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Riverbank council adopts 6th-cycle housing element, updates zoning approach to meet RHNA
Summary
Council voted unanimously to adopt the city's 6th-cycle housing element and associated general-plan and zoning amendments, including an increased density assumption for high-density and mixed-use sites that staff said allows the city to meet RHNA without adding a new site.
The Riverbank City Council unanimously adopted the city's 6th-cycle housing element and associated land-use and zoning amendments after a public hearing and a staff presentation explaining changes since the April meeting.
Planning consultants and staff said the major revision removes Site 3 and increases the assumed density for higher-density residential and mixed-use sites from 20 to 28 dwelling units per acre. Staff said that change produces a modest surplus relative to the city's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and avoids selecting a new site, shortening the time required to return the document to HCD for certification. The consultants noted HCD reviewed the updated document and provided a letter indicating the housing element meets statutory requirements.
At the public hearing one online speaker asked why the revised housing element file was available only via a link rather than attached to the packet; staff replied the file was posted on the city website because the document was large and frequently updated. Staff also clarified that the rezoned properties in the Crossroads area are not in the downtown specific plan and therefore do not affect the downtown area.
Council voted to adopt a sequence of resolutions and to introduce the required municipal-code amendments and specific-plan revisions consistent with the adopted housing element. Environmental review for the action was described as exempt from CEQA under the categorical exemptions staff cited in the staff report.
