For City Council Meeting January 27, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Christina Taylor, Community Development Director
Title
Request City Council to Set a Public Hearing for February 24, 2026 to Consider and Adopt: 1) Environmental Assessment Review No. 25-0020; 2) General Plan Amendment No. 25-0001; 3) Zoning Code Amendment No. 25-0002; 4) Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0001; and, 5) Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0002 to comply with State Law.
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Set a Public Hearing for February 24, 2026, to consider the Housing Element Project (Related Files: Environmental Assessment Review No. 25-0020, General Plan Amendment No. 25-0001, Zoning Code Amendment No. 25-0002, Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0001, and Specific Plan Amendment No. 25-0002).
APPLICANT:
City of Rialto.
LOCATION:
Citywide. Amendments apply to identified parcels within the Foothill Central Specific Plan, Gateway Specific Plan, and additional Housing Opportunity District Overlay areas included in the Housing Element sites inventory.
BACKGROUND:
State law requires each jurisdiction to update its Housing Element every eight years (6th Cycle: 2021-2029). Rialto's RHNA allocation is 8,272 units, including 4,795 lower- and moderate-income units. The draft Housing Element identifies capacity for 16,197 units, exceeding RHNA by 105 percent.
During the review cycle, HCD issued multiple comment letters requiring revisions. The City was also party to litigation and settlement requiring rezoning of sites, adoption of an inclusionary zoning ordinance, and certification of the Housing Element. Extensions were granted, and on December 2, 2025, HCD stated the draft meets statutory requirements.
The proposed implementing actions include the adoption of a new Housing Opportunity Overlay, amendments to two Specific Plans, and certification of the CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declarat...
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