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Taft council accepts 2024 housing element progress report, will submit to state
Summary
The Taft City Council voted 5-0 to accept the city's 2024 housing element annual progress report and authorize submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research; staff said accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are emerging in the city.
The Taft City Council on March 4 accepted the city's annual progress report on its housing element for calendar year 2024 and authorized staff to electronically submit the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
City Manager Jones opened the item, saying state law requires jurisdictions to prepare an annual progress report on the status and progress of implementing the housing element of the general plan. "California Government Code section 65400 requires each governing body to prepare an annual progress report," he said. The council opened a public hearing, received no public comment and then voted to adopt a resolution to accept the report and find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under the general rule exemption.
Planning Director Mark Staples, who responded to council questions, said the report covers a transition into a new planning cycle and that the city is still implementing programs in the 2023'031 planning period. "The main surprise, if any, was, we've actually had a couple accessory dwelling units approved in this last cycle," Staples said, adding he expects ADUs to be a continuing part of local housing production. He pointed councillors to summary tables in the packet for a bottom-line unit count.
Staples described outreach to the Home Builders Association and efforts to attract builders to finish remaining tracts such as Sandy Creek Estates and Parkview/Trail-area properties. He also said downtown mixed-use and multifamily near Center Street could add more residents closer to downtown.
The council voted, by roll call, on a 5-0 vote to accept the report and authorize submittal. Councilmembers recorded as voting yes were Kreier, Mayor Pro Tem Bryant, Waldrop, Shavira and Mayor Noor.
The Planning Commission had reviewed and accepted the report on Feb. 5, 2025, and staff recommended the council file the city report for HCD. The resolution also states that staff will electronically submit the accepted report to HCD and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
The council's action accepted the report; no additional direction to staff or project approvals were made during the vote.
For more detail, the report and the tables referenced by Staples are available in the city planning packet and will be included in the materials submitted to HCD.
