State (HCD) Informs Pasadena They Must Revise Their Housing Plan

A rendering of the proposed Housing at 770 E Green Street (Green and Oak Knoll)

Pasadena Affordable Housing Coalition says that an official letter from the California Housing and Community Development Department confirms that Pasadena’s Draft Housing Element fails to comply with State Law.

By News Desk 

The verdict is in: the official review by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) of Pasadena’s legally-required update to its Housing Element makes clear: “revisions will be necessary to comply with State Housing Element Law” and provides a 14-page analysis of the deficiencies in the Draft Housing Element adopted by the City Council in August.  Just as significantly, the State warned that it appears that “the city has not yet complied with statutory mandates to make a diligent effort to encourage the public participation in the development of the element.” The letter from the State lists a number of specific proposals made by the public, including those offered by the Pasadena Affordable Housing Coalition and notes “the element includes no discussion of how these comments were considered or incorporated in the element.” HCD “strongly encourages the city to consider these comments, including revising the documents as appropriate.”

“The Coalition has consistently maintained that the City failed to give adequate consideration to the depth and gravity of Pasadena’s affordable housing crisis,” noted Coalition spokesperson Ed Washatka of Pasadenans Organized for Progress.  “The City underestimated State law requirements to address the needs of Pasadena’s rent-burdened households, families priced out of the possibility of home ownership and the more than 500 people experiencing homelessness in the last count.”

In their 14-page critique of the City’s Draft, the HCD makes clear the need for further analysis and revisions to address:

• Affirmatively furthering Fair Housing by distributing affordable housing equitably throughout the entire city
• Protecting and preserving affordable housing
• Prioritizing affordable housing
• Strategies for community revitalization in Northwest Pasadena
• Revising density caps in Specific Plans
• Rezoning for housing on religious institutions sites
• Dedicating ongoing funding for affordable housing

The State also echoed the Coalition’s specific criticisms of the deficiencies in Pasadena’s Draft, including:

• Flawed site analysis of the potential sites for building housing
• Lack of commitment to streamline Pasadena’s cumbersome and subjective entitlement processes
• Overestimation of the future production of Accessory Dwelling Units
• Promising to study ideas rather than implement specific programs and policies
• Failing to set specific goals and measurable outcomes for preserving and building affordable housing

“The Coalition has members from 15 community organizations who have been meeting since January to discuss affordable housing solutions for incorporation into the Housing Element,” said Washatka. “We look forward to meeting with the City’s Affordable Housing Task Force to collaborate on revisions to City’s current Draft Housing Element.”