Town of Fairfax
Town Council
May 12, 2022
Status and Timeline
Housing Element Update
1 - Opportunity Sites
- CEQA Review Preparation
- Objective Development & Design Standards
- Eco-Village Concept
Agenda
3 Housing Element
Overview
▪ A plan for the housing needed in a community
▪ The Town of Fairfax doesn’t build the housing
▪ The Town of Fairfax creates the programs and
policies to plan where new housing should go
and how many units could be on potential sites
What is a Housing Element ?
Why does Fairfax need to plan for more housing?
It is required by State law:
• Part of the General Plan
• Updated every 8 years
• Fairfax’s 6th Cycle timeline: 2023-2031
Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
• A target number for homes needed
• Assigned to Fairfax by the State
How many future units?
Fairfax needs
to plan for
490
housing units
across income
levels
Fairfax All jurisdictions
within Marin County
Income Group Units Units
Very Low Income (<50% of
AMI) 149 4,156
Low Income (50%-80% of
AMI) 86 2,389
Moderate Income (80%-
120% of AMI) 71 2,182
Above Moderate Income
(>120% of AMI) 184 5,653
Total 490 14,380
Where are we in the process?
There will continue to be many
opportunities for the public to
be involved.
Next Steps:
▪ Equity review of sites
▪ Policy and affordability
▪ Scoping meeting
Visit: Fairfaxspeaks.com
When will the state review the plan?
AB 215 (New law for review times)
HCD Review:
▪ First draft for public comment must be available for at least 30 days.
▪ If any comments are received, at least 10 additional
business days to consider and incorporate comments.
▪ The state then has 90 days to review the draft and report its written findings and 60 days for subsequent draft
amendment or adoption reviews.
9 Draft
Housing Sites
Inventory
What is a Sites Inventory?
▪ Purpose:
• identify specific sites that are available
and reasonable for at least 490 housing
opportunities from 2023-2031
▪ Rezoning and/or adopting
programs and policies will likely
be necessary
Some Factors for Site Consideration*
Property Size
Recently Redeveloped
HCD Checklist
Site Reductions
Environmental Constraints
Public
Feedback Property Owner Interest
Site Additions
ADUs
SB9 Projects
Pipeline Projects
*these are not comprehensive lists
Original Sites
Potential New Sites
Potential New Sites
Revised Opportunity Sites
Revised Opportunity Sites
Site P: White Hill School
▪ 101 Glen Dr
▪ 50-80 possible units
Rationale:
▪ Housing for Marin’s 18
school districts’
employees
▪ No re-zoning needed
Constraints:
▪ Potential fire safety
and egress issues but
can be addressed
▪ Demonstration of
development interest
required by HCD
Site P: White Hill School
Housing and Community Development (HCD) Memo:
Sites controlled by exempt entities can be used to accommodate RHNA when documentation can be provided that demonstrates the likelihood that the planned housing will be
developed within the current RHNA/housing
element cycle.
Examples of documentation:
• Agreement with the entity controlling the land that grants the jurisdiction authority regarding approving, permitting, certifying occupancy, and/or reporting new units to the California Department of Finance. • Documentation from the entity controlling the land that demonstrates planned housing has been approved to be built within the current RHNA cycle.
• Data pertaining to the timing of project construction and unit affordability by household income category.
Site 14: Town and Country
Rationale:
▪ 25 mostly undeveloped acres
▪ Close to central transit, services
▪ Property owner is advocate
▪ Housing can occupy small area,
leaving rest of site undeveloped
or have other purpose
Constraints:
▪ Rezoning requires voter
approval or legal proceeding
▪ Portion of site is within 100 year
floodplain
▪ Potential historic and
environmental resources
▪ Needs new access point for
traffic/egress
▪ Past proposals for reuse of the
site have not been successful
▪ Area: Pastori Avenue
▪ 100-450 possible units
20 CEQA
Preparation
CEQA Review
CEQA Review
1. Air Quality
2. Biological Resources
3. Cultural Resources
4. Greenhouse Gases
5. Hydrology and Water Quality
6. Noise
7. Public Services
8. Transportation (vehicle miles traveled)
9. Utilities (particularly water supply availability)
10.Wildfire
We’ve heard you!
We’ve taken note about community
concerns, including:
• "High Fire” versus “Very High Fire” risk areas.
• Evacuation routes.
• Traffic concerns.
• Water availability.
CEQA approach
Comments and Questions are Welcomed!
Fairfaxspeaks.com
26 Objective
Development & Design
Standards Toolkit
Initial Draft Document
Opticos developed a
kit of parts, intended
to be tailored to
Fairfax, specifically.
To Tailor the Initial Draft Document
Initial Draft Document
Initial Draft Document
Objective Development & Design Standards
How will this benefit the Town?
• New laws prioritize land-use over zoning.
• Retains local authority for--
How new development will look,
Where it can be located on a site,
What housing types are permitted.
• Efficient approach to site review and zoning
updates.
• Save time and money with focused discussion.
32 Large-sites:
Eco-Village Concept
Value-based Performance Standards
Value-based Performance Standards
Eco-Village Ordinance
Value-based Performance Standards
Eco-Village Ordinance
Eco-Village Ordinance for Large Sites
How will this benefit the Town?
• Align Town values with future land-use.
• Improves conservation-
Water,
Energy,
Open Space.
• Graphic demonstration of options.
• Expert support for ordinance.
37 Draft
Timeline
Anticipated Future Council Meetings
• June 1, 2022: Draft Sites Inventory review
• July 6, 2022: Draft Housing Element and Safety
Element for Town Council review
• November 2, 2022: Revised Housing Element,
Safety Element, and CEQA
• December 7, 2022: Adoption request for Final
Housing Element, Safety Element, and CEQA
Generalized Timeline
Milestone Schedule
HCD Review
90 Days
HCD Review
Working Drafts
60 Days
30 Day Public
Review
Policy Examples for Future Review
Generalized Timeline
Timeline Collaboration
HCD Review
90 Days
HCD Review
Working Drafts
60 Days
30 Day Public
Review
CERTIFICATION
Revision
& Adoption
Question &
Answer
Session
Please visit the Fairfax
Speaks.com
website