AgdaPkt 2008-08-11 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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9A Page 7 . In addition to projecting growth patterns for the next 20 years (current law), the projected development pattern In the regional transportation plan must account for distribution of housing under the RHNA process. . There is a change In terminology. The document formerly referred to as the "supplemene is now called the "alternative planning strategy" This is intended to clarify that this document Is not a part of the sustainable communities strategy. There are new provisions that require the alternative planning strategy to include practicable policies for actually achieving the GHG reduction targets. . There is a new provision that requires a region to submit a plan to achieve its reduction target for GHGs to the ARB for its certification that the strategy, if implemented. would actually achieve the targets. This certification would become the gateway for application of the CEQA benefits described below. The plan can be either the development pattern forecasted for the region (referred to in the bill as the "sustainable communities strategy") within the regional transportation or a separate "alternative growth strategy" that is not part of the regional transportation plan. . A new rural sustalnability element is added to the Regional Transportation Process (RTP) authorizing regions to consider financial incentives for jurisdictions that have resource areas or farmlands and contribute to GHG reductions by encouraging growth within the urban footprint. . The definitions of resource areas and farmlands have been modified. The most important change eliminates certain descriptions of habitat areas and substitutes the phrase "biological resourcesft as defined in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. . Changes have been made to the modeling provisions reflecting the adoption of the new guidelines by the California Transportation Commission. The Eight Year RHNA: Aligning Regional Planning Processes Because the contents of this provision are still in flux, this section only summarizes what is currently under discussion. The Idea behind an eight year RHNA planning period is to create more consistent regional planning. The League has been very clear that these changes cannot serve as a wish list for other changes desired by various interest groups. The goal is to preserve as much of the existing process as possible while taking the effects of an extended planning period time line into account. How It Would Work Local agencies would only go through the housing element process every eight years. Regions would assign RHNA at same time they do an RTP and consider the GHG target. Housing elements would be due to HCD by end of first year of the planning period. Zoning would have to be comDleted by the end of year three (or two years after the housing element was due) unless the local agency made certain findings entitling it to an extension. Affordable housing developments (49 percent or more) that are consistent with the housing program but where zoning had not been completed would get ANTI-NIMBY relief. . Seeking an Extension: The scope of what the extension would look like is still being discussed. Some reasons could include emergency, CEOA review, very high RHNA allocation, and need to undertake substantial revision of general plan to account for RHNA number. The city would be entltled to the extension if the city could make findings supported by substantial evidence after a public hearing. . Enforcement Mechanism: The three year zoning requirement uses a "sanctions. provision in existing law associated with reporting annual housing reports. Current law says that local agencies have to annually submit a housing element report to HCD on a form approved through a rulemaking process. This form has not been officially approved yet. But when it is 7