City of pacific grove, California - housing element Update

LWC was retained by the City of Pacific Grove to update the City’s Housing Element for the planning period from July 2007 to June 2014. LWC worked closely with City Staff to craft a Housing Element that complies with State law and is tailored to Pacific Grove’s unique characteristics.

The Housing Element addresses the housing allocation from the current and previous (2000 to 2007) planning periods. Pacific Grove is a small City bordered by Pebble Beach, the City of Monterey, Monterey Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. There is no possibility of expansion and the City is nearly 100 percent built-out, which created a challenge in meeting the housing allocations. The Housing Element relies on infill development including second units, potential reuse of underutilized sites, and a few vacant sites zoned for a mix of uses to meet the allocations.

Pacific Grove has a distinctive character and a number of historic properties. The Housing Element includes policies and programs to preserve and enhance existing homes and create new housing opportunities in the downtown and Forest Hill areas. The Housing Element also outlines strategies for increasing the supply of affordable units such as an affordable housing overlay, flexible parking standards, and guidelines for mixed-use development.

The Housing Element was adopted by City Council in May 2011 and certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development in December 2011.