A City Council meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday Jan 12, 2021. If you what to view the meeting, https://www.cityofvista.com/city-hall/agenda-minutes/meeting-video-broadcast there are many elements to this discussion.
The Housing Element is one of the required elements of a General Plan, addressing housing policy and programs. The State Legislature has recognized housing as a vital issue of statewide concern, therefore, unlike other required elements of a General Plan, the Housing Element must be regularly updated and reviewed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for compliance with state law. Through their housing elements, cities and counties are required to contribute toward meeting statewide housing goals and cooperate with other local governments to address regional housing needs
Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
HCD projects housing needs for every region within the state. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is responsible for allocating those needs to all 19 jurisdictions within the County, which is referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).
For 2013 to 2021, Vista’s RHNA was 1,374 units. Since RHNA was an 11-year planning goal that covered a period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020, the City was allowed to count housing units built, under construction, or approved from January 1, 2010 onward towards meeting the City’s RHNA. The 2013-2021 Housing Element identified sites with appropriate zoning to accommodate this growth, with an emphasis on the housing opportunities provided by the Downtown Vista Specific Plan.
