GUSTINE — The Gustine City Council has taken a significant step toward shaping the city’s housing future, voting on May 20 to submit a revised draft of its 2024-2032 Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The plan, which outlines how the city will accommodate 346 new housing units over the next eight years, is essential for Gustine to remain compliant with state regulations and eligible for infrastructure and housing funds.
City officials have been working for months to refine the document after receiving feedback from the state. Among the key concerns highlighted were the need for clearer zoning rules, stronger fair housing policies, and improved environmental conditions in underserved areas. One major change involves revising policies for Planned Development zones, which currently lack defined standards, creating uncertainty for developers. Rather than committing to a single solution, the city will evaluate multiple approaches to make the development process more predictable.
The state also urged Gustine to take further steps in ensuring fair housing access, particularly for residents who face language barriers or have disabilities. In response, officials have incorporated new policies requiring city resources to be available in both Spanish and English and ensuring translation services are more accessible for non-English speakers…