Chowchilla council adopts 6th-cycle housing element after state review

The Chowchilla City Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution approving General Plan amendment 24-0297, the city’s 2024–2032 housing element, after presentations from the contract city planner and the city’s consultant.

Analisa Perea, the contract city planner, told the council the housing element is one of nine state‑mandated elements of the general plan and that the update identifies current and projected housing needs, maps sites for housing, and sets goals and programs to meet the community’s need. She said the draft was first submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in November 2023, revised after HCD comments in February 2024, and was later deemed by HCD to be in substantial compliance on June 18, 2024.

“Following adoption by the city council, it will be submitted to HCD for final certification,” Perea said, noting the city is within the one‑year grace period from the statutory deadline and must finalize certification by January 2025 to maintain substantial compliance.

Monique Emerson of Precision Civil Engineering, the city’s consultant, summarized the outreach and technical work behind the document, saying the housing element contains seven chapters and a sites inventory that the consultant found adequate to meet the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). “The city is required to provide 1,730 units or make land available for the development of 1,730 units,” Emerson said, noting that represents an increase of about 616 units over the previous housing element. She added that the update requires text amendments to the zoning ordinance (for boarding houses, reasonable accommodations and density bonus procedures) but does not require rezoning of properties.

Council members asked questions about timing and prior submittals. City staff and the consultant said the document has undergone multiple rounds of review with HCD and that the city will implement required zoning text amendments within the next year and report progress annually.

Councilmember [name omitted where not in transcript] moved to adopt the resolution; the motion passed unanimously by roll call.

The adopted housing element now will be sent to HCD for final certification. If HCD certifies the element, Chowchilla will be in compliance with state housing law and move to the implementation phase, which includes local zoning text amendments and annual progress reporting. The city staff and consultant said they expect to complete the required ordinance amendments within the coming year.