Placerville’s new housing element required by state

EDITOR: FYI, for those who may not be aware, either for or against this, the California Legislature has a new major housing goal: A decent home and suitable living environments for every resident iin the state.

Link to Placerville's New Housing elements, which is posted on the main City of Placerville’s Web page: cityofplacerville.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5802.

A hearing was schedule Feb 14. This is coming from SACOG (Sacramento Area Council of Governments) and the state. They have mandated that each city and county within their region that belongs to SACOG have their appropriate share of housing within our city limits and county limits, to have housing for population groups that have special needs.

SACOG has their Metropolitan Transportation Plan on their Web page or MTP.

Placerville has been having hearings for the public regarding the New Housing Element to the General Plan that implements housing policies to all housing and land-use citywide.

High density housing and in-fill within the city limits. The city has made a diligent effort to achieve involvement of all economic groups, particularly low-income, special needs groups and non-profits. Notices have also been posted at City Hall, public areas, and in the notices section in the Mountain Democrat.

The city has provided the Department of Housing and Community Development a list of Placerville’s vacant land (parcel) inventory. The city has identified over 421 acres of residential zoned and designated land that could accommodate 1,100 or more dwelling units of high density development within the city limits.

Builders can put up to 20 units per acre. Potential development incentives and funding are available for development of these properties There is no upper limit on residential densities in mixed-use projects in commercial zones. These figures may continue to grow regardless of its feasibility. Your property can be rezoned.

Some population groups have special housing needs by virtue of their physical or developmental capabilities, childcare needs, occupations, and other factors.

Examples of special needs groups are seniors, persons with disabilities, large families, single-parent, households, farm workers and their families, and homeless individuals and families. Also workforce housing.

If City Council determines the need for such a study, as indicated, based on the availability of state funding, the city may prepare a study of options to provide housing that is affordable to, and meets the needs of, residents who are employed locally (workforce housing).

A survey of major employers will assess the wages of the local workforce. This survey will assist the city in determining the mix of afford ability levels appropriate for the city workforce. The city will update the wage study every two years.

Employment in Placerville is dominated by retail, public agency, and service organizations. The city will annex land within its Sphere of Influence, (SOI) to maintain an adequate supply of residential land, as required, and mandated, to build Placerville's share of housing, for special housing needs as determined (SOI-that term was used with Redevelopment).  Assumption is that it is within the same boundaries as Redevelopment. The city will promote in-fill development by identifying suitable sites.The city will continue to pursue a variety of state and federal funding. (This looks like it is funding based, subsidies, incentives, loans,and government financial assisted). The city has identified several state, federal, and private funding programs. There is a lot of funding through out the entire document.

I recently read an article regarding the Sutter Board of Supervisors rejected a resolution to apply for a state grant to help them pay for the update to their county's zoning ordinance. They said no to giving up local control for a state grant, which they felt had strings attached. The grant that they considered came out of Proposition 84, which is a state bond measure that they felt fell under build sustainable communities. A supervisor told them that the update is necessary. Speakers, and those that attended the meeting, said that sustainable communities actually means losing private property rights and giving up local control of their county."State money comes with strings attached to the funding."

VICKI CLARK

Placerville