Lemoore Council adopts 2024—2032 housing element after consultant says city meets RHNA

The Lemoore City Council voted 3-0 on June 23 to adopt Resolution 2026-9, approving General Plan Amendment 2026-02 to repeal the 2016—2023 housing element and adopt the 2024—2032 housing element (the sixth cycle).

Steve Brandt, the city planner, introduced the public hearing and invited Susan Long of consultancy QK to present. Long said the housing element has received a finding of substantial compliance from HCD contingent on adoption and that the element demonstrates the city has adequate land and programs to accommodate the city's regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) of 2,329 units for the cycle. "The housing element demonstrates the city has adequate land policies and programs to accommodate its regional housing needs allocation," Long said.

Long and staff told council the inventory shows capacity across income categories and that the city has a surplus of land capacity (stated in the record as 1,846 units) beyond the RHNA requirement. She explained how pipeline projects, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) completions and approved entitlements are credited against the RHNA, reducing the remaining required units. Council members sought clarification on Table 4-10 in the agenda packet and the mechanics of the surplus calculation; Long walked through the subtraction of pipeline projects, ADUs and completions and confirmed the surplus is a capacity estimate, not a guarantee that units will be built.

Council members also raised questions about building standards during the discussion, including whether three-story low-income buildings in town should be required to include elevators. Staff and the consultant explained that the housing element is a policy-level document (not project approval), that it is exempt from CEQA in that policy context, and that building code and funding source requirements (for example, funding conditions tied to affordable projects) can drive accessibility and elevator requirements. Long noted the city's inventory uses zoning designations and development standards to estimate likely unit capacity across density categories.

During public comment, Mitch Couch, a Lemoore resident who serves on the Planning Commission, praised the document as "a work of art" and urged adoption. After public comment, Council member Tim Gorick moved adoption of Resolution 2026-9; Council member Cruz seconded. The motion passed with three votes in favor and two members absent.

The adopted housing element will be submitted to HCD as part of the city's compliance process for the sixth planning cycle; staff said adoption positions the city to maintain compliance with state housing element law through 2032. Next procedural steps include submittal to HCD and then implementing the programs and objectives included in the element.