Housing Element Update

Adopted and Certified 2023-2031 Housing Element

On February 19, 2025, the City Council adopted revisions to the 2023-2031 Housing Element to comply with a letter received from the State's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Housing Element was then re-submitted to the state and certified on May 5, 2025.   


State Certification Letter (5.5.25)


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Materials Posted for the February 19, 2025 City Council Meeting

Link to Full Hearing Agenda

Staff Report (2.19.25)

  1. HCD Comment Letter 12.30.24
  2. Track Changes version of the February 2025 Draft Housing Element (Proposed)
  3. Adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element (Existing)
  4. Municipal Code Text Amendments (Jan. 25) (Proposed)
  5. Adopted Municipal Code Amendments (Oct. 16, 2024) (Existing)
  6. Draft Resolution
  7. Draft Ordinance

Materials Posted for January 29, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting

Link to Full Hearing Agenda

Please note that there are very few changes to the adopted Housing Element and Municipal Code. Staff recommends reviewing the staff report, first, as it provides a summary of the changes and the location of any text changes in the Housing Element. 

Staff Report (1.29.25)

  1. HCD Comment Letter 12.30.24
  2. Track Changes version of the January 2025 Draft Housing Element (Proposed)
  3. Adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element (Existing)
  4. Municipal Code Text Amendments (Jan. 25) (Proposed)
  5. Adopted Municipal Code Amendments (Oct. 16, 2024) (Existing)
  6. Draft Planning Commission Resolution

Materials Posted for October 16, 2024 City Council Meeting

Link to Full Hearing Agenda

Staff Report (10.16.24)

Attachments (Note that Attachments from the September 18, 2024 have carried forward with the exception of updated revisions to the Housing Element and Municipal Code text in response to Council feedback at the 10.2.24 meeting): 

  1. Revised Housing Element (Oct '24)
  2. Revised Municipal Code Amendments (Development Standards)

Materials Posted for October 2, 2024 City Council Meeting

Link to Full Hearing Agenda

Staff Report (10.2.24)

  1. Link to Attachment 8 from the 9.18.24 Staff Report (see below)
  2. Revised Attachment 12 (Development Standards)

Materials Posted for September 18, 2024 City Council Meeting

Staff Report (9.18.24)

Attachments (Note that Attachments 3, 6, 9, 10, and 13 have not changed since July 24, 2024, but they have a new attachment number given the order for the 9.18.24 staff report): 

  1. Planning Commission Resolution 2024-001
  2. Planning Commission Resolution 2024-002
  3. Revised Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND)
  4. Response to Comments on the Draft IS/MND (Sept '24)
  5. Public Comments on the Draft IS/MND (Sept '24)
  6. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
  7. Resolution Adopting the IS/MND and MMRP
  8. 2023-2031 Housing Element Amendments (Revised) (Sept '24)
  9. 2023-2031 Housing Element (As Adopted January 31, 2023)
  10. Atherton General Plan Text Amendments (Tracked Changes)
  11. Resolution Adopting Amendments to the General Plan 
  12. Atherton Municipal Code Amendments (Sept '24)
  13. Atherton Zoning Map Amendment (Existing and Proposed)
  14. Draft Ordinance Adopting Amendments to the Municipal Code Zoning Map

What is a Housing Element?

Every jurisdiction has a General Plan that serves as the local government's "blueprint" for the future, prescribing policy goals and objectives to shape and guide the physical development of the local jurisdiction. A Housing Element is one of seven required elements of the Town's General Plan. Due to the critical nature of limited housing and housing affordability with statewide implications, State law requires Housing Elements to be updated on a regular basis. The Town of Atherton is currently part of an 8-year update cycle (2023-2031) and is working to update the Housing Element. 

The Town is not required to build housing itself; rather, the Town is required to create laws and policies that affect where housing can be built, what types of housing can be built, how much housing can be built, and the process by which it is reviewed and approved. Every jurisdiction's housing plan is required to meet the mandates of the State to address housing needs over specific periods of time.

Atherton’s Commitment to Achieving A Compliant Sixth-Cycle Housing Element

Throughout the 2023-31 Housing Element Update (HEU) process, the Town has collaborated with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), demonstrating a proactive approach to crafting a HEU that not only addresses Atherton's distinctive local needs but also aligns seamlessly with the State’s requirements. The Town remains steadfast in its commitment to adhering to all State housing laws and to producing a compliant HEU.