Housing Element Update (2023-2031) 

Update (August 2023)

The City of Mill Valley has recently received correspondence from HCD (PDF) requesting additional information to support the City’s Housing Element, and staff is in the process of working to address HCD comments.  

Adopted Housing Element and Land Use Element Amendments (May 15, 2023):

The Housing Element is one of the seven required elements (or chapters) of the City's General Plan.  Because housing affordability and availability is a critical issue with statewide implications, State law requires Housing Elements to be updated on a regular basis. The City of Mill Valley is currently part of an 8-year update cycle (2023-2031) and after an extensive 2-year update process, City Council adopted the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update on May 15, 2023.  The Housing Element Update must also be reviewed and certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which is currently underway, see next steps below. 

Overview of Adoption Process and Next Steps:

Listed below is a timeline of the Housing Element review and adoption process.  See "phases of community engagement" below for public outreach and research conducted to assemble the initial draft document. 

  • June 30 - August 1, 2022: initial Draft Housing Element released for public review, with City Council hearing on August 1, 2022.  
  • August 23, 2022: Initial Draft Housing Element submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). 
  • November 21, 2022: the City received HCD’s formal findings and comments and began revising the Housing Element. 
  • January 17-March 3, 2023: the City published the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (DSEIR) that analyzes the potentially significant impacts of the Draft Housing Element for the 45-day public review period. 
  • February 16, 2023: the City published the revised Draft Housing Element.   
  • February 28, 2022: Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to collect public input on the proposed General Plan Amendments and Draft SEIR, and recommended that City Council 1) adopt the proposed Housing Element and Land Use Element/Map amendments and 2) finalize the SEIR for certification. 
  • May 15, 2023: City Council certification of SEIR and adoption of Housing Element
  • May 31, 2023: Revised Housing Element sent to HCD, pending 60-day review
  • July 28, 2023: Response letter from HCD

City staff is in the process of collecting data and information to respond to HCD’s letter. 

Previous Meetings and Materials:

City Council Adoption (5/15/2023) 

The revised Draft Housing Element and related General Plan Land Use amendments is now before the City Council for review and adoption. The adoption process includes the review and certification of the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR), and the adoption of findings, statement of overriding considerations and mitigation monitoring in support of the approval of the project.  The Draft Housing Element and SEIR documents are below.  Additional materials, including the staff report for the hearing, are located as part of the May 15, 2023 agenda packet (LINK).

Draft and Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Reports

Together, the Draft and Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Reports constitute the complete Housing Element Update SEIR.  See May 15, 2023 materials for supporting findings, statement of overriding conditions and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting program in support of the adoption and approval of the Housing Element. 

Planning Commission Hearing on Redline Draft Housing Element (2/28/2023)

A Public hearing to receive oral comments on the Draft Subsequent EIR. At the meeting Planning Commission will also consider a resolution recommendation to City Council to 1) adopt the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update and related General Plan Amendments to the Land Use Element and Land Use Map (“Project”) and 2) certify the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) prepared in connection with the Project. 

The Revised Draft Housing Element and Draft SEIR is available on this page, or can be accessed for review at Mill Valley City Hall Planning Department (26 Corte Madera Avenue) or the Public Library Reference Desk (375 Throckmorton Avenue).  

Revised Redline Draft Housing Element (February 2023) 

Chapters 1-4 (PDF); Appendix A: Housing Needs Analysis (PDF); Appendix B: Outreach (PDF) ; Appendix C: Sites Inventory (PDF) ; Appendix D: Review of 2014-2022 Housing Element Programs (PDF) ; Appendix E: AFFH Analysis (PDF) ; Appendix F: Constraints Analysis (PDF) ; Appendix G: ADU Survey (PDF) ; Appendix H: Development Standards (Emergency Shelters, Multi-family and Mixed-Use)  (PDF)

Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report:

The Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report will be available for public review through March 3, 2023. Notice of Availability (PDF); Draft SEIR (PDF), Appendix A (PDF); Appendix B (PDF); Appendix C (PDF); Appendix D (PDF); Appendix E (PDF); Appendix F (PDF)

HCD Comment Letter on Draft Housing Element (November 2022)

HCD Comment Letter 11/21/22 (PDF).

Joint CC/PC Meeting to Review HCD and Public Comments (November 30, 2022)

Review the State of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Comments on the Draft Housing Element Due to City Staff by November 21, 2022 and Discussion of Next Steps.  View the agenda and supporting materials here (LINK).

Draft Housing Element (submitted to HCD August 2022)

The Mill Valley Housing Element Update will serve as the City’s housing plan for the next 8 years (2023-2031). The Draft Housing Element was submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on August 23, 2022 based on public comments received during the 30-day public comment period (June 30-July 30, 2022) and direction received at the August 1, 2022 City Council meeting.  While the city awaits comments from HCD (expected in late Nov. 2022), staff will work with consultants on preparing the  “subsequent Environmental Impact Report” that will address the environmental impacts associated with the adoption and implementation of the Housing Element Update. This subsequent EIR will evaluate only the impacts resulting from the amendments to the general plan elements.

Environmental Review / Notice of Preparation (July 2022):

A Notice of Preparation (NOP) was issued on July 20, 2022 indicating that the City, as lead agency, will prepare a Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the Draft Housing Element.  An errata to the NOP was then issued on September 15, 2022 to correct data and update information based on public comments received during the NOP public comment period (July 21-August 22, 2022).  A public scoping meeting was held via Zoom teleconference on Thursday August 4, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. to collect oral comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Report. 

City Council Hearing on Initial Public Review Draft (August 1, 2022): 

Discuss the initial draft Housing Element, including public comments and next steps in finalizing the initial draft to send to HCD for their initial review. The meeting will be held in person at Mill Valley City Hall, 26 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley. You can also watch the meeting remotely online (LINK). To view the staff report and comments received, see the August 1, 2022 City Council meeting (LINK).

Assembling the Draft Housing Element and Phases of Community Engagement:

The City’s 2023-2031 Draft Housing Element was prepared with the benefit of community input, including comments made by and to the Housing Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council. Details are provided below.

Phase 3: Policy Development (April - June 2022)

Phase 2: Housing Needs, Fair Housing and Sites Analysis (November 2021-March 2022)

Phase 1: Housing Needs and Goals (September-October 2021)

Project Kick off - Workplan and Outreach (September 2021)

Overview Materials

General Plan Goals

The two primary General Plan goals will guide the Housing Element Update process, and are:

  1. To protect and enhance the natural beauty and small town character of Mill Valley; and
  2. To encourage continued diversity of housing, income levels and lifestyles in the community. The General Plan community values are intended to guide the overall framework and decision making for the General Plan, and have been updated based on community input and feedback from the General Plan Advisory Committee.

Join the Conversation and our E-mail List  Stay up-to-date on the latest information by signing up for the Housing Element Update Email List.
The City welcomes your input and comments as part of the update process! See below for the series of workshops that will discuss housing needs, policies, sites, and land use plans to support housing opportunities for all income levels in the community during the 8-year planning cycle.