Belmont

Use public funding to support affordable housing developments

Add more City supported housing with affordability restrictions

City Council approved increase in City contribution for an 100% affordable housing project a 803 Belmont Avenue. Staff is working closely with developer to finalize documents. Close of escrow anticipated in early April 2024.

Zoning Amendments to increase development capacity in key districts

Increase FAR and eliminate density maximum in Corridor Mixed Use District. Increase FAR in Village Station Core District

Completed in January 2024

Support ADU production

Implement a program to encourage ADU production including technical assistance, pre-approved plans, and financial support for affordable ADUs.

City is joining Countywide ADU Resource center that will provide these services to Belmont. Initial work product expected summer 2024 with programs coming online through 2025.

Zoning Amendments to allow by right processing for sites carried over from past Housing Elements per State law

Amend Zoning Ordinance

Completed in January 2024

Zoning Amendments to remove constraints and ensure consistency with State law.

Update code related to supportive housing, mobile home parks, farmworker housing, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and definition of family.

Consultant retained with public meetings expected in summer 2024.

2.9 Belmont General Plan Update

Action 1: Prepare and Adopt update to Belmont General Plan 2035. Action 2: Prepare and adopt Program Environmental Impact Report that analyzing forecasting development within the Belmont Village Priority Development Area and along the El Camino Real corridor.

Actions 1 and 2: COMPLETED. Adopted November 2017.

4.6 Parking

Action 1: Consider amending the Zoning Ordinance to reduce parking requirements for multi-family residential and mixed-use projects (for example, reduce the studio unit parking requirement from 2 spaces per unit to 1 space per unit). Action 2: Develop shared parking strategies as part of the Belmont Village Implementation Plan, and evaluate the feasibility of establishing parking districts within the Belmont Village area to fund shared parking infrastructure.

Actions 1 and 2: COMPLETED. The BVSP and the General Plan Phase I Zoning (adopted November 2017) allow for shared parking serving more than one use when certain criteria are met. Overall parking requirements for mixed use projects were reduced.

4.7 Multi-Family Development

Action 1: When multi-family residential and mixed-use development design guidelines are adopted, amend the Zoning Ordinance to remove the conditional use permit requirement for multi-family development projects in high-density residential or mixed-use zones.

Action 1: COMPLETED. The Belmont Village zoning districts and the Corridor Mixed Use zoning district, both adopted in 2017, allow multi-family residential housing development by right (no CUP) when not located on the ground floor. In 2020 the City amended the zoning ordinance to remove the CUP requirement for multi-family housing in the R-3 and R-4 zoning districts.

1.5 Anti-Displacement Policy

Action 1: Evaluate programs and policies and provide recommendations as part of 21 Elements. Action 2: Provide findings and recommendations to City Council. Action 3: Adopt appropriate programs and policies to address displacement within 2 years of adoption of the housing element. Action 4: Monitor programs and policies annually for effectiveness.

Actions 1-2: COMPLETED. City adopted Housing Preference Policy to offer application priority to displaced San Mateo County residents. Action 3: COMPLETED; Housing Preference Policy Adopted. Action 4: Ongoing; semi-annual housing program reports to the Belmont City Council.

2.2 Affordable Housing Rehabilitation, Operation, and Management

Action 1: Continue to annually monitor City-owned rental properties to ensure that affordability is being maintained. Action 2: In compliance with SB 341, the Housing Successor must initiate activity on affordable housing real property assets by August 31, 2017. BY June 2015, the Housing Successor shall work with the City Attorney to clarify permitted uses of real property assets. Action 3: By December 2015, the Housing Successor shall hold meetings with San Mateo County affordable housing developers/service providers to determine what opportunities are available for rehabilitation of housing units in Belmont. Action 4: By December 2016, the Housing Successor shall develop a housing asset funds disposition program (subject to funding availability) that provides local funding for rehabilitation of existing housing units. Action 5: By June 2017, the Housing Successor shall develop and implement a housing rehabilitation outreach program (subject to funding availability). Information shall be posted to the City of Belmont website, and distributed to residents via code enforcement staff (Program 1.1).

Action 1: COMPLETED; annual/ongoing. Action 2: COMPLETED June 2015. All Housing Successor properties have been rezoned via Belmont Village Specific Plan and El Camino Corridor mixed-use zoning policies; several properties subject to RFP process and new housing development proposal. Action 3: December 2015 The City has held meetings with affordable housing developers to discuss opportunities for rehabilitation projects. No sites identified. Action 4: December 2016 The City Housing Successor maintains an Affordable Housing Fund that is funded by housing impact/mitigation fees, and other developer contributions. The CIty of Belmont committed $5.65 million towards the Belmont Firehouse Square affordable housing project which is now under construction. Action 5: No activity to report.

