Title
Conduct a workshop to review strategies to increase the construction of affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County and provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing & Human Services Committee conduct a workshop to review strategies to increase the construction of affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County and provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee (HHHS Committee) and the County's Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) are convening a study session to better understand market forces and regulatory constraints that hinder affordable housing development and to consider strategies that could increase opportunities for development of affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County.
DISCUSSION:
The County is currently drafting an update to the Housing Element of the General Plan ("6th Cycle Housing Element Update"). The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update must identify properties that are capable of being developed with housing to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the 8-year planning cycle (6th cycle) of:
1,070 very low-income units
700 low-income units
420 moderate-income units
1,136 above moderate (market rate) units
AB1537 requires the County to rezone these parcels with a default density of least 20-units per acre. Conceptually, higher density housing is more affordable by nature; however, rezoning or upzoning is only part of the challenge facing potential housing development in the County. There are many governmental and non-governmental constraints to housing development. Some of these constraints, like market conditions, are beyond the control of the County. The focus of the workshop will be to consider policies and programs that are within the control of the County.
A review of current housing development proposals is included in this repor...
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