Resolution No. 2023-09 | General Plan Amendment to Repeal the Gilroy 2015-2023 Housing Element and Adopt the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element | Adopted 04/20/2023 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-09
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF GILROY
RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION, ADOPTING A
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO REPEAL THE GILROY 2015-2023 HOUSING
ELEMENT AND ADOPT THE GILROY 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE HOUSING ELEMENT LAW (GPA 22-
01)
WHEREAS, the California Legislature has found that “California has a housing supply and
affordability crisis of historic proportions. The consequences of failing to effectively and aggressively
confront this crisis are hurting millions of Californians, robbing future generations of the chance to call
California home, stifling economic opportunities for workers and businesses, worsening poverty and
homelessness, and undermining the state’s environmental and climate objectives” (Gov. Code Section
65589.5.); and
WHEREAS, State Housing Element Law (Government Code Sections 65580 et seq.) requires that the
City Council adopt a Housing Element for the eight-year period 2023-2031 to accommodate the City of
Gilroy (City) regional housing need allocation (RHNA) of 1,773 housing units, comprised of 669 very-low
income units, 385 low-income units, 200 moderate-income units, and 519 above moderate-income units; and
WHEREAS, to comply with State Housing Element Law, the City of Gilroy has prepared Housing
Element 2023-2031 (the Housing Element) in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law and
has identified sites that can accommodate housing units meeting the City’s RHNA; and
WHEREAS, as provided in Government Code Section 65350 et. seq., adoption of the Housing
Element constitutes a General Plan Amendment; and
WHEREAS, as provided in Government Code Sections 65352 – 65352.5 the City of Gilroy referred
the Housing Element to all California Native American tribes on the contact list provided by the Native
American Heritage Commission and to other entities listed and whereas, no California Native American tribe
requested consultation; and
WHEREAS, the preparation, adoption, and implementation of the Housing Element requires a diligent
effort to include all economic segments of the community; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted extensive community outreach beginning in August 2021 and
including a dedicated website, hard copy and online surveys in English and Spanish, stakeholder interviews,
two bilingual virtual community workshops, an Equity Advisory Group meeting, a joint bilingual public study
session with the Planning Commission and City Council, public hearings with the Planning Commission and
City Council on the first public draft of the 2023-2031 Housing Element, farmworker outreach, Youth
Commission outreach, Gavilan College outreach, senior citizen outreach, and intellectually and
developmentally disabled community outreach; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code Section 65585 (b), on September 12, 2022, the
City posted the first draft of the 2023-2031 Housing Element and requested public comment for a minimum
30-day review period; and
WHEREAS, between October 12, 2022 and October 31, 2022, the City made revisions to the
September 12, 2022 draft in response to public comments; and
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Ordinance No. 2023-09
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WHEREAS, on October 31, 2022, the City submitted the revised draft Housing Element to the State
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for its review; and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2023, the City received a letter from HCD providing its findings
regarding the October 31, 2022 draft Housing Element; and
WHEREAS, on April 13, 2023, the City published a revised draft Housing Element responding to
HCD’s findings and requested public comment on the draft; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element is exempt from review under the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) in that it
can be seen with certainty that the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element would not result in a significant
environmental effect, and none of the circumstances set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies;
and
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2023, the Planning Commission conducted a duly and properly noticed
public hearing to take public testimony and consider the Housing Element and all pertinent maps, documents
and exhibits, including HCD’s findings, the City’s response to HCD’s findings, the staff report and all
attachments, and oral and written public comments; and
WHEREAS, the location and custodian of the documents or other materials which constitute the
record of proceedings upon which the project approval is based is the Community Development Department,
Planning Division.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of Gilroy hereby
recommends that the City Council find that the adoption of the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element is exempt
from review under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), and adopt a
resolution recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution adopting a general plan amendment to
repeal the Gilroy 2015-2023 Housing Element and adopt the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element, in
substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law (GPA 22-01).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of April, 2023 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioner Elle, Lewis, Montez, Ramirez, Vice Chair Kushner,
Chair Bhandal
NOES: Commissioner Leongardt
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
________________________________ __________________________________
Sharon Goei, Manny Bhandal,
Community Development Director Chairperson
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