Housing policies and programs are the strategies and laws 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 policies and 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 policies or 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. Policies and programs listed here from jurisdictions’ Housing Elements are intended to allow readers to review the text themselves and see if a city or county is doing all they can to reach their affordable housing goals.
To further policy innovation and local action, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) contacted all of the region's jurisdictions to track the adoption of key housing policies throughout the nine county Bay Area in four major categories Protect, Preserve, Produce, and Prevent. This data is from ABAG’s Policies and Program list and was last updated in 2018/2019.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development tracks all of the ongoing and completed programs from 2018 onward and can be seen in the table below.
YEAR | PROGRAM NAME | PROGRAM OBJECTIVE | STATUS | ACCOMPLISHED DATE | HOUSING CYCLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Program H-1.8.a.
Family Housing Amenities | Require amenities for families with children | On-going; as development occurs. The Enclave project includes an on-site tot lot, providing housing amenities for large households and female-headed households, two special needs populations. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.6.c.
Actions for 1421 Casa Buena Drive | Facilitate development of 1421 Casa Buena Drive which is designated Medium Density Residential. | The Enclave Townhomes were approved in 2015, and completed in 2019, consisting of 16 units; 3 units of which will be affordable under the Town’s inclusionary zoning regulations. Construction was completed and Certificates of Occupancy issued on 9/10/2019. All of the units were 3 or more bedrooms and a number of them were adaptable units, providing housing for the following special needs populations: large households, female-headed households, elderly, and the disabled. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.11.b
Affordability Mgt | Continue contractual agreement with Marin Housing Authority to manage affordable housing stock in Corte Madera | The Town contracts with Marin Housing Authority to manage the affordable for-sale and rental housing stock in Corte Madera. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Policy H-2.15.a
Second Dwelling Units | Continue to implement the Second Unit Ordinance. The goal for the 2015-2023 Housing Element is 16 new second units by 2022 | COMPLETED:
On December 6, 2016 the Town adopted Ordinance No.961. This ordinance was in response to State legislation AB-2299 and SB-1069. Ordinance No. 961 establishes standards for the development of accessory dwelling units so as to increase the supply of affordable housing while ensuring that they remain compatible with the existing neighborhood context.
Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 992, adopted on 1/21/20, repealed and replaced the Town's existing ADU ordinance to reflect 1) changes necessary to comply with new state law (SB-229 and AB-94); 2) changes to clarify existing regulations; and 3) changes to existing policy to better reflect the Town’s ADU goals.
In 2019-2020 the Town collaborated with nine other Marin County jurisdictions on the ADU Marin project. The project included the development of a countywide website (adumarin.org) and educational materials to promote the development of ADUs in the county.
Twelve (12) Accessory Dwelling Units and five (5) Junior Accessory Dwelling Units were issued building permits during 2022. This brings the total ADUs and JADUs for the 2015-2023 Housing Element to 60 units (53 ADU, 7 JADU). This production is far in excess of the stated goal of 16 new second units for the 5th cycle Housing Element. These units may provide housing for the elderly, a special needs population. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-3.1.a
Adopt Residential Design Guidelines | Adopt Design Guidelines for those specific individual residential neighborhoods throughout town. | Town adopted Objective Design and Development Standards (Ordinance No. 1013, adopted on 12/7/21 ) toolkit that can be utilized for residential development throughout Town. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-4.5.a
Staff Responsibilities | Planning and Building Departments will work with community and elected leaders to seek revenue resources for housing developments as they become available. | This program has not yet been implemented. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.9.a.
Countywide homeless programs | Engage with other Marin jurisdictions to provide additional housing and other options for the homeless. | The Town works with Marin Housing Authority to address homeless issues.
In November 2020, the County of Marin purchased a motel at 1591 Casa Buena Drive with grant funding through Project Homekey and other County housing program funds for the purpose of providing 18 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. The role of Town staff has been to facilitate public discussions related to Project Homekey. In February 2021, under the supervision of Catholic Charities, residents began occupying the lower units of the property. A building permit to add a kitchen to each unit to create18 independent living units was issued in 2021 and construction is currently underway. These units will provide housing for people formerly experiencing homelessness, a special needs population. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.1.a.
Provide a variety of Housing Types & Affordability | Promote mix of housing types and affordability by working with developers. | On-going; as development occurs. The Robin Drive and Enclave projects include a mix of larger and smaller units at different affordability levels. These include 32 units with 3 or more bedrooms, 8 second units, and a number of adaptable units as required by the State Building Code, providing housing for the elderly, the disabled, large households, and female-headed households, all special needs populations. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.4.b
Employee Housing Bonus Units | Offer density bonus as an incentive to providing employee housing in overlay districts | Dependent on developer interest. No applications submitted during 2022. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.6.b.
Actions for Robin Drive | Implement the mandatory Second Unit requirement for development on this site. | The Oak Shores project received planning entitlements for an application that includes second units consistent with policy. The Town Council approved Ordinance 985, Resolutions 13-2019, 14-2019, 15-2019 on 4/2/2019. Building permits were issued in July 2021 and construction is currently underway. These 8 second units could provide housing for the elderly, a special needs population. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.10.b
Mixed Use Development | Encourage mixed-use projects and live-work combinations | Tam Ridge Residences, a 180 unit mixed use development with 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail was developed. A small grocery store occupies the commercial space.
A new Mixed-Use Zoning District - MX-1 was adopted in 2016 as part of the Tamal Vista Corridor Study which encourages mixed use projects. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.9.c
Regional Transportation/ Housing Activities | Coordinate with regional transportation planning activities and facilitate TOD using incentives through regional transportation plans. | Town coordinates with TAM and ABAG/MTC through participation in Plan Bay Area 2040 and 50 and is updating its Housing Element, including rezoning properties for higher density housing, consistent with goals and objectives of regional land use and transportation plans. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.10.a
Incentives for Affordable Housing | Offer incentives, such as State Density Bonus, fee waivers, to encourage development of affordable housing projects. | Application was approved for The Enclave Townhomes in 2015 including use of the State Density Bonus. The project was completed in 2019. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.17.a
Second Unit Amnesty | Consider an amnesty program for existing Second Units constructed without prior authorization. A specific period will be allowed for owners of un-permitted units to obtain permits for their units without incurring fines. | This program has not yet been implemented. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-4.7.a
Housing Element Review | Comply with requirements for Housing Element Annual Review Report. | Calendar year 2022 Housing Element Annual Review Report will be submitted to the Town Council on March 21, 2023. A report was submitted every year of the planning period. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.11.a.
Rental Assistance Programs | Continue to publicize available affordable units and programs as they come available in conjunction with the Marin Housing Authority | The town includes Marin Housing Authority announcements in Town’s Monthly Newsletter. The Town advertised available affordable housing units at The Enclave through Marin Housing Authority. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-2.3.a
Nonresidential Development Impact Fee | Continue to enforce the town Ordinance to collect nonresidential impact fee for the Affordable Housing Fund (CMC, Chapter 3.48) | The Town collected $4,319.01 in non-residential impact fees in calendar year 2022 (1/1/2022 through 12/31/2022). | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-3.3.a
Residential Scale and Character | Require new housing developments be of high quality and compatible with the existing residential character. | Implemented through design review process. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-4.7.b
Housing Element Update | Undertake Housing Element Updates in accordance with State Law. | Work on the Housing Element update (2023-2031 Housing Element) was launched in September 2021 and will be complete in spring of 2023. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H-1.6.b
Residential Care Homes | Continue to allow small licensed group homes by right in all residential districts consistent with the development standards of that district | Use is currently by right in all residential districts. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |