accessory dwelling units and fair‑housing measures.

The recommendation follows multiple rounds of outreach and state review. Chilingarian said drafts were submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development in September 2024, March 2025 and June 19, 2025, and that HCD issued a notice on June 27 stating the revised draft “meets the statutory requirements and will substantially comply with state housing element law upon adoption and approval by city council.” Chilingarian described the city’s approach as relying on vacant or underutilized sites and said no rezoning was required to meet capacity.

Why it matters: the housing element is one of nine required general plan elements and must show that a jurisdiction has adequate sites and programs to meet state housing goals across income levels. Adoption by the city council and final certification by HCD are required steps before the plan’s programs are implemented and annual progress reporting begins.

Public comments at the hearing focused on homelessness, basic services and community engagement. Danny Bridal, lead community organizer for Faith in the Valley, urged commissioners to listen to people most affected by housing instability and to strengthen community engagement. “I hope you will not only hear but also listen to our comments this evening,” Bridal said.

William “Jerry” Casto, who identified himself as representing the homeless community, described the experience of living without stable housing and asked for inclusion in planning and services. “We just wanna be part of the community too,” Casto said, adding that many people become homeless because of circumstances beyond their control.

Pastor Cindy Bretschneider of Taft United Methodist Church told commissioners her congregation has expanded food‑pantry services after conversations with people who are unhoused and urged collaboration across groups. Sandra Popejoy, a volunteer with the NEADS program, described the hazardous living conditions she has witnessed and said more preventive and supportive measures are needed. Lewis Gillum, a Faith in the Valley volunteer, presented specific requests gathered from shelterless residents: communication with people who are unhoused, access to water and restrooms, cooling/shade during hot weather and meaningful opportunities for engagement and mutual aid.

Commissioners acknowledged the public comments and said many concerns lie outside the immediate scope of the housing element — which is constrained by state law — but said those issues would be heard again at the city council. Chairperson Livingston and other commissioners told speakers they had taken notes and that the commission would pass its recommendation to the council for final action and HCD certification.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the minutes of the prior meeting: passed 4-0 (roll call recorded as unanimous). (minutes approval recorded in the meeting record.) - Motion to adopt a resolution recommending City Council approval of General Plan Amendment No. 2023-01 (sixth-cycle housing element update, 2023–2031) and to find the project exempt from CEQA: passed 4-0 (roll call recorded as unanimous). - Motion to amend planning commission rules and change the regular meeting time to 4:00 p.m.: passed 4-0.

What the commission recommended: the commission recommended the council adopt the housing element as drafted and forward the adopted document to HCD for final certification. The planner and staff said the update incorporates community outreach (including a survey with 235 responses and four draft public review periods), an affirmatively furthering fair housing assessment and program priorities that include preventing displacement and encouraging housing near schools and parks.

Details and next steps: the planning commission’s action is a recommendation only; the City Council must consider and approve the general plan amendment before final submission and HCD certification. Chilingarian said the city will report progress annually and is already preparing for the next (seventh) cycle of housing planning.

The commission’s records, staff report and the revised draft submitted to HCD (and HCD’s June 27 notice) are the primary documentary bases noted during the hearing for factual statements about statutory compliance and capacity.