Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.
Housing programs are the strategies that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well.
Use the below data to explore this jurisdiction’s approaches to affirmatively furthering fair housing for the 6th element cycle, and review the actions, deliverables, and deadlines committed to for each program.
PROGRAM NUMBER | ACTIONS | DELIVERABLE | DELIVERABLE DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Create an overlay zone to ensure that the Town fully meets RHNA capacity within three years of the adoption of the housing element, including a buffer of 15% of the RHNA to ensure adequate capacity. As a part of the creation of the overlay zone to meet adequate capacity, adopt a multi-family housing zone that requires a minimum of 20 du/ac and permits densities of at least 30 du/ac for at least 30 on institutional properties for a total of at least 30 net developable acres inclusive of institutional and non- institutional properties. The overlay zone will include capacity for at least 362 units as identified in the sites inventory. The Town will initiate the rezoning process, including the retention of a consultant to create a multifamily overlay zone with appropriate and objective development standards and design guidelines (see Program B-4B-4). The overlay zone and any future zones will allow for a variety of uses as identified in the constrains analysis of the Housing Element. This includes allowing for multi- family housing, SROs, and transitional and supportive housing as required by state law. The Town will conduct a mid-cycle review of development progress and the effectiveness of the new zone in 2027. Should the mid-cycle review find that the zone is not effective, the Town will either identify additional incentives for existing sites, or additional sites for the overlay zone or rezoning. | Provide adequate sites to accommodate the Town’s entire RHNA allocation. Selection of consultant by end of Q1 2023. Creation and implementation of multi-family housing overlay zone by Q1 2026, or as required by state law. | Complete rezoning by Q1, 2026, or as required by state law Mid-cycle review in Q1 2027. Any additional zoning amendments by Q1 2028, or as required by state law |
| A-2 | To ensure that the Town monitors its compliance with SB 166 (No Net Loss), the Town will develop a procedure to, and will, track: Unit count and income/affordability assumed on parcels included in the sites inventory. Actual units constructed and income/affordability when parcels are developed. Net change in capacity and summary of remaining capacity in meeting remaining RHNA. The Town will resubmit APRs from any years that an APR was not submitted. | No net loss of capacity below the RHNA requirement during the planning period. | By Q1, 2024 |
| A-3 | Assess Town-owned properties for their potential redevelopment or development for residential uses that include housing for extremely low-income households and those with special needs such as seniors and persons with disabilities. Pursuant to that assessment, identify sites with residential development potential. Comply with surplus land determination process and implement the Surplus Lands Act to annually review Town-owned parcels, provide notices of availability, engage in negotiation or disposal of sites declared to be surplus, provide affordable housing developers the first right of refusal for designated surplus lands, and comply with other applicable requirements regarding development of affordable housing on surplus properties and reporting requirements in compliance with the Surplus Land Act.. | Annual review in conjunction with the review of Surplus Lands. | |
| A-4 | Pursuant to GC 65583.2(h) and (i), amend the Zoning Ordinance to require by-right approval of housing development that includes 20 percent of the units as housing affordable to lower-income households, on sites being used to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA that represent “reuse sites” previously identified in the 4th and 5th cycles Housing Element. Establish a by-right process for sites that in the overlay zone to meet the lower-income RHNA shortfall. | By Q1, 2026 | |
| A-5 | Amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish minimum densities to ensure that parcels are able to be developed at appropriate densities for lower-income development, per Government Code section 65583.2(h). | By Q1, 2026 | |
| A-6 | Conduct an inclusionary zoning feasibility study to identify appropriate inclusionary requirements that will not constrain housing production. Upon a demonstration of feasibility, develop and amend the Zoning Ordinance to establish inclusionary housing requirements so that new developments reserve up to 15 percent of the total units for lower- and moderate- income households. | With a determination of feasibility based on inclusionary zoning study, the Inclusionary Housing ordinance to be adopted by Q1 2026. | The ordinance will be adopted by Q1, 2026 |
| A-7 | Continuously track the Town's progress for ADUs. Each year, analyze the affordability of ADUs built in the Town. Within the Housing Element period, assess whether additional strategies are necessary to increase ADU production. If annual production and affordability rates do not match the estimates included in the Housing Resources Section, update the RHNA strategy to ensure that the Town continues to maintain adequate capacity for all income-levels. In the event of an ADU shortfall that results in a net loss of units below the RHNA, adopt another ADU program within six months to facilitate additional ADU production. Additionally, the Town will conduct a mid-cycle review of development progress, including of ADU trends in 2027. Should the mid-cycle review find that ADU trends are not at the levels anticipated to meet the RHNA, the Town will either identify additional incentives for existing sites, or additional sites for the overlay zone or rezoning. | Development of 20 ADUs per year, for a total of 160 during the planning period. | Maintain tracker as ADU permits are submitted. Review strategies annually as part the Annual Progress Report process. Six months after significant mid-cycle shortfall. Mid-Cycle review in 2027, with any additional zoning amendments completed by Q1 2028. |
