Planning Commission recommends housing-element amendment to reflect RHNA transfer after Lance Drive annexation

Jessica Jones, Deputy Director of Planning, presented a proposed amendment to the city’s adopted 2023–2031 Housing Element on March 13 to reflect a transfer of regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) units associated with the annexation of a 34.93-acre property (Lance Drive/Granville Road) and to correct two clerical errors in published tables.

Jones summarized the background: the city adopted its housing element in February 2023; Sonoma County’s housing element allocated 641 RHNA units for the Lance Drive site in its 2023 submission; the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved an annexation in August 2024 that transferred the site into the city; and state procedures require a city and county to agree on RHNA transfers after annexation. The city and county negotiated and the city agreed to accept a transfer of 641 units, consisting of 34 very low-income units and 607 above-moderate units, consistent with the approved project on the site. Jones said the city requested and received an ABAG extension while parties finalized the agreement, and Council authorized the mayor to sign the joint letter on March 4, 2025.

Jones told commissioners the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) had been notified of the proposed amendment and provided a letter (included in late correspondence) indicating the changes raise no immediate HCD objections and that the housing element remains in substantial compliance with state law. The proposed amendment also corrects two clerical errors identified in the housing element tables (the title of table 5-2 and a mathematical error in table 5-11), and staff recommended the commission forward the amendments to council.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about timing and offsets. Staff said the city currently holds surplus inventory for the RHNA cycle and that if council approves the transfer, the city will complete required offsets and administrative updates within statutory timelines (staff referenced a 180-day period for particular steps related to offsets and housing-element adjustment processes). There were no public comments on this item at the commission meeting.

Vice Chair Duggan moved the resolution recommending the council amend the housing element to reflect the RHNA transfer and clerical edits; Commissioner Sanders seconded. The commission voted 5–0 (Carter, Sisco, Sanders, Duggan and Chair Weeks) to forward the amendment to City Council for consideration. The Association of Bay Area Governments is expected to record the RHNA transfer in its regional dataset later this month, and the city will update the housing element text and tables accordingly.