Housing Element Updates

All jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area (and parts of the rest of the state) are gearing up to revise the housing elements of their general plans for the upcoming 5-year planning period. All cities and counties have these general plan housing elements, and there are a whole range of state requirements which the plans must meet. They have to identify specific sites where multi-family housing can be built by right; they have to address special housing needs of seniors, farmworkers, homeless persons and persons with disabilities; and they have to set out programs to facilitate development of affordable housing. The housing element gets reviewed by a state agency - the Department of Housing and Community Development - to determine if it complies with state mandates. Persons and groups interested in promoting more affordable housing in their areas should consider getting involved in the housing element update process. It can make a huge difference in whether any affordable housing will be built. Contact the person in charge of your local planning departments. Ask to be put on mailing lists and e-mail lists to get notice of local public hearings on the housing element update. Consider sending a letter to your local planning department urging them to adopt programs such as inclusionary zoning ordinances, commercial linkage fees, reasonable accommodation ordinances, and other programs to meet the jurisdiction's need for various kinds of affordable housing. CLICK HERE to see a letter that HAG recently sent to the City of Santa Rosa about its housing element update process.