Certified Housing Element

On March 1, 2024, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the Millbrae Housing Element, stating in their letter "HCD is pleased to find the adopted housing element in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq) as of the date of this letter." 

The adopted and certified Housing Element can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Housing Element - Adopted and Certified Final

If you have any questions or comments, please email the Planning Division.

The Millbrae City Council conducted a public hearing on the draft Housing Element on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 to review the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update revisions in response to comments from the California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD). At that meeting, the Council adopted the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update and authorized staff to submit the Housing Element Update to HCD. 

On March 1, 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development responded in a certification letter to the City of Millbrae confirming that the adopted Housing Element met the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law. Their letter states "HCD is pleased to find the adopted housing element in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq) as of the date of this letter."

Anyone with questions on the adopted housing element may email the Planning Division of the City of Millbrae's Community Development Department, 621 Magnolia Avenue, Millbrae, CA. 94030.

• February 2024 Adopted Housing Element Update - Redlined Version 
• April 2023 Revised Draft Housing Element Update Clean Copy (Superseded) (PDF)
• Redlined April 2023 Revised Draft Housing Element (Superseded) (PDF)
• Prior 5th Cycle Housing Element 2015 to 2023 (Superseded) (PDF)

Please reach out to Planning Division at 650-259-2341 with any questions.

The Housing Element is a core element of the City's General Plan. The General Plan is a long-range plan that guides decision-making and establishes rules and standards for new development and city improvements. It reflects the community vision for the future and is intended to provide direction through the year 2040.

The key components of the Housing Element include:

• A 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.
• Housing goals, programs, policies, and resources for improving and creating housing within the City.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 2024

From: Justine Bleeker, Public Information Officer

Through: Thomas C. Williams, City Manager

Topic: City of Millbrae Housing Element Meets State Requirements

MILLBRAE, CA –The City of Millbrae received confirmation from the State of California that its draft 2023-2031 Housing Element substantially complies with all State requirements and will be certified upon approval from the Millbrae City Council. This marks the culmination of a collaborative planning cycle that demonstrates that the City can accommodate its projected housing need over the next eight years.

On February 21, 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) finished its review of the Millbrae plan, finding the City’s “revised draft element to meet the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law.”

The City made a number of changes to the plan in order to satisfy HCD’s requirements. HCD accepted all of Millbrae’s revisions, clearing the path for final approval by the state.

Once Millbrae submits the final plan, the Housing Element will be approved by HCD, as the state has now deemed that it “substantially complies” with state housing laws. This final submittal is only a formality.

The Housing Element covers the eight-year planning period beginning October 15, 2023, and ending on October 15, 2031. It identifies the City’s projected housing need during that period and establishes a roadmap for meeting that need.

Millbrae’s plan identified potential sites to create 2,199 units at different levels of affordability, representing nearly 663 more units than in the previous cycle. The Housing Element plan is consistent with the General Plan and Downtown and El Camino Real Specific Plan adopted in September of 2022. The Housing Element not only carries out elements of the General Plan but also identifies programs that will affirmatively further fair housing across the community.

City leaders celebrated this significant milestone. “The approval of our draft Housing Element is the result of years of community engagement and hard work by our city staff and our steadfast commitment to becoming a regional partner to providing housing for families, seniors, veterans, and everyone who wants to call Millbrae home,” said Mayor Anders Fung. “This approval is highly important to our community.”

Councilmember Gina Papan said, “Our City is steadfastly committed to doing our part to address our local and regional housing shortage and focusing on affordability, and our Housing Element reflects that commitment. We look forward to submitting our final plans and receiving HDC certification.”

City Manager Tom Williams echoed these comments and stated, “I am proud of the City’s progress towards` developing more than their fair share of housing for the region.”

“The draft Housing Element provides the City with a solid foundation towards the development of new housing with new programs that will help us meet our affordability and housing needs,” said Community Development Director Andrew Mogensen. “We’re pleased to receive this letter, and we’re eager to continue our efforts facilitating the construction of much-needed housing.”

The City Council will hold a public hearing to accept the draft Housing Element, authorizing the city to transmit the final plan to HCD at its upcoming meeting tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 27.