Planning Commission forwards revised 2023–2031 housing element to Board after state finds it substantially conforming

The Santa Clara County Planning Commission on Jan. 17 voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to repeal the Dec. 3, 2024 housing element adoption and adopt a revised 2023–2031 housing element update and related general plan amendments.

County staff told the commission the revised housing element incorporates minor changes requested by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and HCD notified the county on Dec. 31 that the version before the commission is in "substantial conformance with the law," provided the county adopts the exact revised text. "If this exact housing element goes before HCD, the likeliness that it is officially certified would occur," Deputy Director Lisa Mikhail said.

Senior planner Robert Kane summarized changes since the November presentation: staff submitted four draft versions to HCD beginning in May 2023; the draft before the commission includes additional analysis of nonvacant lots in the housing sites inventory, expanded discussion of housing mobility and clarifications in several programs. Kane said no new programs or housing sites were added since the May 2023 public draft and that staff revised Program 2.30 to broaden its focus on housing mobility.

Commissioners asked about timing and implementation. Principal planner Michael Meehan said the next step is that the commission’s recommendation will go to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28; once the board adopts a final readopted draft and resubmits it to the state, HCD’s final certification could arrive within weeks in some jurisdictions or take a couple of months in others.

Vice Chair Rausser asked about the planning commission’s ongoing role in monitoring implementation. Meehan and staff said many implementation measures, including zoning amendments or general plan changes, will be processed in the usual way and come back to the planning commission when required; some programs will be implemented by other departments and will not require planning commission review unless they trigger a general plan or zoning amendment.

During the public hearing, Sharon Luna, a San Martin resident, asked whether Book B of the general plan and certain San Martin plan policies were being superseded; Deputy Director Mikhail clarified that the housing element does not supersede all of Book B, that the San Martin advisory committee (SIMPAC) is not being disbanded and that the tenant ordinance is not part of this process.

Commissioner Balska moved to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; Chair Escobar seconded. The clerk recorded unanimous affirmative votes from Commissioners Cohen, Balska, O'Donohue, Levy, Vice Chair Rausser and Chair Escobar.

Staff reminded the commission that the item will be before the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 and that formal resubmission to HCD for final certification will follow adoption by the board.