2021-2029 General Plan Update

At their January 18, 2022 Public Hearing, City Council adopted the latest version of the Housing Element. 

Housing Element

Housing Element 101: What is a Housing Element?

The housing element is a state-mandated policy document within the General Plan that guides the implementation of various programs to meet existing and future housing needs for residents of all income levels. The Housing Element identifies available land suitable for housing development as well policies, programs, and strategies to accommodate the City’s housing growth, provide opportunities for new housing, and preserve the existing housing stock.

What is included in a  Housing Element?

Key components of the Housing Element include:

• Community demographic profile and analysis of population growth and trends;
• A list of available land suitable for housing development;
• An evaluation of local constraints or barriers to housing development as well as opportunities to develop housing; and
• Housing goals, programs, policies, and resources for promoting and developing housing within the City.

Because the Housing Element is updated every eight years, the previous element provides a foundation for this update. This update gives us the opportunity to evaluate the previous element and determine which parts have been effective and which should be improved. It also provides another opportunity for residents to get involved and help determine housing priorities. Read the 2013-2021 Housing Element for more information on existing policies and programs.

Where can I see the City's current Housing Element?

The City’s previous 5th Cycle (2013-2021) Housing Element can be found here(PDF, 25MB).

Why Update the Housing Element? 

California State law requires that local jurisdictions update the Housing Element every eight years. These frequent updates are required because housing is critical to ensure economic prosperity and quality of life in our region. The update also helps to ensure that the City is responding to residents’ changing needs. The revised Housing Element must be adopted by the Victorville City Council and submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development Department no later than October 15, 2021, or Victorville could lose eligibility for significant sources of funding currently provided by the State and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), including critical infrastructure and transportation funds.

What is RHNA?

RHNA stands for Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Every eight years, the State of California provides the number of housing units that should be accommodated in each region within the State. Victorville is located in the region administered by the Southern California Association of Governments, or “SCAG.” SCAG takes the number of housing units it receives from the State and divides it among the jurisdictions in its five-county area, including Victorville.

To comply with State law, the City’s Housing Element must be updated to ensure the City’s policies and programs can accommodate its share of the estimated housing growth identified by the State. For the current Housing Element update, the City’s share of the RHNA is 8,146 units, split among different income levels (based on Area Median Income, or AMI) as shown in the following table.

Note: Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.

Does RHNA require us to build housing?

Through the RHNA process, the City must show that it has the regulatory and land use policies to accommodate housing needs. But the actual development of housing is almost entirely done by the private market. The Housing Element is required to demonstrate potential sites where housing can be accommodated. Identification of a site’s capacity does not guarantee that construction will occur on that site. If there are insufficient sites and capacity to meet the RHNA allocation, then the Housing Element is required to identify a rezoning program to create the required capacity. It is important to note that if the City does not identify capacity for its RHNA targets, the City could be deemed out of compliance and risk losing important sources of funding currently provided by the State.

CONTACT US

For more information about the Housing Element, please contact the Planning Division at:

Email : planning@victorvilleca.gov

Phone: (760) 955-5135

Victorville Housing and Land Use Survey Results

At their December 20, 2022 Public Hearing, City Council adopted the latest version of the Land Use Element. 

Adopted Land Use Element

General Plan Land Use Map

What is a Land Use Element? 

The Land Use Element is a mandatory element of a community’s General Plan. The primary purpose of the Land Use Element is to establish the policy foundation that will direct future land use decision-making for Victorville, both within its incorporated boundaries and its Sphere of Influence (SOI) to achieve the community’s long-range goals. It functions as a guide to policy makers, decision makers, the general public, and planners in the City regarding the desired pattern of land use and development in the future.

The Land Use Element is the driving element in the General Plan, to which all other elements must relate. For example, it must accommodate the number of housing units required by the state via the Housing Element, and it must be correlated with the transportation network as well as the distribution of public utilities, which are identified in the Circulation Element. The Land Use Element also will support the new Environmental Justice Element

The Land Use Element inherently shapes the pattern of development by establishing the density, intensity, and types and distribution of land uses throughout our community, including:

• Residential, commercial, and industrial uses;
• Open space, including agricultural land;
• Recreational facilities and opportunities;
• Educational facilities;
• Public buildings, facilities, and grounds;
• Mineral resources, future solid and liquid waste facilities, and areas subject to flooding; and
• Other categories of public and private use of land. 

