Housing Element
Programs Report
City of Merced
February 18, 2025
6th Cycle Housing Element
Programs
2 Categories of Housing Programs:
Housing production
Housing preservation
Housing protections
Housing access
Fair housing
Background
4 Review and update goals, policies, programs, and
objectives from the previous housing cycle
Specific commitments to action and timelines
Remedy identified constraints to housing development
and compliance with new state laws
Accommodate special needs groups such as seniors,
persons experiencing homelessness, college students,
farmworkers, and persons with disabilities
Reduce fair housing issues and improve adverse
conditions
Program 1: Regional Collaboration
Collaborate regionally on housing, funding, best practices, and efforts addressing housing, transit, economic development, and homelessness. • Participate in regional meetings
• Partner with regional agencies to:
• Address homelessness
• Management and implement transit and services
• Provide a public forum
• Implement a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness
Program 2: Adequate Sites for RHNA and
Monitoring of No Net Loss
Ensure there are adequate sites at appropriate densities during the planning period to accommodate City’s share of regional housing need.
• Facilitate development*
• Rezone*
• Maintain an inventory of prospective sites*
• Meet with property owners
• Monitor no net-loss*
*Strictly required by state law
Program 3: By-Right Approval
If a site has been used in the City’s inventory in prior housing element cycles and meets certain criteria, projects on those sites are subject to by-right approval when a project includes 20 percent of the units affordable to lower-income households and no subdivision is proposed.
• Update zoning code to reflect state law
Strictly required by state law
Program 4: Replacement Housing
Development on non-vacant sites with existing residential units is subject to replacement requirements, pursuant to AB 1397. • Amend the zoning code to address replacement requirements Strictly required by state law
Program 5: Accessory Dwelling Units
Continue to encourage the production of ADUs and work to provide affordable units for lower-income households.
• Facilitate development—provide Technical assistance,
resources, and education
• ADU amnesty program
• Pursue funding sources to enhance ADU affordability
Program 6: Zoning Code Amendments
Remove constraints to housing development by amending the Zoning Code to facilitate a variety of housing types, especially housing for lower-income households and those with special needs.
• Allow for emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, and other resources for low-income families and people experiencing homelessness*
• Revise development standards
• Allow for farmworker and employee housing*
*Strictly required by state law
Program 7: Facilitating Affordable Housing
Development
Expand affordable housing options for households of
all income levels using development tools such as
density bonus provisions, waiving development fees
and streamlining the application process.
• Pursue funding
• Conduct outreach to affordable housing
developers
Program 8: Preservation of At-Risk Housing
The City will work to preserve assisted units and will proactively monitor to encourage continued affordability beyond existing covenants and work proactively with owners of affordable units to assist in rehabilitation needs.
• Monitor at-risk units
• Work with property owners to ensure tenants are properly notified
Strictly required by state law
Program 9: Housing Preservation and
Rehabilitation
The City works cooperatively with citizens to ensure Municipal Code compliance and explore funding for housing rehabilitation. • Track where rehabilitation needs are heightened
• Conduct a housing conditions survey
• Public education
Program 10: Lower-Income and Special
Needs Housing
Assist in the development of housing to meet the needs of extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households.
• Connect residents to resources
• Collaborate with the Housing Authority
• Develop and inventory of affordable housing
• Work with UC Merced to complete a Student Housing
Plan
• Density bonus for senior housing
Program 11: Farmworker Housing
Merced had 2,781 farmworkers in 2021, representing 22.6 percent of the total farmworker population across the county.
• Apply for funding for farmworker housing
• Work with farm owners to identify farmworker housing needs • Facilitate development through expedited review and
development standard concessions
Program 12: Water and Sewer Service
The City of Merced is the provider of water and sewer services within city limits. Adequate water and sewer services are available to fully accommodate the City’s share of the RHNA.
• Adopt a policy to prioritize water/sewer services to affordable housing projects if capacity is limited*
• Update master plans
• Conduct outreach on conservation measures
• Rehabilitation assistance for conservation
*Strictly required by state law
Program 13: Community and Economic
Development
Develop and maintain infrastructure for economic growth and equal access to essential services.
• Review the City’s Capital Improvement Projects
• Work with MCAG on transportation plans
• Connect street and pedestrian/bicycle networks
Program 14: Fair Housing Outreach and
Enforcement
Assist residents with fair housing issues
• Provide and disseminate information and resources
• Conduct workshops
• Support homeownership opportunities
Public Input and Suggestions for Programs
Some of the suggestions are already priorities and pending zoning ordinance amendments
- Remove parking requirements *
- More economic development *
- Invest in the Merced Senior Center and Boys & Girls Club * - Add housing as a use for commercial properties *
Public Input and Suggestions for Programs
Some suggestions are familiar:
- Establish permanent rental assistance program
- Rent stabilization program
- Establish a rental registry
- Establish a right to legal counsel
- Invest in infrastructure in food deserts
Public Input and Suggestions for Programs
New Ideas for Programs
- Zoning amendments to attack urban sprawl and increase higher density housing
- Upzone residential areas that are R1, to allow small houses, and tiny house villages
- Allow small businesses in residential zones
- Tiny homes on wheels in villages should be allowed
- More investments in seniors
Public Input and Suggestions for Programs
More Ideas for Programs
- Incentivize rental property owners to rent their units, to avoid vacant units sitting for extended periods of time
- Invest in infrastructure in food deserts
- Limit conversion of homes to offices, especially in the downtown - Regulate air – bed and breakfast rentals (short term rentals) - Do more to encourage affordability for those rentals with expiring affordability covenants
- Establish policies limiting or removing rental application fees Next Steps
Council to
Provide
Direction
2/18
Revise
Housing
Element
Public
Review
Draft (7-
days)
Submit
Draft
Housing
Element to
HCD for
review
Public
hearings
and
adoption *
Submit the
Adopted
Housing
Element to
HCD for
certification
* Rezones to meet RHNA must occur before HE will be in compliance.
Questions,
Discussion,
Direction,
Thank you!