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Soledad Planning Commission adopts CEQA addendum, recommends 2023–2031 Housing Element to City Council
Summary
The Planning Commission voted 5–0 on July 10 to adopt an addendum to the 2005 General Plan EIR and to recommend the 2023–2031 Housing Element to City Council; staff said the element will be submitted to HCD for final review with the aim of certification by October 2024.
The Soledad Planning Commission on July 10 unanimously adopted an addendum to the city’s 2005 General Plan Environmental Impact Report and voted to recommend the draft 2023–2031 Housing Element to City Council.
Staff said the addendum concludes that the General Plan EIR analysis remains adequate for the proposed Housing Element policies and that no new EIR is required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Planning staff described the Housing Element as the state‑required policy document that guides housing planning for the next eight years.
Commissioner Santi Fuerte moved to approve the two related resolutions; Commissioner Lorenzo Sanchez seconded. The clerk called the roll and the motion passed 5–0. Chair Jose Perez recorded the ayes. The resolutions the commission acted on were the addendum to the 02/2005 General Plan EIR and the resolution recommending adoption of the 2023–2031 Housing Element and authorizing staff to make non‑policy revisions in response to future HCD comments.
Housing staff described next steps: if City Council endorses the commission’s recommendation on August 7, staff will submit the Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a final 60‑day review. Staff said the city aims for final certification by HCD in early October 2024 so Soledad can regain compliance and remain eligible for certain state grants.
Beatriz Trujillo, housing analyst, framed the Housing Element as “a policy document that the state requires and is part of the general plan,” and emphasized the requirement for annual progress reports and HCD oversight. Staff and the commission also discussed CEQA history: several impacts were analyzed in the 2005 EIR and staff told commissioners the current addendum confirms those prior analyses remain sufficient for the Housing Element policies.
The Planning Commission’s action is a recommendation to City Council; final adoption and the city’s formal submission to HCD are conditional on the council vote and any staff edits required by HCD.
