HCD Review Draft Housing Element

The HCD Review Draft Housing Element was submitted for initial 90-day HCD review on February 15, 2023. The Draft consists of two parts: the Policy Document and the Needs Assessment. For ease of use, these have been combined into a single PDF for the HCD Review Draft.

• The Policy Document states goals, policies, implementing programs, and quantified objectives for the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing. The Policy Document is presented first in the HCD Review Draft. 

• The Needs Assessment identifies and analyzes existing and projected housing needs to inform policy development. Within this document, the Resources section provides a list of sites for housing development that are adequate to accommodate the City’s regional housing needs allocation.

Public Review Draft Housing Element

The Draft Housing Element consists of two parts: the Policy Document and the Needs Assessment. For ease of use, these have been combined into a single PDF for the Public Review Draft.

• The Policy Document states goals, policies, implementing programs, and quantified objectives for the development, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing. The Policy Document is presented first in the Public Review Draft. 

• The Needs Assessment identifies and analyzes existing and projected housing needs to inform policy development. Within this document, the Resources section provides a list of sites for housing development that are adequate to accommodate the City’s regional housing needs allocation.

Land Use Alternatives Report

The Land Use Alternatives Report contains a series of potential land use alternatives, specifically related to future land use choices (alternatives) and circulation/mobility options. The potential land use alternatives are based on community feedback collected at the beginning of the project. This Report outlines a range of scenarios and the impact of each for the community’s consideration. The community will have an opportunity to weigh in on the findings during Community Workshop #3, where all comments, suggestions, and ideas will be presented to City Council for their consideration. Decision-makers will then be asked to weigh the costs and benefits of each alternative presented in the Report and to select a “preferred land use alternative.”  The preferred land use alternative will be combined with community input and the City’s Guiding Principles, to guide the development of General Plan goals, policies, and implementation programs through the conclusion of the update process.

Adopted Guiding Principles

On August 23, 2021, at a Joint Study Session, the City Council and Planning Commission adopted a set of General Plan Guiding Principles for the Solvang General Plan Update. The Guiding Principles express the key values and aspirations for Solvang's future and serve as guideposts for the goals, policies, and implementation programs contained in the General Plan. All General Plan goals, policies, and implementation programs will need to be consistent with Guiding Principles.

GPAC Recommended Vision and Guiding Principles

The City of Solvang GPAC met on Wednesday August 4, 2021, to review comments and recommendations on the Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles from the Design Review Committee (DRC). As part of their final review the GPAC are recommending a Vision Statement and Guiding Principles for consideration to the Planning Commission and City Council. The recommended Vision Statement and Guiding Principles is a compilation of community aspirations collected from two community workshops and online engagement on the General Plan website (plansolvang.com). The Planning Commission and City Council will review the recommended Vision Statement and Guiding Principles from the GPAC at their August 23, 2021, meeting and finalize a Vision Statement and Guiding Principles for the General Plan.

Click here to download the document.