2021-2029 Housing Element Update

June 3, 2025 City Council Meeting

On June 3, 2025, the City Council received a report regarding draft revisions to the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element, which considered the removal of Site Nos. 16, 18, and 19 from the Housing Sites Inventory. The City Council voted to retain the Housing Element Zoning adopted on April 16, 2024, inclusive of Site Nos. 16, 18 and 19. The City Council also directed Staff to notify the California Coastal Commission to proceed with the processing of the Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCP) for Site No. 16. On June 5, 2025, Staff informed the California Coastal Commission of the City Council’s request to continue in the processing of the requested LCP. Additional updates regarding the California Coastal Commission’s review of the LCP will be provided as more information becomes available. For questions, please contact Senior Planner, Jessica Bobbett at (310) 544-5224, or via email at jbobbett@rpvca.gov.

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video

Public Notice issued for 2021-2029 Housing Element Revisions

A public notice for the June 3, 2025, City Council meeting was issued on May 15, 2025, related to the proposed revisions to the 2021-2029 Housing Element.  For questions, please contact, Senior Planner, Jessica Bobbett at (310) 544-5224 or via email at jbobbett@rpvca.gov. 

HCD Response to 2021-2029 Housing Element Revisions

On January 23, 2025, the Community Development Department received a letter from HCD confirming that the City’s Revised Housing Element (including the removal of site # 16, 18, 19) will continue to comply with State Housing Element Law once the amendments have been adopted, submitted and reviewed by HCD. 

Staff will bring an item  to City Council for further direction on March 18, 2025. A public notice for the March 18, 2025 City Council meeting was issued on February 20, 2025.  For questions, please contact, Senior Planner, Jessica Bobbett at (310) 544-5224 or via email at jbobbett@rpvca.gov. 

View staff report (PDF) 

Draft Revisions to the 2021-2029 Housing Element

Although the City has a certified 6^th Cycle Housing Element that went into effect on April 16, 2024, based on recent input from the public about Site #16, an HCD representative had stated, “Site 16 was identified in the sites inventory as a site to meet the needs of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for above moderate income households. The City’s RHNA for above moderate income households in the 6^th cycle is 122 units. Please note the City will still meet the required 122 units for above moderate RHNA if site 16 is not counted.”

At the time of that email from HCD, the City had already adopted a compliant Housing Element with Site #16 in the sites inventory. As well, prior input from the public noted concerns about Sites #18 and #19.

On September 3, 2024, City Council gave direction for staff to prepare the draft Housing Element removing Sites #16, 18, and 19 from the Housing Element.  The reason these sites were selected for consideration of removal was due to the minimal number of units they would produce, the types of units would be market rate and not serve lower income housing, and that with the removal of these, the City would still meet the RHNA requirements. City Council’s direction also included staff submitting the draft for review by HCD through the formal review process to determine if the draft as revised would be in compliance with State Housing Laws. City staff confirmed with HCD staff on August 29, 2024 what the process would be for the City to consider removing any of the sites from the Housing Element. As was presented to Council for the September 3^rd meeting, and as HCD confirmed, the process is as follows:

• Staff prepare a draft (not adopt) removing the site(s) as directed by City Council
• Submit draft for review by HCD in formal review process to determine if complies with State Housing Laws
• If HCD determines the draft would be in compliance, prepare necessary documents (environmental, resolutions, zoning amendments, etc.)
• Hold appropriately-noticed public hearing at Planning Commission for recommendation
• Hold appropriately-noticed public hearing at City Council for introduction of ordinances
• City Council adopt resolutions and ordinances to effectuate revised Housing Element

HCD staff confirmed that the City would need to follow this process so as not to jeopardize the certification status of our Housing Element.

Staff have reviewed the full Housing Element to make the necessary draft revisions that reflect City Council’s direction. The Housing Element must be posted on the City’s website and made available to interested parties 7 days before it can be submitted to HCD. We expect to submit this draft for formal review by HCD on November 26, 2024. Technically, HCD has 60 days to provide feedback on the draft in the formal review process. As soon as we receive the feedback, we will bring that to City Council for next steps.

