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Loomis moves forward with zoning changes to implement housing element; council adopts first reading
Summary
The Town advanced zoning ordinance amendments to implement the adopted housing element and general-plan updates, rezoning parcels to RH‑20 (including a 7‑acre Hidden Grove site and Heritage Park parcels), increasing central-commercial density to 20 units per acre, updating ADU and parking rules, and adding definitions for supportive and special‑needs housing; council approved first reading and will return for second reading.
The Town of Loomis took a key step to implement its housing element by approving the first reading of comprehensive zoning‑ordinance amendments. Planning Director Christie summarized changes intended to keep the zoning map and code consistent with the general-plan updates and with state housing law.
Five housing-element programs required zoning amendments: a comprehensive zoning-code review (program 2); removal of barriers for special‑needs housing and definitions for employee/farmworker housing, single‑room-occupancy and residential-care facilities (program 5); ADU and multifamily standards including up-to‑three-story allowances in RH zones and reduced parking consistent with state law (program 6); map identification of a 7‑acre RH‑20 site in the former village/Hidden Grove and at least 2.2 acres elsewhere (program 11); and implementation of density-bonus rules (program 15).
Christie showed the new zoning map that brings parcel designations into alignment with the general-plan land-use diagram. The amendment identifies a 7‑acre RH‑20 site at Hidden Grove and Heritage Park parcels (previously RM‑5) sized to meet the program’s acreage requirements and increases allowed density in the town’s central commercial district from 15 to 20 units per acre. Text changes update permitted uses tables, add single-room occupancy and supportive/transitional housing, revise development standards (heights and coverage) and modernize ADU and accessory-use terminology to match state law.
Christie reminded the council the changes were analyzed under the general-plan EIR and that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) sent a letter of concern on Aug. 14, 2024 about program 11’s delayed implementation; staff warned that further delays could risk HCD revoking the town’s compliant housing‑element status and could trigger penalties, loss of state funding eligibility or builder’s remedy consequences that constrain local land‑use authority.
After public comment (none opposed at the hearing) the council took first-reading action on the ordinance; the item will return on the consent calendar for a second reading and formal adoption at the next meeting. Council directed staff to continue working with applicants whose parcels were affected and to bring the ordinance forward for final adoption on the November agenda.
