Lompoc 2023-2031 Housing Element Update

Mintier Harnish led the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update for the City of Lompoc as well as a technical updates to the Safety and Circulation Elements, and creation of a new Environmental Justice Element. The Project kicked off in March 2022, with a review of the existing Housing Element and initial community engagement, including workshops, stakeholder interviews, and study sessions with the City Council. The Housing Element focused on expanding the variety of housing available for all income levels, rehabilitating existing housing, and incentivizing new development by making it easier and less expensive for developers to build. The Housing Element also includes programs to address new State laws involving emergency shelters, accessory dwelling units, Fair Housing and Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, and well as to support affordable housing production, incentivize special needs housing development, and engage the community.

Through the revision process, HCD reviews consistently focused on placed based stragies for community improvement. The Final Housing Element addressed these comments by including a placed-based strategies program that incorporated evaluations of infrastructure needs, new funding pursuits, and completing a housing conditions survey. The program also identified current grant funded projects the City is completing in lower resource areas, including ADA improvements, park improvements, streetscape improvement plans, and installing sidewalks and safe routes to school.

The City adopted the Housing Element Update on November 19, 2024. The Update was certified by HCD on January 7, 2025.

This City faced significant hurdles to compliance, including opposition to State requirements among decision-makers. To achieve compliance, the Project required significant coordination with HCD reviewers, including three rounds of informal review (in addition to three formal reviews). Mintier Harnish facilitated meetings with HCD and helped guide City staff and the Planning Commission through the process of removing constraints and creating meaningful actions to address fair housing issues.

Following certification of the Housing Element Update, newly-elected officials questioned a proposed rezone site and asked Mintier Harnish to assist City staff with negotiations with HCD on potential alternatives. Mintier Harnish facilitated discussions with HCD and provided guidance to City staff in achieving compliance with State law.

Jim Harnish, Project Director
Brent Gibbons, General Plan Update Project Manager
Ryan Lester, Housing Element Task Lead

Mintier Harnish
Rincon Consultants

Brian Halvorson, Planning Manager (former)
Greg Stones, Planning Manager

• Project logo/branding
• Project website (envisionlompoc.com)
• Stakeholder interviews
• Two community workshops
• Study sessions and public hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council
• Newsletters
• Eblasts
• Surveys