HELP US TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS
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The City of Point Arena is currently undergoing a process to improve local housing opportunities by amending the City’s Local Coastal Program which governs land use in the city limits.
ADU TOOLKIT IS NOW LIVE
The City of Point Arena is proud to debut its web-based ADU toolkit. This tool is meant to provide community-members with a clear understanding of the policy and process regarding ADU development. Much more can be found at the link below:
**Important Advisory Notice**
The City’s new regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are undergoing review by the California Coastal Commission. Until this process is completed, existing provisions in the City of Point Arena Zoning Ordinance will remain in full effect. Property owners and interested parties are encouraged to reach out to the City Planner directly for detailed guidance and up-to-date information regarding ADU regulations specific to their properties. We appreciate your patience during this regulatory transition
UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR LCP AMENDMENTS FOR HOUSING
The Point Arena City Council will conduct public hearings on the LCP Amendments for Housing at their regular meetings on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 and Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The following documents are available for public review:
- March 26, 2024 Public Hearing Notice for LCP Amendments
- Draft Resolution No. 2024-xx
- Exhibit A (General Plan/LCP Land Use Plan Amendments; GP #2024-01)
- Exhibit B (Ordinance No. 243; Zoning/LCP Implementation Program Amendments; OA #2024-01)
- Redline draft of General Plan/LCP Land Use Plan Amendments (4-23-2024)
- Redline draft of Zoning Ordinance Amendments
- Submitted Public Comments
Please send responses via email or regular mail to the City of Point Arena at:
Mailing Address: PO Box 67, Point Arena, CA 95468
Email Address: admin@pointarena.ca.gov
SUMMARY OF LCP #1-24; GP #2024-01; OA #2024-01
Over the past year and a half, the City Council has conducted 11 workshops, study sessions and public hearings to discuss revisions to the City’s certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) that are intended to:
- help stimulate more housing production in Point Arena;
- streamline the permitting process for residential development;
- implement the State’s new requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units;
- make the City’s regulations consistent with extensive changes to State housing laws that have been enacted in recent years;
- implement various policies and programs of the City’s Housing Element;
- make the City’s zoning code more user-friendly and accessible.
Following public hearings on August 22, 2023, and September 26, 2023, the City Council approved a Local Coastal Program amendment to implement new State laws relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The ADU amendments are shown in the redline documents for the LCP amendments in italicized text. The remaining housing-related amendments (which are shown in redline and strikethrough text in the public review documents on the City’s website) are being finalized for public hearings and City Council action. The primary objectives of these amendments are to:
- Streamline the development review process by establishing an updated Site Development and Architectural Review (SDAR) process and eliminating the requirement for comprehensive development plans.
- Streamline the development review process while offering flexibility in the strict application of zoning requirements by replacing the planned residential development (PRD) process with an elective planned development (PD) process.
- Allow for a broader range of housing types by increasing the maximum residential density in the Multi-family Residential (MR) zone from 7.5 units per acre to 15 units per acre.
- Add new provisions for density bonuses, emergency shelters and Low Barrier Navigation Centers, employee housing (including farmworker housing), group homes, single room occupancy (SRO) housing, and supportive and transitional housing, per State housing laws and the City’s Housing Element policies.
- Encourage housing development in the Highway Commercial Zone (HWC) by eliminating the requirement that residential development be restricted to the rear 40% of a parcel.
- Reorganize the entire Zoning Code to make it more user-friendly and accessible.
- Modify the General Plan/Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan policies to ensure consistency with the proposed amendments to the Zoning Code.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE
The City of Point Arena adopted an LCP Amendment for its Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance at its September 26, 2023 meeting. Relevant documents are below:
- Ordinance Amending Chapters 18.20, 18.25, 18.30 and Appendix A of Title 18, Zoning, of the Point Arena Municipal Code Amending Definitions and Requirements Related to Accessory Dwelling Units
- Resolution of the City Council of the City of Point Arena Adopting an Amendment to the Point Arena General Plan/Local Coastal Program
- EXHIBIT A – General Plan/Land Use Plan Amendments (GP #2023-01)
- EXHIBIT B – Zoning Code/Implementation Plan Amendments (OA #2023-01)
Stay tuned to this website or subscribe to the housing email list below to keep up to date on future events. To see the complete timeline for this process, click here.
COMMUNITY HOUSING SURVEY & PROPERTY OWNER SURVEY
These surveys are now complete. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts. To read the final survey report, click here.
HOUSING UPDATE PROCESS LINKS
Documents and information related to the housing update process:
- City Council Study Session Press Release: December 12 – English
- City Council Study Session Press Release: December 12 – Spanish
- City Council Study Session Press Release: October 24 – English
- City Council Study Session Press Release: October 24 – Spanish
- City Council Public Hearing Press Release: September 26 – English
- City Council Public Hearing Press Release: September 26 – Spanish
- City Council ADU Public Hearing Press Release: August 15, 2023 – English
- City Council ADU Public Hearing Press Release: August 15, 2023 – Spanish
- Notice of Public Hearing: ADU Ordinance August 22, 2023
- City Council Study Session Press Release: June 27, 2023 – English
- City Council Study Session Press Release: June 27, 2023 – Spanish
- City Council Study Session Press Release: May 9, 2023 – English
- City Council Study Session Press Release: May 9, 2023 – Spanish
- Survey Final Report & Analysis: February 7, 2023
- Slides: Housing Workshop #3: February 7, 2023
- Audio: Housing Workshop #3: February 7, 2023 (SoundCloud)
- Video: Housing Workshop #2: October 11, 2022 (YouTube)
- Audio: Housing Workshop #2: October 11, 2022 (SoundCloud)
- Housing Workshop #2 Press Release: Oct. 11, 2022 – English
- Housing Workshop #2 Press Release: Oct. 11, 2022 – Spanish
- Housing Survey Press Release: Sep. 12, 2022 – English
- Housing Survey Press Release: Sep. 12, 2022 – Spanish
- Video: City Council Workshop #1: July 26, 2022 (Youtube)
- Audio: City Council Workshop #1: July 26, 2022 (SoundCloud)
- June 21, 2022 Community Workshop Summary
- Video: Community Meeting #1: June 21,2022 (YouTube)
- Audio: Community Meeting #1: June 21,2022 (SoundCloud)
- Housing Workshop Announcement — June 2022
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
These documents provide relevant information on housing policy in Point Arena.