The California Department of Housing and Community Development (State HCD) has certified the City of Goleta’s Housing Element 2023-2031, Goleta City Manager Robert Nisbet announced at the Goleta City Council meeting Wednesday night,

The state determined that the housing element meets all statutory requirements and substantially complies with state housing element law. A link to the letter from the state is at http://tinyurl.com/5n6mbw7c.

“I want to thank our staff, the council and the community for putting us in a place to have a certified Housing Element for the next eight years,” Nisbet said.

“We extend our appreciation to staff, who have worked countless hours over a long period of time to get us here and we rightfully acknowledge the participation of our community in this process,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín.

“This is a planning document and we needed the state certification. While this in many ways only the beginning of the process, it’s an important milestone,” Reyes-Martín.

The Goleta City Council adopted the city’s Housing Element 2023-2031 on Dec. 5, 2023, as recommended by the Planning Commission. It included the rezoning of 11 sites to accommodate Goleta’s share of the regional housing need, as mandated by the state.

The city subsequently submitted it to the State HCD for a 60-day review period.

Goleta is now in the process of implementing the state-certified Housing Element to maintain and improve existing housing supply and expand housing-related resources for the benefit of the community.

For more information on the city’s Housing Element Update project, visit https://CityofGoleta.org/HousingElement. Direct any questions about the project via email to city staff at HousingElement@cityofgoleta.org.

For inquiries in Spanish, contact Marcos Martinez, Spanish engagement specialist, 805-562-5500 or mmartinez@cityofgoleta.org.