1.  INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

The City of El Segundo is located in the South Bay Region of Los Angeles County, approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.  The City occupies an area of approximately 5.46 square miles, and is home to approximately 16,400 residents and a large daytime employee population of about 80,000.  The City is bordered on the North by the Los Angeles International Airport; on the West by the Pacific Ocean; to the South by the Chevron Refinery; and to the East by the 405 Freeway.  These barriers isolate El Segundo’s residential and downtown communities from other South Bay communities.  Figure 1 depicts El Segundo's regional location and City boundaries respectively.

 

Given the lack of vacant residential land in El Segundo, combined with the City’s predominately commercial and industrial orientation, the City has experienced only limited residential growth over the past two decades, with an average annual growth of only three units per year since 1995.  Many residents view El Segundo’s stable residential neighborhoods and sound housing stock as one of the City’s greatest attributes. The City’s stock of 7,300 dwelling units is characterized by a relatively even split between single and multi-family residences, although the 1990 census documents a majority of the City’s units (60 percent) are renter-occupied. With relatively affordable home prices and rental rates compared to neighboring coastal communities, El Segundo offers a range of housing opportunities to the varied income levels of residents in the community.   

 

This 2000-2005 Housing Element of El Segundo's General Plan sets forth the City's strategy to preserve and enhance the community's residential character, expand housing opportunities for all economic segments, and provide guidance and direction for local government decision-making in all matters relating to housing. 

 

 

A.  STATE POLICY AND AUTHORIZATION

                                                                                                     

The California State Legislature has identified the attainment of a decent home and suitable living environment for every Californian as the State's major housing goal.  Recognizing the important role of local planning programs in the pursuit of this goal, the Legislature has mandated that all cities and counties prepare a housing element as part of their comprehensive General Plans.  Section 65302 (c) of the Government Code sets forth the specific components to be contained in a community's housing element.  Table 1 summarizes these State requirements and identifies the applicable sections in the El Segundo Housing Element where these requirements are addressed.

 

Figure 1 Regional Location Map

State law requires Housing Elements to be updated at least every five years to reflect a community's changing housing needs.  El Segundo's Housing Element was last updated in 1992 and is currently being updated through the year 2005 as part of the five-year update cycle for jurisdictions within the SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments) region.  The Element sets forth a strategy to address the City’s identified housing needs, including specific implementing programs and activities.  The Housing Element is a five-year plan, extending from 2000 to 2005.  The other General Plan elements typically cover a ten- to 20-year planning horizon.

 

 

B.  ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT

                                                                                             

The Housing Element sets forth housing goals and policies for El Segundo to address the City’s existing and projected needs.  Specific housing programs to implement these goals and policies are identified in the final Housing Plan section of the document. The El Segundo Housing Element is comprised of the following major components:

 

1.     An analysis of the City's population, household and employment base, and the characteristics of the City's housing stock (Section 2).

 

2.     A summary of the present and projected housing needs of the City's households (Section 3).

 

3.     A review of potential constraints to meeting the City's identi­fied housing needs (Section 4).                

 

4.     An evaluation of opportunities that will further the develop­ment of new housing (Section 5).

 

5.     A statement of the Housing Plan to address El Segundo's identified housing needs, including housing goals, policies and programs (Section 6).

                                                                     Table 1

                                            State Housing Element Requirements

 

 

 

 

C.  RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS

                                                                                             

The City of El Segundo General Plan is comprised of the following ten elements: 1) Land Use; 2) Economic Development; 3) Circulation; 4) Housing; 5) Open Space & Recreation; 6) Conservation; 7) Air Quality; 8) Noise; 9) Public Safety; and 10) Hazardous Materials & Waste Management. The Housing Element builds upon the other General Plan elements and is entirely consistent with the policies and proposals set forth by the Plan.  As portions of the General Plan are amended in the future, the Plan (including the Housing Element) will be reviewed to ensure internal consistency is maintained.

 

 

D.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

                                                                                                                       

Section 65583 (c)(5) of the Government Code states that, "The local government shall make diligent effort to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the housing element, and the program shall describe this effort."

 

City residents have several opportunities to recommend strategies, review, and comment on the El Segundo Housing Element.  The Planning Commission conducted three public study sessions, and the City Council conducted two study sessions during development of the Element. Each of these study sessions was advertised in the local newspaper, and was televised on the City’s local channel.  Copies of the draft Housing Element were made available in public locations, including the public library and City Planning Department public counter, the Joselyn Community Center, and sent directly to the local Board of Realtors and the Park Vista Senior Housing Board (represents City’s low-income housing project).  After the State Department of Housing and Community Development has reviewed the draft Element, public hearings were conducted before both the Planning Commission and City Council. Notification was published in the local newspaper in advance of each hearing and hearings were televised. As a means of specifically soliciting input on the Draft Housing Element from organizations representing lower income and special needs populations, the City sent copies of the draft Element to the following non-profit housing and service providers, along with notification of public hearings on the Element: Access Community Housing (elderly/disabled/homeless), Habitat for Humanity-Los Angeles, Corridor Economic Development Corporation (families), Los Angeles Community Design Center (families/special needs), and Southern California Housing Development Corporation.  Planning Commission and City Council will consider all public comments received and will make appropriate revisions to the Draft Housing Element prior to adoption.

 

E.  SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

 

The Housing Element needs assessment is based primarily on the sources listed below:

 

1.     U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, 1980 and 1990 Census reports

 

2.     State Department of Finance, 1998 Population and Housing Estimates

 

3.     Housing Element Update of the El Segundo General Plan, 1992

 

4.          Housing Element Existing Conditions Report, 1992

 

5.     City of El Segundo Zoning Ordinance, 1993

 

6.     SCAG Regional Housing Needs Assessment, 1999

 

7.     California Association of Realtors 1998/1999 Sales Data

 

8.     Daily Breeze rental listings (April-May 1999)

 

9.     SCAG Growth Forecasts 1994-2020

 

        10.   City of El Segundo Quarterly Code Compliance Reports