California has reached a settlement with the city of Coronado for violating the state’s Housing Element Law, resulting in an April 2024 housing plan update to allow for the construction of 912 new housing units for Californians of all ages. income level.
Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velsquez today announced a settlement with the City of Coronado for failing to plan new housing as required by law to alleviate current housing crisis in California.
As a result of the agreement, Coronado will allow the construction of 912 new housing units.
“Each city and county in the state will be responsible for building their fair share of housing. The state is doing more than ever to accelerate construction and we will continue to work with communities to build more homes, more fast, in support of Californians.” Governor Gavin Newsom
Under the state’s Affordable Housing Act, each city and county in California must periodically update its housing plan to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), the municipality’s fair share of housing needs. in housing in the region and state. RHNA is an important tool to build housing for moderate, low, and very low income Californians, including those damaged by historic redlining and disinvestment.
“The Los Angeles Times said Coronado ‘may be the biggest violator of California’s affordable housing law.’ Today’s settlement ends that distinction,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The City of Coronado has wisely chosen to partner with us and address its housing challenges. There is no doubt that this opportunity is long overdue; I want to thank the current Coronado City Council for finally doing the right thing The crisis The housing crisis we face in California is huge, and the only way to address it is if every local government follows the law and builds its fair share of homes. Regardless of your situation, the state leaders are willing and able to help you deliver housing to all your residents. If we can do it in Coronado, an island city where more than half is a military base and port, we can do it in other places too “.
The City of Coronado is required to update its housing plan by April 15, 2021 to plan for 912 new housing units. The City submitted a Housing Element Update in 2021, but did not appear to be in sufficient compliance. After receiving a notice of violation from the State, the City and State agree in good faith to chart a course for the City to achieve compliance.
“All California communities must take seriously their responsibility to facilitate housing development at all income levels through the housing element process, and HCD is here to help,” said Gustavo Velásquez, Director of the Department of Housing. and Community Development in California. “But when local jurisdictions fail to meet their housing element deadlines, HCD must enforce the law and hold them accountable. We are pleased to see the City of Coronado’s commitment to bringing their housing element to compliance with the Housing Element Act. “HCD will continue to work with and monitor the City to ensure compliance and hold them to the commitments they made in this agreement.”
“This agreement gives the City of Coronado the certainty and state support it needs to achieve an affordable Housing Element,” said Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey. “Faced with an RHNA allocation larger than previous cycles, the combined creativity of the City and State was used to achieve this practical solution. a solution to a year-long challenge.”
The City of Coronado will adopt a compliant housing element no later than April 16, 2024.
Coronado must modernize its zoning code and local coastal plan by May 7, 2024 to meet the housing goals outlined in its compatible housing element.
The HCD agreed that the 374 housing units planned at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado can be credited to the 912-unit RHNA in the City of Coronado, based on the Navy’s current plan.
The City of Coronado is committed to complying with the Affirmative Promotion of Fair Housing (AFFH) statute. AFFH requires local governments to take meaningful actions that overcome patterns of discrimination and develop inclusive communities, without barriers that prevent access to opportunities based on protected characteristics.
The City of Coronado acknowledges that, until such time as it adopts a substantial compliant housing component, it will not deny housing projects based on zoning or general plan inconsistencies.
If the City of Coronado does not comply with the agreement, it may lose the authority to approve or deny certain types of development. In addition, monetary penalties will be imposed if Coronado continues to fail to comply 12 months after the effective date of the scheduled sentence.
