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ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW DRAFT 1. INTRODUCTION The purpose of the Housing Element is to ensure that a decent, safe, affordable supply of housing is provided for current and future San Leandro residents. The Element strives to conserve the City's existing housing stock while providing opportunities for new housing for a variety of income groups. The Housing Element is part of the San Leandro General Plan. Unlike the other elements, however, it is subject to review and certification by the State of California. Each city and county in the state must submit their Housing Element to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). HCD evaluates the document based on specific criteria to determine whether it meets the requirements that have been set by the California Government Code. State certification assists the City in qualifying for affordable housing funds. It also helps ensure the legal adequacy of the General Plan and demonstrates that the City is doing its fair share to address regional housing needs. The Housing Element is also distinguished from the rest of the General Plan in that the Government Code requires that it be updated every five years. The State Legislature has the authority to extend this five- year cycle, as they did twice during the 1990s. The previous San Leandro Housing Element, adopted in March 1989, covered the period from 1989 to 1998. In accordance with the Legislature's schedule, the new Housing Element covers a period that began on January 1, 1999 and ends on June 30, 2006. Because almost half of this time period has already passed, the emphasis is on programs to be implemented between 2003 and 2006. Despite the short timeline for the Housing Element's programs, many of its policies should remain in effect beyond the 2006 horizon. The policies provide a solid foundation for housing conservation and development through at least the end of the decade. Updated objectives and programs may be added as those contained in this Element are accomplished. The data and analysis requirements for the Housing Element are much more substantial than those for the other elements of the General Plan. Thus, this document has been designed as a freestanding report. A companion document, the Housing Element Summary, appears within the body of the General Plan (Chapter 9). The Summary includes a condensed version of the housing data and analysis, and repeats the full set of goals, policies, and action programs. The Housing Element is fully consistent with the other elements of the General Plan and has been prepared concurrently with the other elements. Housing and the General Plan Vision In May 2002, the City of San Leandro adopted a new General Plan designed to guide growth and development through the year 2015. Conservation of the City's housing stock and creation of new housing opportunities are among the Plan's highest priorities. The Plan envisions the transformation of the Downtown BART Station area, the Downtown core, and the City's major transit corridors into mixed use communities with new housing, offices, retail shops, public facilities, and open spaces. Opportunities for some 1,500 new housing units have been identified. The General Plan also places great emphasis on HOUSING ELEMENT 1-1 SAN LEANDRO GENERAL PLAN 3g9