SCH Number 2022070490

Project Info

Title

County of Santa Barbara 2023-2031 Housing Element Update

Description

The County of Santa Barbara proposes to implement the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update. The Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) analyzes the potential impacts associated with the implementation of the Housing Element Update’s goals, policies, and programs, including the potential rezone program. The Housing Element Update is a mandatory component of the County’s Comprehensive Plan (i.e., general plan). It assesses current and projected housing needs in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County and provides an inventory of sites available for residential development. State housing element law, Government Code Sections 65580-65589.11, requires that the County update its Housing Element every eight years. In February 2023, the County’s previous 8-year housing cycle (2015-2023) concluded. As a result, the County’s Housing Element Update subject to this Program EIR pertains to the 6th Cycle 2023-2031 housing planning period. State housing element law requires that cities and counties have adequate sites available to accommodate their share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for all income levels. The County’s 6th Cycle RHNA totals 5,664 units. The County’s sites inventory shows that it lacks sufficient capacity to accommodate its lower and moderate-income RHNA in the South Coast and its lower-income RHNA in the North County. Program 1 in Housing Element Update requires that the County accommodate the shortfall of lower- and moderate-income units plus a 15 percent buffer for these units through a combination of rezones and housing development on County-owned sites. The County identified 36 potential sites that could be rezoned and nine County-owned sites that could be selected for new housing. These sites combined identify more sites than necessary to accommodate the County’s 6th Cycle RHNA plus the 15 percent buffer. The Board of Supervisors will select a sufficient number of sites to match the RHNA plus the 15 percent buffer.

4 documents in project