City planning staff updated the San Clemente City Council on Oct. 21 about progress implementing the housing element adopted in 2021 and certified by the state in 2022, then the council directed staff to keep pursuing site evaluations and return with a feasibility analysis.

Principal Planner Zach Rehm told the council the city’s housing action plan is an eight‑year program (2021–2029) that identifies goals, strategies and specific parcels to help accommodate the region’s housing needs. Recent steps include establishing a housing overlay on portions of El Camino Real and identifying six commercial parcels that could be eligible for housing redevelopment if a qualified project is proposed.

Staff described proactive developer outreach, property profiles (including the Rite Aid and former DMV sites), and the city’s intent to prepare a real-estate asset management plan that will identify city-controlled parcels that could be repurposed for affordable housing or other priorities. Rehm said accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are the program producing the most housing in the city today and that the city is also updating its inclusionary housing program and the emergency shelter overlay (a state requirement).

Councilmembers noted the city has produced relatively few deed-restricted affordable units since 2013 (staff cited a 19-unit affordable project in 2013) and discussed the difficulty of producing low-cost housing in a high‑value coastal market. Councilmember Wu said staff should pursue more aggressive options and recommended early focus on city-owned parcels. Other members said market forces and state law make affordable projects difficult without outside funding or public land contributions.

Council direction: the council voted unanimously to receive and file the staff report; staff was directed to continue evaluating potential sites through the forthcoming real-estate asset management plan and to return with a feasibility analysis for candidate sites. Council members expressed support for continued outreach to affordable-housing developers and for considering incentives (rezoning, density bonuses, use of city land or fees) to make projects financially feasible.

What’s next: staff will complete the real-estate asset management plan and return to council early next year with site feasibility studies and recommended actions, including updates to inclusionary housing rules and ADU regulations. The council emphasized balancing state housing goals with local constraints such as Measure V and conservation easements.

Votes and motions: Council voted to receive and file the administrative report and directed staff to continue work on the real-estate asset management plan and feasibility studies.