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Hemet council introduces zoning change to allow by‑right affordable projects on 21 parcels to comply with state housing law
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to implement Housing Element Program H3I, amending the municipal code to allow by‑right approval of qualifying affordable housing projects on 21 identified parcels (110.4 acres) to meet Government Code §65583.2(c); staff said the ordinance is CEQA-exempt and scheduled a second reading on April 14.
The Hemet City Council on March 24 voted 5–0 to introduce a zoning-ordinance amendment (ordinance number introduced on first reading) that implements Housing Element Program H3I and would allow certain qualifying affordable housing projects to proceed by right on 21 identified parcels totaling about 110.4 acres.
Deputy Director of Community Development Emery Papp presented the staff report and said the amendment responds to a request from the state Department of Housing and Community Development to implement Government Code section 65583.2(c), which requires jurisdictions to provide an opportunity for by‑right approvals on sites identified in specified housing‑element cycles. "The applicant is the city of Hemet," Papp said, noting the parcels were drawn from the 5th-cycle housing-element table H‑39 and include sites with entitlements and several large vacant parcels.
Staff described parcels in several parts of the city — including the Florida Promenade project site, Latham senior project (entitled, not constructed), three parcels on Stetson at Elk (two entitled as part of the High Point Astor Apartments), multiple high‑density vacant parcels north of Stetson/Buena Vista, and several parcels near Echo Hills Golf Course that may have drainage constraints.
Papp told council staff had determined the ordinance is exempt from CEQA under section 15061(b)(3) because the ordinance itself does not authorize development; future projects would need separate environmental review unless they qualified as affordable housing with at least 20% affordable units, in which case state exemptions may apply.
There were no public speakers on the item. Councilmember Lodge moved to introduce the ordinance by title only and Councilmember Clark seconded; the roll-call vote passed 5–0. If the council approves the second reading on April 14, staff said the ordinance would take effect 30 days later.
Ending: The council scheduled the second reading for April 14 and staff will return with the ordinance for final action.
