Revised Draft Housing Element Sent to the 
California Department of Housing and Community Development for Third Review 

Following a seven-day public review period, on August 30, 2023, the Planning Department resubmitted the third revised draft of the Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The revised draft Housing Element addresses the second comment letter from the HCD dated August 1, 2023.  A copy of the HCD response letter can be accessed HERE.  The original draft Housing Element was sent to the HCD on January 26, 2023. The HCD responded with a comment letter dated April 26, 2023. The second draft Housing Element was resubmitted to the HCD on June 2, 2023. The August 1, 2023, HCD letter responds to the second revised draft.  The HCD has 60-days to respond back to the Town regarding the status of the revised draft. The Planning Department has been working hard to respond back to the HCD and is hopeful the HCD will conclude that the revised draft is in conformance with the State regulations.

In response to the August comment letter, the Planning Department has prepared the following documents to respond back to the HCD.  

Click HERE to review the Town's Transmittal letter to the HCD dated August 30, 2023.

Click HERE to review the response matrix to the HCD.

Click HERE to access the revised Draft Housing Element (3rd Revision).

Click HERE to review the redline version of the revised Housing Element.

Please send email comments to hscoble@townofsananselmo.org or via mail to the San Anselmo Planning Department at 525 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 94960.  

Town Council to Conduct Public Hearing to Review Amendments to the General Plan, the Zoning Code, and Consideration of an Initial Study/Negative Declaration as Part of the Housing Element Update 

On July 25, 2023, the Town Council is scheduled to conduct a public hearing to review proposed amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code in association with the San Anselmo Housing Element (6th Cycle, 2023 – 2031). The General Plan Amendments will include amendments to the General Plan, which includes the Housing Element, Land use Element, including an amended Land Use Designation Map to reflect the Housing Element Opportunity Sites, and a new Safety Element. 

The Zoning Code Amendments will also include revisions to the following sections of the Zoning Code: (1) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 2, Section 10-3.201, Designation and Establishment of Districts; (2) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 3,Section 10-3.302 Land Use Regulations Table of the Land Use Regulations; (3) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 4 Section 10-3.402 Development Standards Table; (4) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article  5 Parking and Loading Regulations; (5) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 13, Conditional Use Permits; (6) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 17, Definitions; (7) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 12, Emergency Shelter; (8) Repeal and replace Title 10, Chapter 6, Article 1 Section 1-6.302, definition for “Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit; (9) Repeal and replace Zoning Map to reflect the Housing Element Opportunity Sites. Lastly, the Planning Commission will consider the environmental document prepared for the project (Initial Study/Negative Declaration). 

Click HERE to access of the Draft General Plan Land Use Designation Map

Click HERE to access a copy of the Draft Zoning Ordinance Map

Click HERE to access of a copy of the Housing Opportunity Sites Map and List of Properties

Click HERE to access a copy of the Draft Safety Element

Click HERE to access a copy of the July 2023 Revised Draft Housing Element (Revisions to Ch.4, Ch.6, Ch 7., and Ch 8- See highlights)

Click HERE access the Initial Study/Negative Declaration.

You may also review a hard copy of the Notice of Intent and Initial Study/Negative Declaration at the Planning Department located at the Town Hall (525 San Anselmo Avenue).

For more information, please contact Heidi Scoble, Planning Director at hscoble@townofsananselmo.org.

Draft Safety Element Available for Review 

Concurrently with the General Plan’s Housing Element update and as required by State law, the Town is in the process drafting a new Safety Element that will be incorporated into the Town’s General Plan. The General Plan is the Town’s blueprint for meeting the community’s long-term vision for the future and the Safety Element is one of the seven mandatory chapters or “elements”. The other General Plan Elements include Land Use, Housing, Circulation, Open Space, Conservation, and Noise. 

