Temple City approves 2024 general plan and housing‑element progress reports; staff reports surplus RHNA capacity

Temple City Council approved the city’s 2024 general plan and housing‑element annual progress reports and directed staff to submit them to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

Community Development supervisor Tony Buu presented the report and reviewed program metrics, permitting and housing production. He told the council the city’s population estimate for July 2024 was reported in the presentation as 35,975 and that the city has seen a slight decline since 2020 driven by smaller household sizes and modestly higher vacancy rates.

On housing production, staff reported activity in 2024 that included 88 accessory dwelling units (ADUs), 68 multifamily units and 14 newly constructed single‑family units. For the ongoing RHNA cycle currently spanning 2021–2029, staff said the city has reported 421 units to date (about 19.3% of the city’s allocation) and that, after accounting for already‑identified sites and projects, the city’s sites inventory shows a surplus of 414 units over the RHNA requirement — roughly an 18% cushion within the 15–30% buffer HCD recommends.

Buu described several implementation items: a pre‑approved ADU program of prototype designs intended to speed permit review and construction; objective design standards work for mixed‑use zones; code amendments to align with recent state laws for ADUs, subdivisions and wireless facility rules; and a study of development‑impact fees. He also highlighted an 18‑unit multifamily project approved in 2024 (including two very‑low‑income units using the state density bonus) that is currently under plan review.

Council members asked how the city counts entitled projects versus completed units for RHNA credit; staff explained the tracking follows entitlement through building permits and certificate of occupancy, and that expired or vacated permits (for example, permits that have lapsed) do not continue to provide credit. Staff also confirmed that SB9 remains law while related legal challenges proceed and that the city will continue to monitor guidance from HCD.

A motion to receive, approve and file the reports and to submit them to state agencies passed on unanimous recorded roll call. The action includes a direction for staff to file the approved reports with the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

Next steps in staff’s work plan for 2025 include further code amendments, completion of the ADU pre‑approved designs, objective standards for mixed‑use zones, study of development impact fees, and continued housing assistance programs and public outreach.