Community Development Department
HOUSING PROGRAM OBLIGATIONS
All cities in the State of California are required to maintain a General Plan, which includes a Housing Element (HE). The City of Sebastopol adopted our current HE on January 3, 2023. The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) approved the program and identified eight (8) of the element’s implementation programs as priorities. They will be tracking these programs with a higher level of scrutiny to ensure implementation. These programs and their status are indicated in Table 1, below. Table 2 provides the additional list of programs incorporated in the Element, which we are also expected to implement. Failure to prioritize this program could result in State sanctions, loss of the “Pro Housing Designation” granted the City and loss of local control over housing-related discretionary review if it is not set as a priority.
Several of the programs have been delayed due to significant staff turnover. We expect implementation will require 0.25 to 0.33 FTE of a planning position in the next year to move at least the HCD priority programs forward. Many of the implementation programs require updates to the Zoning Code. We have commitments of support from outside organizations, including ABAG for HCD priority program A-3.4). The Napa Sonoma Collaborative will assist with Code updates.
Table 1 – HCD Priorities
CDD; HOUSING PROGRAM OBLIGATIONS, Continued
Priority Program Deadline Status
Program A-3.1; Objective Design Standards Due 2025 Completed 2023; additional updates needed.
Program A-3.3; Missing Middle Housing Due 2028 Ongoing.
Program A-3.4; Workforce Housing Overlay
Zone Due 2024 Past Due. Implementation of PDA Grant will help complete this task.
Program A-3.5; Opportunities for By Right
Housing Due 2024 Past Due.
Program A-4.2; Fee Mitigation and
Transparency Due 2029
Annual program, which we already do (ongoing/will
work with Finance Department). Will include in
annual HCD report.
Program B-1.2; Code Enforcement and
Reasonable Accommodation Procedures Due 2025 Ongoing.
Program D-2.2; Zoning Code Updates Due 2023 Past Due.
Program D-4.1 ; Replacement Housing
Requirement Ongoing
Annual program;, which we already do (ongoing;
standard requirement already in place). Will
include in annual HCD report.
Table 2 – Housing Element – Additional Initiatives
Program
Program A-1.1 No Net Loss of Residential Capacity to Accommodate RHNA
Program A-1.2 No Reduction of Density without Replacement Sites Program A-1.3 Inventory Monitoring
Program A-2.1 Administrative List of Additional Sites
Program A-3.2 Support Efforts of Affordable Housing Developers Program A-3.6 Encourage the Development of Accessory Dwelling Units Program A-4.1 Density Bonus Incentives
Program A-4.3 Affordable Housing Funding
Program B-1.1 Monitor City Activities and Housing Program Implementation Program B-2.1 Expedite Processing for Affordable Housing Projects Program B-3.1 Monitor Housing Trends, Laws, and Issues
Program C-1.1 Safeguard Affordable Housing Inventory
Program C-2.1 Rehabilitation Assistance
Program C-3.1 Provide Information and Promote Energy Conservation Program D-1.1 Administer Housing Services and Provide Outreach and Education Program D-1.2 Proactive Outreach Program
Program D-2.1 Landlord Education
Program D-3.1 First Time Homebuyer Program and Affordable Homeownership Resources