From the City of Piedmont Housing Element Update Bulletin on Jan. 10:
On Thursday, Jan. 12, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at a special meeting to consider the draft Piedmont 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2023-2031, and will consider the Initial Study and Negative Declaration, prepared by City staff, for the draft 6th Cycle Housing Element, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The special meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, and the agenda is posted to the City website here. The staff report is posted to Piedmontishome.org at the link here.
Adoption of the Housing Element will mark the culmination of a public engagement process that began in Spring 2021, as well as the beginning of a new chapter as the City implements the policies and programs outlined in the 6th Cycle Housing Element over the next three years.
Moraga Canyon Specific Plan
A key strategy of the 6th Cycle Housing Element implementation process will be the creation of a Moraga Canyon Specific Plan.
This Specific Plan initiative will study all City-owned land in Moraga Canyon, including Blair Park, Coaches Field, Kennelly Skate Park, and the City’s Corporation Yard, with the end goal of creating a detailed plan for maintaining and improving existing City facilities, open space, and recreational amenities in this area, while also incorporating 132 units of housing, 60 of which would be available to lower income households.
The City expects to issue an RFP in late January seeking professional services to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan. Staff will bring the draft RFP to the City Council for authorization at the January 17, 2023 meeting. Once a consultant has been selected, the Specific Plan process is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.
Robust public participation will be critical to a successful Specific Plan process. Throughout the process, the City will conduct significant and ongoing public outreach, hold community meetings and workshops, and provide a variety of options for community members to weigh in and help shape the Specific Plan.
Community members can stay informed by subscribing to the City’s Moraga Canyon Specific Plan email list HERE.
Important dates and next steps
January 12, 2023: Planning Commission review of proposed Housing Element and Initial Study and Negative Declaration
January 17, 2023: City Council consideration of RFP seeking a consultant to develop the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan
The City submitted the draft 6th Cycle Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review on November 18, 2022.
After the City Council adopts the 6th Cycle Housing Element, the City will have 3 years to implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the Element. This process involves additional environmental review, which is already underway. The City is currently in the process of preparing a programmatic EIR that studies the impacts of the new homes and residents that could come to Piedmont once implementation is complete.
A wealth of information about the 6th Cycle Housing Element update process is available at Piedmontishome.org, the City’s online hub for the Housing Element update and housing policy. For questions about the Housing Element process, write to Piedmontishome@piedmont.ca.gov.