3.5 Emergency Shelters

Action 1: Develop a partnership with Shelter Network to support their efforts to house homeless families and individuals. Action 2: Review Emergency Shelter zoning regulations for ongoing compliance with state law (annually).

Action 1: No specific activity to report. Action 2: COMPLETED. The City ensures ongoing compliance.

4.2 Transfer of Development Rights

Action 1: Continue to allow the transfer of development rights or floor area within the San Juan Area. Action 2: Consider the feasibility of amending the transfer of development rights program in order to allow development rights to be transferred from the hillside areas to priority development areas.

Action 1: COMPLETED; ongoing compliance. Action 2: No specific activity to report.

4.3 Density Bonus Program

Action 1: Implement the density bonus program as follows: Develop a density bonus information website and program materials/handouts; Provide information materials to all potential target site and El Camino Real corridor developers.

Action 1: COMPLETED and ongoing; the Density Bonus Section of the Zoning Ordinance os available on the City Website, City staff have engaged in numerous discussions with housing developers to implement density bonus opportunities; the Hill Street/EL Camino Real Affordable Housing Project on City-owned property is expected to receive a devsity bonus in 2020

4.4 Development Review Process

Action 1: Ensure that the development process complies with State law. This will entail: Eliminating any time used to determine the level of environmental review for secondary dwelling units, as these are generally CEQA-exempt; Capping the number of days needed to act on a CEQA-exempt single-family unit permit application to 60 days; and, Capping the number of days needed to act on a multi-family permit application that requires an EIR to 180 days (90 days if the project requires an EIR and at least 49 percent of the units are affordable ), and 60 days if the project requires a Negative Declaration or is CEQA-exempt. Action 2: Adopt design guidelines for multi-unit and mixed-use development projects.

Action 1: COMPLETED. Planners ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable CEQA processing times. Action 2: COMPLETED. BVSP and Corridor Mixed Use (CMU) zoning for El Camino Real corridor both adopted in November 2017. No separate multi-family design guidelines document has been adopted to date.

6.2 Support On-Site Alternative Energy Generation

Action 1: Adopt guidelines to encourage on-site solar energy systems. Action 2: Provide informational brochures about solar energy systems and available financial resources at the permit center. Action 3: Consider using City solar farms as demonstration projects for local residents to learn more about solar energy. Action 4: Participate in the Peninsula SunShares group photovoltaic buy-in program.

Actions 1-4: No specific activity to report. The City adopted a Climate Action Plan in November 2017 and has begun working on implementation. The City is working to install vehicle battery charging stations on City property.

2.3 Belmont Village Priority Development Area Strategy

Action 1: Adopt new comprehensive zoning regulations for the Belmont Village Priority Development Area. The zoning will: Allow high-quality, mixed-use, high-density (30-45 units/acre), 40-50 foot-tall development; Consider alternative parking arrangements such as shared parking, parking districts, or requirement for parking to be behind primary buildings; Streamline the development process; and Incorporate provisions to protect the economic viability of existing commercial uses, while considering the quality of life for new residents. Action 2: Adopt design guidelines for the Villages of Belmont Area to clarify requirements and facilitate the development review process. Action 3: Adopt Belmont Village Specific/Implementation Plan using C/CAG PDA Planning Grant Funds. Action 4: Replace the Downtown Specific Plan with a new Belmont Village Specific/Implementation Plan in the General Plan.

COMPLETED. All actions completed November 2017.

3.1 Mortgage Credit Certificate

Action 1: Actively educate prospective buyers about the program by distributing materials, posting materials on the City website, and meeting with realtors and homebuilders.

Action 1: The City of Belmont, in partnership with HEART of San Mateo County, hosted a first-time homebuyer workshop in April 2019. Options for first-time and low-income homebuyers was distributed and posted to the City's Website.

3.4 HEART

Action 1: Continue to participate in HEART, or other comparable programs. Action 2: Actively publicize the revolving affordable housing loan program and First-time Homebuyers loan program available through HEART.

Action 1: COMPLETED. The City is an active participant in HEART and provides an annual member agency contribution. Action 2: COMPLETED. The City of Belmont hosted a HEART First Time Homebuyer workship in April 2019.

4.5 Planned Development

Action 1: Continue to allow Planned Development zoning.

Action 1: COMPLETED; No specific activity to report.

6.4 Adequate Water and Sewer Services

Action 1: Deliver the adopted Housing Element to the Mid-Peninsula Water District and Silicon Valley Clean Water within one month of adoption. Action 2: Provide information on the City website about the adopted sewer priority policy for affordable housing projects.

Action 1: COMPLETED June 2015. Action 2: COMPLETED; Sewer Priority Policy available on the City Website.