The State of California requires cities and counties to update the Housing Element of the General Plan approximately every eight years to ensure that regional housing needs are being met. The Yolo County Housing Element establishes the County's goals for the maintenance and development of housing to meet the needs of existing and future residents, establishes policies to guide County decision-making, and sets forth an action program to implement housing goals.
The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update to the Countywide General Plan is composed of two parts: the Background Report and the Housing Plan. The Background Report provides an analysis of the County’s housing needs in unincorporated Yolo County and the Housing Plan provides goals, policies, and implementation actions to provide for those needs. Altogether, this includes addressing the existing and projected housing needs for people of all incomes (extremely low, very low, low, moderate, and above moderate) and the needs of special populations, which include seniors, farm workers, persons with disabilities, single parents, large families, and homeless. The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update must also show how the County will accommodate its assigned Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 57 housing units, which identifies that 14 shall be affordable to very low-income households, 9 shall be affordable to low-income households, and 10 shall be affordable to moderate-income households.
The County released the Draft Housing Element for public review in mid-June 2021, which was made available for a 30-day review and comment period with a public workshop held with the Planning Commission on July 8, 2021. The Board of Supervisors also received an update on the Housing Element per their request on July 13, 2021 and provided general comments on the Housing Element.
Comments were also received from Legal Services of Northern California and the Delta Protection Commission (Attachment D); both comment letters are addressed in the revisions to the 6th Cycle Housing Element Housing Plan. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviewed the draft Housing Element and provided an initial comment letter dated August 9, 2021. The HCD letter and Summary of Edits are included (Attachment E). The comments provided by HCD asked for more specificity with respect to the Housing Plan programs, clarification of outreach efforts, and a more thorough discussion of implementing new State requirements for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH). At the writing of this staff report, the County is currently reviewing the most recent submittal with HCD, which addresses some of their findings related to AFFH. Planning staff expect HCD to follow up with any additional guidance which will be shared with the Planning Commission during the public hearing.
As of January 1, 2019, AB 686 proactively applies the obligation to affirmatively further fair housing to all public agencies in California. Public agencies must now examine existing and future policies, plans, programs, rules,practices, and related activities and make proactive changes to promote more inclusive communities. This has resulted in extensive time and coordination with HCD as they determine how the new law is to be implemented in the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.
Discussion and comments received during the public meetings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in July are addressed in the table below:
| Planning Commission 7.8.21 |
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| Clarify importance of Senior Housing |
Discussion on pp 16-17 of Background Report. The Housing Plan includes Policy HO-4.2, which specifically encourages development of housing for Seniors. |
| Clarify Farmworker Housing Info |
Updated information on pp. 23-25 of the Background Report. |
| Sustainable Housing |
Broadly discussed under Goal HO-6. Reduction of residential energy use is more fully addressed in the Yolo County Climate Action Plan. |
| Self-help housing |
HOA-15 is to be modified to include Self-Help housing as a means to assist first time home owners. |
| Further Fair Housing through infrastructure and opportunity |
Extensive revision of Section V. AFFH starting on p. 167 Additionally, implementation actions like HO-A19 prioritize infrastructure in disadvantaged areas. |
| Board of Supervisors 7.13.21 |
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| We should be more ambitious with housing numbers than the 57 units required |
The State requires that the Housing Element specifically account for the assigned RHNA number, but policies throughout the Housing Element prioritize and identify sites for affordable housing in excess of the RHNA |
| Further waiving or reduction of permitting fees |
FSA fees are waived for affordable housing projects and the Board of Supervisors can further reduce fees on a case-by-case basis as addressed in the County’s Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual. |
| Investments in housing |
Local governments don’t usually build housing, but facilitate home construction for developers and nonprofit agencies through a variety of means, such as modified zoning to ensure all housing types can be accommodated, providing density bonuses, and streamlining the permitting process for accessory dwelling units. Actions in the updated Housing Element, such as HO-A2, identify surplus lands available for development. |
| Focus housing within cities and communities with infrastructure |
The Housing Element Background Report identifies the areas around Davis and West Sacramento as high resource/opportunity areas. Action HO-A34 specifically requires the County to work with those cities to accommodate affordable housing in a way that would not adversely affect the County's commitment to preserve agriculture and protect the environment. |
| Creation of opportunity, more rehabilitation and infrastructure needed |
Extensive revision of Section V. AFFH to address opportunities, and programs like HO-A19 prioritize infrastructure in disadvantaged areas. |
The deadline for approval of the County’s 6th Cycle Housing Element by the State Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department is May 15, 2021, which allows for a 120-day “grace period” before the County is placed on a mandatory four-year cycle for two cycles. Review of the preliminary draft Housing Element by HCD has been completed and revisions recommended by HCD have been incorporated. This final draft Housing Element will be subject to a public hearing at this Planning Commission meeting, to be followed by a hearing and formal adoption at the Board of Supervisors, anticipated on August 31st. |