Why update the Land Use Element?

Growth projections indicate that Victorville will grow in population from approximately 123,000 residents in 2020 to approximately 184,000 residents by 2040. This potential growth will mean that Victorville will be facing an increased number of land use decisions, not just for housing, but also for retail and commercial development, personal services, employment and industry, open space, and recreation. The Land Use Element is being updated for several key reasons:

• Guide and accommodate future growth in Victorville in a manner that achieves the community’s vision, enhances our community’s quality of life, and provides a mix of land uses that promote sustainability and economic vitality;
• Address current community issues regarding land use and development;
• Meet new statutory requirements relevant to housing needs identified in the Housing Element update and ensure opportunities for a variety of housing types and affordability levels; and Position the City to take advantage of future opportunities and encourage investment and reinvestment.

What is the difference between a Land Use Element and the Zoning Ordinance?

The Land Use Element provides long-term goals and policies that guide future land use and development. The Zoning Ordinance is the regulatory document that implements the Land Use Element via specific development standards and other regulations. State law requires zoning to be consistent with the General Plan, which means rezoning and revisions to the Zoning Ordinance may be required after the Land Use Element is updated.

Terminology

Density: Density is used for residential uses and refers to the development capacity of residential land. In the Land Use Element, density is described in terms of dwelling units per acre of land (du/ac).

Intensity: Intensity is used for non-residential development and refers to the extent of development on a lot. It is usually expressed as floor area ratio (FAR), which is the ratio between the total gross floor area (total square footage) of all buildings on a lot and the total land area of that lot.

What's New?

The Land Use Element update process is just getting underway, so please check back frequently to see the latest information and proposals, which we will be posting when they are available. You are also encouraged to attend the public meetings that will be held during the update process to share your ideas and provide input.

3rd Land Use Work Shop Power Point - As Presented on May 26, 2021

At their December 20, 2022 Public Hearing, City Council adopted the latest version of the Safety Element.

Adopted Safety Element

Overview

The City’s General Plan Safety Element incorporates safety considerations in the planning and decision-making process. It includes 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. State law requires each city and county to update the Safety Element every eight years. The Safety Element address the City’s natural hazards and human activities that may pose a threat to public safety within the following topic areas:

1. Geologic and Seismic Hazards
2. Flood Hazards
3. Fire Hazards
4. Hazardous Materials
5. Climate Change

The Safety Element references and is incorporated in local hazard mitigation, disaster preparedness, and emergency response plans. Because of this, any amendment to the Safety Element must coincide with these plans to ensure a coordinated response to disasters. The City is currently updating their Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which will be incorporated into the Safety Element as an appendix to comply with state laws. 

Why did The City update the Safety Element?

In addition to the eight-year review, recently adopted State laws require the following to be performed, updated, and included in the Safety Element: 

1. Identify and update information related to
   1. Seismic and geologic hazards
   2. Evacuation routes
   3. Military installations
   4. Peak-load water supply requirements
   5. Minimum road widths and clearances around structures
   6. Flood hazards
   7. Fire hazards.  
2. Prepare a climate change vulnerability assessment and develop climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
3. Identify residential developments in any hazard area that does not have at least two evacuation routes.
4. Assessment of evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios.

At their December 20, 2022 Public Hearing, City Council adopted the latest version of the Environmental Justice Element.

Adopted Environmental Justice Element

The City of Victorville has developed its first Environmental Justice Element. Environmental Justice is defined by the State of California as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

The Environmental Justice Element is an addition to and part of the City’s General Plan, and reflects the City’s commitment to reducing environmental burdens and ensuring all residents have the opportunity to access public goods and services that improve their quality of life.

Why has the City developed an Environmental Justice Element?

California State law requires every local jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a comprehensive and long‐range general plan to guide its growth and physical development. The General Plan provides a consistent framework for land use and development decisions consistent with an established community vision. In 2016, the State of California passed Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000)—the Planning for Healthy Communities Act—requiring cities and counties to address environmental justice within their general plans.

For more information please contact:

Email: planning@victorvilleca.gov
Phone: (760) 955-5135

Public Workshop & Meeting Recordings