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ABAG Frequently Asked Questions about RHNA (July 2020) 13 <br />and conducting its own appeals process. The subregion’s final allocation must meet the same <br />requirements as the regional allocation: it must further the statutory objectives, have considered <br />the statutory factors, and be consistent with the development pattern of the SCS. <br />What subregions have formed for the 6th Cycle of RHNA in the Bay Area? <br />ABAG has received notification of formation of two subregions: <br />1.Napa County: includes City of American Canyon, City of Napa, Town of Yountville, and the <br />County of Napa (does not include City of Calistoga or City of St. Helena) <br />2.Solano County: includes City of Benicia, City of Dixon, City of Fairfield, City of Rio Vista, <br />City of Suisun City, City of Vacaville, City of Vallejo, and County of Solano <br />Can a jurisdiction withdraw from a subregion? <br />Consistent with ABAG’s approach for previous RHNA cycles, a jurisdiction may withdraw from a <br />subregion without causing the dissolution of the entire subregion. If a jurisdiction withdraws from <br />the subregion, the subregion’s share of housing needs will be reduced by the number of units the <br />withdrawing jurisdiction would receive from the most current version of ABAG’s methodology <br />available at the time when the jurisdiction decides to withdraw. The withdrawing member will then <br />become part of the region’s RHNA process, and it would receive its allocation based on the <br />methodology adopted by ABAG. <br />RHNA AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS <br />How are local jurisdictions involved in RHNA? Do they help create the housing <br />methodology? <br />Elected officials and staff from each county are on the Housing Methodology Committee (HMC) <br />to represent the jurisdictions in that county. The HMC will make recommendations about the <br />allocation methodology to the ABAG Regional Planning Committee (RPC), and the RPC will <br />make recommendations to the ABAG Executive Board, which will take action at key points in the <br />RHNA process. Local governments will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed and <br />draft methodology, both in written comments and at public meetings. There will also be an <br />opportunity for local governments to file appeals on the draft allocations. <br />How does RHNA impact local jurisdictions’ general plans? What is a Housing Element? <br />California’s Housing Element Law states that “designating and maintaining a supply of land and <br />adequate sites suitable, feasible, and available for the development of housing sufficient to meet <br />the locality’s housing need for all income levels is essential to achieving the state’s housing <br />goals.” Once a city, town or county receives its RHNA allocation, it must then update the <br />Housing Element of its general plan and zoning to demonstrate how it will accommodate all of <br />the units assigned for each income category. General plans serve as a local government’s <br />blueprint for how the city, town or county will grow and develop. There are seven elements that <br />820