Housing Element Update: Key Dates in January
Posted on 12/20/2022

Housing Element Update: Key Dates in January

Published December 20, 2022

Planning & Building staff expect to bring the City’s proposed 6th Cycle Housing Element to City Council for adoption at a special meeting on January 30th, 2023.

Adoption of the Housing Element will mark the culmination of a public engagement process that began in Spring 2021, as well as the beginning of a new chapter as the City implements the policies and programs outlined in the Housing Element over the next three years.

Moraga Canyon Specific Plan

A key piece of the implementation process will be the creation of a Moraga Canyon Specific Plan. This initiative will study all City-owned land in Moraga Canyon, including Blair Park, Coaches Field, Kennelly Skate Park, and the City’s Corporation Yard, with the end goal of creating a detailed plan for how to maintain and improve existing City facilities, open space, and recreational amenities in this area while also incorporating 132 units of housing, 60 of which would be available to lower income households.

The City expects to issue an RFP in late January seeking professional services to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan. Staff will bring the draft RFP to the City Council for authorization at the January 17th, 2023 meeting. Once a consultant has been selected, the Specific Plan process is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.

Robust public participation will be critical to a successful Specific Plan process. Throughout the process the City will conduct significant and ongoing public outreach, hold community meetings and workshops, and provide a variety of options for community members to weigh in and help shape the Specific Plan. Community members can stay informed by subscribing to the City’s Moraga Canyon Specific Plan email list.

Important Dates and Next Steps

January will be a busy month for Housing Element followers. Key tentative dates include:

  • January 8, 2023: Comments due on Housing Element Initial Study-Negative Declaration
  • January 12, 2023: Planning Commission review of proposed Housing Element
  • January 17, 2023: City Council consideration of RFP seeking a consultant to develop the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan
  • January 30, 2023: Special Meeting of the City Council to consider adoption of the Housing Element
  • January 31, 2023: State deadline for cities to adopt a Housing Element or face penalties

The City submitted the Draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review on November 18th, 2022.

After the City Council adopts the Housing Element, the City will have three years to implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the document. This process involves additional environmental review, which is already underway – the City is currently in the process of preparing a programmatic EIR that studies the impacts of the new homes and residents that could come to Piedmont once implementation is complete.

A wealth of information about the Housing Element update process is available at PiedmontIsHome.org, the City’s online hub for the Housing Element update and housing policy. For questions about the Housing Element process, write to [email protected].