6th Cycle Housing Element Implementation Program

Background

The Newport Beach City Council adopted the General Plan 6th Cycle Housing Element (Housing Element) in September 2022 covering the planning period from 2021-2029. As required by state law, the Housing Element was certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in October 2022. The adopted and certified Housing Element includes a housing planning strategy for the City to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 4,845 new housing units with varying affordability levels between 2021 and 2029. To comply with state law, the City must now implement the planning strategy by:

(1) updating policies in the General Plan Land Use Element and Coastal Land Use Plan; and

(2) providing appropriate zoning that will allow for the housing opportunity sites identified in the Housing Element to be redeveloped with housing units.

This implementation must be made effective no later than February 2025. As a note, the City must plan for and provide zoning for these units; however, the City is not mandating that properties be redeveloped with housing nor is the City required to construct housing.

Housing Element Implementation Program Amendments

On July 23, 2024, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Housing Element Implementation Program Amendments. At the conclusion of this hearing, the City Council adopted the following resolutions taking the following actions:

CEQA Clearance

Resolution No. 2024-50 - Certifying Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse SCH Number 2023060699), Including a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and Adopting Findings, and a Statement of Overriding Considerations Related to the Housing Element Implementation Program Involving Amendments to the General Plan, Coastal Land Use Plan, and Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) and Title 21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code

Land Use Element Amendment

Resolution No. 2024-51 - Amending the General Plan Land Use Element to Implement the General Plan Housing Element Implementation Program

Local Coastal Program Amendment

Resolution No. 2024-52 - Authorizing the Submittal of a Local Coastal Program Amendment to the California Coastal Commission to Amend the City of Newport Beach Coastal Land Use Plan and Title 21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code Related to the Implementation of the Housing Element

ALUC Override

Resolution No. 2024-53 - Finding the Housing Element Implementation Amendments Consistent with the Purposes of the State Aeronautics Act and Overriding the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's Determination of Inconsistency with the 2008 John Wayne Airport Environs Land Use Plan

Initiation of Housing Element Amendment

Resolution No. 2024-58 - Initiating a Narrowly Focused Amendment to the Adopted and Certified 6th Cycle Housing Element to Remove the Reference to Charter Section 423 Voter Approval

Also at the conclusion of the public hearing on July 23, 2024, the City Council introduced the following two ordinances, which were adopted by second reading at the September 24, 2024, meeting and became effective on October 25, 2024:

Zoning Code Amendment for Overlay Rezoning

Ordinance No. 2024-16 - Amending Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code to Implement the General Plan 6th Cycle Housing Element

Zoning Code Amendment for Objective Design Standards

Ordinance No. 2024 -17 - Amending Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code to Create Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards

To help navigate and demonstrate compliance with the new Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards, the City has prepared a checklist to be submitted with any application for applicable development. Please click here to access it.

Additional Information 

In addition, although a Level of Service (LOS) traffic study is no longer required for the purpose of CEQA, the City has prepared the Housing Element Transportation Analysis as a reference document to provide additional information regarding potential traffic conditions related to the implementation of the City's Housing Element. The reference document is available here.