SB 423 requires that jursidictions that have not made sufficient progress on their housing goals are subject to Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process (SMAP).for qualifying proposed developments. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) evaluates all jurisdictions half-way through each housing element cycle and at the end of each housing element cycle. HCD completed…
RHNA Tracking and Housing Element ImplementationJurisdictions will need significant resources to meet commitments Marin’s 6th Housing Element Cycle officially kicked off Jan 31, 2024. Although several Marin cities and towns are still finalizing their housing elements, all jurisdictions must still take action to meet their state housing goals (RHNA, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation). Every April, each jurisdiction…
As more jurisdictions implement and update their tenant protections, this list will reflect those changes. MEHC supports tenant protections. Unincorporated Marin (Just Cause) San Rafael (Just Cause) Fairfax (Rent Stabilization and Just Cause) State Renter Protections (Rent Stabilization and Just Cause) Larkspur (Rent Stabilization and Just Cause)
HOUSING AND TRAFFIC: Growth restrictions have displaced workers by Warren Wells We’ve all heard that California, and Marin in particular, are facing a severe housing crisis. Home values and apartment rents keep rising, leading owners to cash out and renters to be pushed out. We’ve heard from politicians that we need to build more to keep…
A short primer on affordable housing, BAHFA and BAHA, and potentially game-changing funding! Marinites overwhelmingly want more affordable housing.According to the Marin County 2023 Community Survey, it is the #1 issue that Marinites would like our local governments to address. But how can we build more affordable housing? And what does this have to do with the…
There have always been portions of the population unable to afford market rate housing. At one time, the government directly financed, owned and managed housing projects for these populations, commonly referred to as public housing. While the government still manages some housing projects it often doesn’t do a good job at this – just look…
Happy New Year, fellow housing nerds and policy wonks!There is a lot to catch up on! The 2023 California legislative season ended in October with record-setting housing activity, November was for equal parts pats-on-the-back and wound-licking, and December was the time to rest and get ready to start the maddening but addictingly fun process all over…
Another important date in the housing element process is just around the corner. Jurisdictions that did not have their housing elements certified by May 31, 2023 must have all housing element rezonings completed by January 31st, 2024. Only Sausalito was certified by May 31, 2023, so they will have until January 2026 to complete their…
Marin County has had the lowest rate of housing production in the Bay Area for over 50 years. Exclusionary zoning rules and creation of open space have slowed production, but arguably, lawsuits have been an even larger factor. Marin famously kicked off the conservation movement and the use of lawsuits to block development in the…