| A-8 | The Town will develop pre-approved, “model” plans for ADUs that meet building and fire codes, height and size requirements, including designs that are ADA accessible. The Town will work with the Santa Clara County Housing Collaborative on the option of creating a sub-regional program of pre-approved ADU plans that are available to all residents and cities in Santa Clara County. The Town may use models developed by other cities. The Town will require development of five or more units to include an ADU option in their development. | Develop four (4) pre-approved plans for ADUs. Target development of 20 ADUs per year, for a total of 160 during the planning period. | By Q1, 2025 |
| A-9 | To promote and facilitate the near-term development of RHNA sites, especially to meet the needs of lower, moderate, ELI and special needs households, the Town will proactively conduct outreach annually to inform property owners and affordable housing developers with residential development potential and provide technical assistance and coordination for property owners and housing developers on RHNA sites. Technical assistance includes but is not limited to: permit processing, site design, and site placement, and infrastructure planning. | Initially by Q3, 2023, and annually thereafter | |
| A-10 | Extend the Pathway Impact fee waiver for ADUs through RHNA cycle 6 planning period. | Development of 20 ADUs per year, for a total of 160 during the planning period. | By Q3, 2023 |
| A-11 | To encourage and facilitate the development of affordable housing on larger sites (greater than 10 acres), the City will regularly and at least once a year coordinate with property owners and assist in site planning, parceling and other mechanisms to promote affordable housing consistent with the assumptions in the sites inventory. Affordable housing projects will receive priority and expedited review in conjunction with Program B-1. | Coordination with property owners on an annual basis | |
| B-1 | Establish and implement expedited permit processing for affordable housing projects, including projects that qualify for density bonuses (in compliance with SB 35 and SB 330). Advertise the expedited permit process on the Town’s website and circulate a notice with the Building Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce. | By Q1, 2026 | |
| B-2 | Amend the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that the maximum density allowed the General Plan is achievable (Housing Accountability Act/AB 3194). | By Q1, 2024 | |
| B-3 | Amend the Zoning Ordinance to update density bonus regulations to meet updated state requirements (AB 2345, SB 1763, SB 1227). | By Q1, 2026 | |
| B-4 | Pursuant to SB 330, adopt objective design standards and Design Review Board handbooks to ensure development standards, design guidelines, and findings are objective, promote certainty in the planning and approval process. This includes revising the definition of “family” to remove subjective language could be misinterpreted as a requirement that would limit unrelated individuals from forming a household. | By Q1, 2026 | |
| B-5 | Provide incentives to encourage energy efficient projects, including implementation of the identified community measures and actions identified in the 2021 Climate Plan. s include: incentives for electrification and energy efficient buildings, permit streamlining for electrification, a subsidized home electrification assessment, Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit Streamlining, and Reach Codes. | Initially adopt incentives by Q1, 2024 and ongoing throughout planning period | |
| B-6 | Monitor state law on an annual basis and revise the Zoning Ordinance as appropriate. The Town has sent the ADU ordinance to the State and is currently in compliance with State law. The Town will make any revisions to the ADU ordinance as necessary per any further State review. | Initially by Q1, 2024 and annually thereafter | |
| B-7 | Pursuant to AB 1483, the Town will compile all development standards, plans, fees, and nexus studies in an easily accessible online location. The Town will update its zoning and general plan maps to provide a high quality, parcel-specific reference. | Information will be available on development standards, plans, fees, and nexus studies on Town website. Amendments to zoning and general plan maps. | Website availability by Q3, 2023 if not already available; remainder efforts by Q1, 2026 |
| B-8 | Update Town Sewer Master plan with the projected demand, and work with the City of Palo Alto and City of Los Altos to ensure the system has the required capacity. | An updated plan to provide adequate infrastructure capacity for sewer and water to meet the Town’s RHNA for the planning period. | By Q1, 2026 |
| B-9 | The Town will adopt a clear and objective procedure to follow for reasonable accommodation requests for land use and zoning decisions and procedures that ensures that housing for people with disabilities is attainable without discretionary review. The reasonable accommodations procedure will include procedures and findings to ensure certainty and provide for clear decision- making standards for the process. | Adopted Reasonable Accommodations procedure. | By Q1, 2025 |