Item 8.1
Amendments to the Guidelines to the
Balanced Communities Policy
Presented by:
Stacey Kurz, Housing Manager
Genevieve Hernandez, Senior Planner
Housing Element Policies
and Programs
Goal 1: Promote Housing that Helps to Create Safe,
Livable, and Sustainable Neighborhoods.
Goal 2: Facilitate the Construction and Provision of Quality Housing to Meet the City’s Diverse Needs (by type, size, ownership level and income levels).
Goal 3: Create Opportunities for Affordable Housing,
Particularly in Vulnerable Areas and in Areas of
Opportunity.
Goal 4: Promote Equitable and Accessible Housing Options and Resources.
Housing Element
Workplan
0-12 months
• Permit Ready ADUs
• Housing Impact
Statement
• Adequate Sites
Inventory
12-24 months
• Density Bonus
Ordinance
• Improve Project
Tracking and Reviews
• Supportive Housing
and Low Barrier
Navigation Centers
• Emergency Shelter
Zoning
36+ months
• Objective Design
Standards
• Balanced Communities
• Condominium
Conversion Ordinance
Within 36 Months of
Adoption
3.4 Balanced Communities – Affordable Housing
• Review the existing policy for its feasibility in making progress towards the low-and moderate-income RHNA allocations for the City, including:
• Supportable increase in the affordable requirements;
• Lower the threshold or applicability;
• Adopt an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance; and
• Revise the in-lieu housing fee.
• September 13, 2022: Proposal to amend Guidelines and Remove Variance and Exemption so that the inclusionary policy applies to all projects across the entire City.
History of Balanced
Communities Policy
• 1981: Chula Vista Adopted Balanced Communities Policy, “Inclusionary Housing”.
• September 25, 2012: Adopted Guidelines to the
Balanced Communities Policy.
• December 15, 2015: The Policy was amended to adapt
to changing market conditions and anticipated future
growth within Chula Vista.
• The current policy indicates that all residential
developments of 50 units or more, shall provide 10% of the total number of dwelling units as affordable to low-and moderate-income households.
• 5% minimum for low-income households
• 5% for moderate income households
• For example: A 200-unit multifamily development, would be required to provide 10 low-income units, and 10
moderate-income units.
Current Policy
• Exemption - To promote the Policy goal of creating a balanced community and not overburden areas of the community with low- income housing concentrations.
• Guidelines defined areas of the City that already provided a large share of low-income housing options. Areas of Exemption are currently exempt from having any inclusionary requirement. • Variance – Exception from the affordable housing requirements in “Primarily Undeveloped Areas”. The variance request may be approved based on specific findings.
Variance & Exemption
Defined
Areas of
Variance &
Exemption
Chula Vista Market
Changes
Rent and Housing Cost
WEST of 805 EAST of 805
Chula Vista Market
Changes
Rent & Housing Cost
Future Growth
Recommendation
Adopt amendments to the guidelines to
remove the exemptions and variance
provisions in the Balanced Communities
Policy, to require that the policy and
associated guidelines apply Citywide.