For questions regarding next steps, please contact, Senior Planner, Jessica Bobbett at (310) 544-5224 or via email at jbobbett@rpvca.gov. 

View copy of Draft Revisions to the 2021-2029 Housing Element

September 3, 2024 City Council Meeting

On September 3, 2024, the City Council considered Staff’s assessment of the Housing Sites Inventory of the adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element, which identified properties that could be removed from the inventory list while remaining in compliance with State Housing Laws. Based on an evaluation of the information, the City Council directed Staff to prepare a revised draft of the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element to remove three sites from the Housing Element’s Housing Sites Inventory. The three sites include: 

• No. 16- APN: 7573-006-024 (Southeast of Clipper Road and PVDS)
• No. 18- APN: 7564-024-001 (West of UCLA South Bay Site)
• No. 19- 30800 Palos Verdes Drive East

The City Council also directed Staff to submit the revised draft to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for formal review with compliance with State Housing Law. If HCD deems the document compliant, Staff will proceed to prepare the necessary documents and conduct the required public hearings to reflect draft revisions. For questions regarding next steps, please contact, Senior Planner, Jessica Bobbett at (310) 544-5224 or via email at jbobbett@rpvca.gov. 

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video

6^th Cycle Housing Element Certified by HCD

On June 12, 2024, the City’s Community Development Department received a letter (PDF) from the California Department of Housing and Community Development confirming that the City’s Housing Element is in substantial compliance with state law. The letter indicated that the Housing Element adopted by the Council on April 16, 2024, in conjunction with the Zoning Code amendments required as part of the element’s Program 1, addressed the statutory requirements of the housing element law. The Zoning Code amendments constitute the actions required by the Housing Element to rezone sites to accommodate the City’s regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) allocation of 647 potential new housing units in RPV across various income levels through 2029. 

City Council Adopts Revised Final Housing Element

On April 16, 2024, the City Council adopted the Revised Final Housing Element and associated implementation measures, including a Mixed-Use Overlay District (MUOD), Residential Overlay District (ROD), and the rezoning of two residential properties to a higher density. 

On April 18, 2024, City staff submitted the Final Housing Element and associated rezoning to HCD for certification — the agency’s stamp of approval that will bring the City into compliance with state housing law. On April 22, 2024, Staff submitted Local Coastal Plan Amendments that are part of the Housing Element update to the California Coastal Commission.

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video

Virtual Open House Now Closed

From March 4-April 5, 2024, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hosted a Virtual Open House with information about the Housing Element and the City’s plans for rezoning, including the MUOD and ROD. If you were not able to check out the Virtual Open House, informational materials (PDF) are available.

If you have questions or would like to share your comments, please email them to housingelement@rpvca.gov.

Planning Commission Revised Final Housing Element and Rezoning Review

On March 26, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed the Revised Final Housing Element, as well as the proposed Mixed-Use Overlay District (MUOD) impacting 26 parcels, the Residential Overlay District (ROD) impacting three parcels, and the proposed rezoning of two residential properties to a higher density.  

The Planning Commission recommended the City Council adopt the Final Housing Element and establish the MUOD, ROD, and rezoning, with the following suggestions:

1. Require that the MUOD and ROD parking is covered parking;
2. Add the façade articulation requirements that are in the MUOD to the ROD regulations;
3. Only qualify the MUOD and ROD developable areas for these development standards, specifically the developable areas on the Salvation Army site and the UCLA sites;
4. Consider the proximity of the Clipper Site #16 on the sites inventory to the landslide complex and the geological impact of development at the site and communicate with HCD to consider the removal of this site or shifting the units to another site;
5. Provide a site-by-site potential impacts summary page of information to City Council; and
6. Consider not eliminating view preservation for the two sites (#16 and #17) that are proposed for upzoning.

View staff report (PDF) Watch meeting video