Housing & Community Investment Study

• July 19, 2023: City Council Approves the EVSP
  • The City Council adopted Resolution Number 2023-85, certifying the Program Environmental Impact Report prepared for the East Valley Specific Plan, and adopted Ordinance Number 2023-10, approving the East Valley Specific Plan with exception of the following:
    • Allow for drive-through facilities to continue operating as a conditional use, and;
    • Strike the following:
      • Section 2.2.2 (1.1)
      • the last sentence of 1.4
      • the following words from Section 2.2.4 (1.4): "increase the number of people who use transit" and replace with "other viable transit options"
      • Section 3.2
  • Approved East Valley Specific Plan (PDF)
• July 6, 2023: Continued Planning Commission review of the EVSP
  • The Planning Commission meeting on June 27th was continued to a special meeting on July 6th. The East Valley Specific Plan and associated Final Program Environmental Impact Report will be brought to the Planning Commission at that meeting for consideration and recommendation to the City Council. Meeting documents can be found below:
    • Staff Report - July 6th Planning Commission (PDF)
    • East Valley Specific Plan (June 30, 2023) (PDF)
    • Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PDF)
• June 27, 2023: Continued Planning Commission review of the EVSP
  • The East Valley Specific Plan will be brought before the Planning Commission on June 27th at the regular meeting for further review and input from the Planning Commission. Meeting documents can be found below:
    • Public Notice - June 27th Planning Commission (PDF)
    • Staff Report - June 27th Planning Commission (PDF)
• June 20, 2023: Continued Planning Commission review of the EVSP
  • The Planning Commission meeting on June 13th was continued to a special meeting on June 20th. The East Valley Specific Plan will be brought before the Planning Commission at that meeting for further review and input from the Planning Commission. Meeting documents can be found below:
    • Staff Report - June 20th Planning Commission (PDF)
• June 13, 2023: Planning Commission Meeting for review of EVSP
  • The East Valley Specific Plan will be brought before the Planning Commission on June 13th at the regularly scheduled meeting for review and input from the Planning Commission. Meeting documents can be found below:
    • Public Notice - June 13th Planning Commission (PDF)
    • Staff Report - June 13th Planning Commission (PDF)
  • Should you have any questions or wish to provide a written public comment, please email us. Public comment may be made in-person as well. Planning Commission is held at City Hall, beginning at 7 pm: 201 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025.

• May 24, 2023:Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) - Housing Element Review Letter
  • On May 24th, the City received a subsequent review letter from HCD regarding the March 22nd adopted housing element that was submitted to HCD for their compliance review. View the Housing Element Review Letter (PDF).
• March 30, 2023: Public Review of the EVSP PEIR
  • The East Valley Specific Plan (EVSP) is the final step in securing certification of the recently adopted Housing Element by HCD. This is because the Housing Element identified a significant number of housing units that can be accommodated on parcels within the East Valley Specific Plan area. A Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) has been prepared for the EVSP to address potentially significant impacts resulting from the implementation of the specific plan. The draft PEIR is being released for a 45-day pubic review period beginning March 30, 2023 and running through May 15, 2023.
  • The public is invited to review and comment on the draft PEIR. Comments may be mailed or submitted via email, and should be addressed to:
    • Adam Finestone, AICP
      City Planner
      Planning Division
      City of Escondido
      201 N Broadway
      Escondido, CA 92025
• March 22, 2023: The Planning Commission's February 28th recommendation will be presented to the City Council for final action at March 22nd's regularly scheduled City Council meeting. The staff report and agenda will be available a minimum of 72 hours prior to the Mar., 22nd date at this webpage.
  • Should you have any questions or wish to provide a written public comment, please email us or you may submit them at the City's webpage. You may also call directly at 760-839-4548. Public comment may be made in-person as well. City Council is held at City Hall: 201 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025.

• February 28, 2023:Draft revisions from October 3, 2022 will be presented to the City's Planning Commission at the Feb., 28th regularly scheduled public hearing for review and recommendation to the City Council. The staff report and agenda will be available a minimum of 72 hours prior to the Feb., 28th date at this webpage.
  • Should you have any questions or wish to provide a written public comment, please email us or you may call directly at 760-839-4548. Public comment may be made in-person as well. Planning Commission is held at City Hall: 201 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025.
  • Public Comment Received February 28, 2023:
    • The Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters (PDF)
    • P. Borchmann (PDF)
• December 8, 2022: The City received a review letter from HCD (PDF), dated December 8, 2022 for the City's October 3rd draft revisions to the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element. HCD states, "[t]he draft revisions to the element meet the statutory requirements described in HCD's August 2, 2022 review." However, the City's draft revised housing element may not be found in full compliance until the City adopts rezoning efforts pursuant to Gov. Code section 65585. The City's rezoning efforts are currently underway through the East Valley Specific Plan project.

• October 3, 2022: Draft revisions to the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element (PDF) (shown in srtrikethrough/red) are available for a 14-calendar day review period before transmittal to HCD for review and certification. The September 2022 revisions are in addition to those revisions submitted to HCD in June 2022, and are in direct response to the August 2, 2022 comment letter received from HCD (see below).
• August 2, 2022: City staff received HCD's 60-day review comment letter. HCD's comment letter of the draft revisions to the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element (PDF).

• May 3, 2022: Draft revisions to the 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element (PDF) (shown in Tracked Changes srtrikethrough/underlined) are available for a 30-day review period before transmittal to HCD for review and certification. Response to comments received throughout the Housing Element Update and to HCD's August 10, 2021 comment letter (PDF).
• May 10, 2022:A public meeting will be held at the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting to provide an overview of the draft revisions made to the 2021 - 2029 General Plan Housing Element and allow for public comment. The agenda can be found on the Planning Commission page.
  • The Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters provided their public comment letter (PDF) in response to the May 10th meeting.

The City of Escondido envisions itself as a sustainable community through various environmental, economic, health, and social equity initiatives.  And the ability to increase housing production and preservation is a key factor to a sustainable future.  Housing is a central component of livability and the need for people of various incomes and physical ability to find safe, decent, and attainable housing.  The City was recently awarded grant funding to develop three different housing studies and plans: a Housing Element Update, a Sector Feasibility Study, and an East Valley Specific Plan.  These three housing studies and plans have been linked together, through a common work program theme, called the “Housing and Community Investment Study.”  The City is currently soliciting public review and comment on the Draft East Valley Specific Plan (PDF).  The Sector Feasibility Study (PDF) was completed in June, 2021, in support of the other two documents.