City of Torrance
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What is the Housing Corridor Overlay (HCO)?
The City of Torrance was awarded a grant, funded by Senate Bill 2, to facilitate planning activities that promote housing development. With these funds, the City explored the possibility of creating new housing corridors from areas that are not currently zoned for residential uses. RRM Design Group assisted the Planning Division in this effort, by developing the Housing Corridor Study. The Study’s aim was to gather data and community input to develop strategies and recommendations for new housing opportunities. In short, the City's goal is to contribute to the housing crisis solution by making creating more housing stock.
The focus of the Study was to seek areas of the City that can provide more housing. To make the project more manageable, the City focused its efforts on seven areas. A map and table of the study areas shows their location and parcel data. The overall aim was to analyze whether these areas can be rezoned to allow residential development in a variety of densities.
The City has also prepared an update to the Housing Element, which provides goals, policies and programs to create opportunities for housing development. The Housing Corridor Overlay is anticipated to assist the City in meeting the State-mandated requirements for planning to accommodate housing through 2029. Please visit the Housing Element web page for more information.
On August 22nd, 2023 City Council approved the Housing Corridor Overlay. Document links are below:
- City Council Item
- Addendum to the Torrance General Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Housing Corridor Overlay
- FINAL Torrance Housing Corridor Overlay (HCO) Document
- HCO areas map
Outreach and FAQ Information
The City conducted public outreach in a number of ways and is currently developing strategies to promote the recently approved Housing Corridor Overlay to properties affected. Members of the public continue to have questions regarding the Housing Corridor Overlay. Planning Staff have prepared the attached Frequently Asked Questions List to help clarify the Housing Corridor Overlay.
Hopefully, this webpage page better explains the planning process and the resulting Final Housing Corridor Overlay document. For additional information please contact the Long-Range Planning Division of the Community Development Department at 310-618-5990 or CDDInfo@TorranceCA.Gov.