La Puente council approves housing-element implementation amendment, flags SCAG REAP2 funding deadline

The La Puente City Council voted to adopt the planning commission’s recommendation for General Plan Amendment No. 26-01 (housing element implementation programs 3a–3c) and to introduce zoning-code changes and an official zoning map amendment tied to the housing element.

During the hearing staff and council members emphasized the practical timeline: the city’s housing element had been decertified, and the project work is funded in part through SCAG REAP2 funds with a funding deadline of June 30, staff said (Staff member, speaker 5). Councilmembers thanked staff and a council colleague for researching the proposal; one councilmember noted attempts to consider higher affordable-housing minimums were not feasible, saying, “We can't. The minimum requirement and our consultant and our staff is nodding their heads,” (Council member, speaker 3).

A motion to approve the resolution carrying the planning commission recommendation was made by David, seconded by Gabriel, and carried by roll call. The council record shows the motion passed with recorded ayes.

The action also included introduction/consideration of a municipal code amendment (Title 10 zoning code update). Staff indicated no additional presentation was necessary after council discussion and asked for a motion to approve; the council moved forward consistent with staff recommendations.

Councilmembers emphasized the local goal of preserving community character while meeting statutory housing requirements; implementation steps and any funding uses tied to the REAP2 deadline will be addressed in follow-up staff reports.