Planning Commission Study Session
June 3, 2014
agenda
 Review Housing Element requirements
 Discuss Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA)
 Receive input on proposed housing
goals, policies, and programs
housing element legislative intent
Enacted in 1969 (and amended frequently thereafter)
“The availability of housing is of vital statewide
importance…[and] local and state governments have a
responsibility to use the powers vested in them to
facilitate the improvement and development of
housing to make adequate provision for the housing
needs of all economic segments of the community.”
housing element facts
 State-mandated planning
document for housing
– 1 of 7 state-required elements
of the Comprehensive Plan
 Only General Plan
element requiring and
“certification” by State
agency (California
Department of Housing
and Community
Development)
housing element facts
Periodic updates required
by State law
 2015-2023 update due
January 31, 2015 (plus
120-day grace period)
 If certified, Housing
Element valid for eight
years
role of housing element
The Housing Element DOES…
• Assess and address constraints to development
• Guide housing development policy
• Identify opportunities to meet the City’s housing needs
The Housing Element DOES NOT…
• Require the City to build the housing units identified in the
RHNA
• Solve all housing problems
regional housing needs allocation (rhna)
ABAG Region: 187,990 units
Remainder of San
Mateo County:
13,629 units
7.2% of Region
Redwood City:
2,789 units
1.4% of ABAG
17% of County
redwood city’s rhna
% of County
AMI
Redwood City
RHNA
(2014-2022)
% of Units
Very Low
0-50%
706
25%
Low
51-80%
429
15%
Moderate
81-120%
502
18%
Above Moderate
120% +
1,152
41%
2,789
100%
Income Group
Total
Goal for accommodating housing need through
land use policies and planning (zoning)
• NOT a construction obligation
achieving the rhna: downtown
Downtown Redwood City Housing Production: 1960s to present
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
Fully Private
600
RDA Assisted
400
200
0
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2015-2023 housing goals
Intent of the Goals, Policies, and Programs unchanged from 2010 Housing Element
Protect affordable
housing and
enhance
neighborhoods
Promote housing
to meet needs of
all socio-economic
segments
Remove
constraints to
housing production
and affordability
Encourage a
variety of housing
types
Promote equal
housing
opportunity for all
public outreach
 December 3, 2014
workshop
 Community meetings in
late winter/early spring
 Joint HHCC and Senior
Affairs meeting on May
27, 2014
 21 Elements: Regional
input from service
providers and
developers
plans and programs for the next 8 years
Affordability
Senior
Housing
Make It
Easier to
Build
affordability
 Countywide Nexus Study
 Community Benefits Ordinance:
Partnership RWC
 Extremely Low-Income Households
and Special Needs
senior housing needs
 Support organizations that facilitate shared housing
 Encourage new senior housing options
 Revise Zoning Ordinance to clarify provisions for
residential care and group homes
 Consider enacting a “universal design” ordinance
make it easier to build
 Analyze parking standards for single-family, duplex, triplex,
and second units
 Explore revising development standards for duplexes,
triplexes, and other small multi-family developments
 Review and consider revising second unit development
standards
build on the success of downtown
Evaluate development allowances permitted within the
Downtown Precise Plan area
housing element update process
Public Input
Phase
1
Phase
2
Update Population
and Housing
Conditions
Evaluate Any New
Constraints and
Update Land
Inventory and
Resources
Revise Housing
Policies and
Programs
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Public Review
Draft Housing
Element
CEQA and State
HCD Review
City Council
Consideration
Spring 2014
Summer 2014
Fall 2014
Public Input
questions and comments
Diana O’Dell, Senior Planner
dodell@redwoodcity.org
(650) 780-7236