According to the State of California General Plan Guidelines, the goal of a Safety Element is “to reduce the potential short and long-term risk of death, injuries, property damage, and economic and social dislocation resulting fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other hazards.” The Safety Element will address the Town’s natural hazards and human activities that may pose a threat to public safety within the following topic areas:

• Geologic and Seismic Hazards, including Fault Zones
• Flood hazards
• Fire Hazards
• Hazardous Materials
• Climate 

Additionally, and consistent with California Government code Section 65302(g), the Safety Element will also include hazard information, mapping, and goals and policies related to future development that will minimize the risk of personal injury, loss of life, property damage, and environmental damage associated with natural and human-made hazards.

The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on July 17, 2023, to review the draft Safety Element and provide comments to the Town Council.  The Town Council will review the Draft Safety Element and the Planning Commission’s recommendation at the July 25, 2023, regular meeting.

Click HERE to access a copy of the Draft Safety Element

Click HERE to access a copy of the Planning Commission Public Notice

For more information, please contact Heidi Scoble, Planning Director at hscoble@townofsananselmo.org.

Notice of Intent to Adopt a Negative Declaration and Initial Study/Negative Declaration Release for Public Review

As required by the California Environmental Quality Act, the Town has released a Notice of Intent to inform the public and interested state agencies that the Town is circulating Initial Study/Negative Declaration (ND) for public comment related to the Town of San Anselmo Housing Element 2023-2031 Update and that the documents are available.

Click HERE to access a copy of the Notice of Intent.

Click HERE access the Initial Study/Negative Declaration.

You may also review a hard copy of the Notice of Intent and Initial Study/Negative Declaration at the Planning Department located at the Town Hall (525 San Anselmo Avenue).

For more information, please contact Heidi Scoble, Planning Director at hscoble@townofsananselmo.org.

Click HERE for a copy of the Courtesy Notice mailed to all property owners impacted by any Rezonings associated with the Housing Element Update.

Revised Draft Housing Element Sent to the 
California Department of Housing and Community Development for Second Review
June 2, 2023

After review and unanimous support of the Revised Draft Housing Element by the Town’s Housing Element Advisory Committee on May 31, 2023, and concluding a mandatory seven-day public review period. On June 2, 2023, the Planning Department submitted the Revised Draft Housing Element (2^nd draft) for a second review to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Over the next 60-days, the HCD will review the revised draft and the Town’s responses to the HCD comments.  After the HCD review, the Town will either need to revise the Draft Housing Element again or the HCD will conclude that the Revised Draft is in conformance with the State regulations subject to certain requirements.

A copy of the Revised Draft Housing Element can be accessed HERE.

An annotated copy of the April 26, 2023, HCD comment letter and the Town's response can be accessed as follows:

Annotated Letter from HCD dated April 26, 2023
Response Matrix

Revised Public Review Draft Released on May 25, 2023

The revised Draft Housing Element (2nd Draft) can be accessed here. You can review the redline version of the revised Housing Element here. The first draft of the Housing Element was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on January 26, 2023. The Town received comments from HCD on April 26, 2023. 

With input from the Planning Commission and Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC), and concurrence from the Town Council on the new and/or amended policies, programs, and actions contained in Section 8, the revised draft Housing Element dated May 26, 2023, addresses HCD’s comments. A summary of the comments and responses can be accessed here.

As required by the HCD, the Town anticipates submitting the revised draft Housing Element to HCD on June 2, 2023 (seven days after the release of the revised draft). During the seven-day public review, the HEAC will conduct a hybrid in-person and virtual Zoom Special Meeting on May 31, 2023 at 4:00PM in the San Anselmo Town Council Chambers receive a presentation on the analysis related to the qualitative and quantitative nonpolicy aspects of the revised Draft Housing Element.

The public is invited to provide comments on the revised draft Housing Element. Please send email comments to hscoble@townofsananselmo.org or via mail to the San Anselmo Planning Department at 525 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 94960.

The California Department of Housing Provided a Response to the Draft Housing Element on April 26, 2023

On April 26, 2023, the HCD provided a response to the Draft Housing Element.  Click HERE to review the HCD response letter to the Draft Housing Element.

The Planning Department and the Town's consultant will work towards preparing a response to the HCD and revise the Draft Housing Element. Prior to sending the Draft Housing Element for another review (60-days), the Planning Department will bring the revised draft to a public meeting with the Housing Element Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission to review the revised draft.