Monte Sereno

H-3.1

The City will continue to pursue code enforcement on homes that are not maintained in compliance with City codes

On-going based on staff observations during routine visits and in response to complaints. The City has recently hired full-time employee who is the Code Enforcement Officer and responds to code compliance complaints/issues.

H-1.1

Continue to require Site Development Permit approval for all new homes and to require project consistency with the City Design Guidelines.

During the 2021 calendar year the City reviewed 23 Site Development Permits.

H-2.3

By the end of 2017, the City will evaluate progress towards meeting its RHNA, in particular new construction objectives for extremely low, very low, low and moderate income households. If the City determines that fewer than 12 Second Units are constructed every two years, the City will evaluate and implement revisions to the Second Unit program to meet the City's objectives. As part of this analysis, the City will consider revising its multi-family zoning and density standards. If changes are required that are inconsistent with the Housing Element, the City will amend the Housing Element as necessary.

Building permits were issued for 18 new Accessory Dwelling Units in 2022. The City greatly exceeded the RHNA requirements for the 5th Cycle Housing Element and Accessory Dwelling Units (Second Units) were constructed filling the Very Low RHNA numbers surpassing the City’s objectives The permitting process for ADUs has been streamlined to no longer require a separate Planning application; ADUs submit for building permit only. The City successfully constructed 12 or more ADUs were constructed every two years during the 5th Cycle Housing Element and therefore was not required to implement revisions to the ADU program based on this Program. However, the City made many changes to the ADU development standards and permitting process to further incentivize their construction.

H-3.2

The City will review and revise on a biannual basis the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to identify public infrastructure priorities that will maintain the community's older residential neighborhoods.

Annually the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and priorities are set and approved by the City Council during the budget setting process. The City Council also conducts mid- year budget review to make adjustments as needed to the CIP. Beginning with Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the City embarked on a five-year Pavement Management Program to improve the overall condition of the City's neighborhoods and focused on streets using a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating of 63 (fair) to a rating of 70 (good). In Fiscal Year 2019-2020 this goal was revised to meet the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s goal of for the average PCI on local roads to be a rating of 75. As of December 2021, the City’s PCI rating is 72. 59 of the City’s 87 street segments have been resurfaced since Fiscal Year 2017-2018.

H-3.3

• The City will encourage energy conservation practices for new and existing residential dwelling units by enforcing State and local regulations and encouraging incentives for energy conservation "best practices." Suggested actions include:*continue to offer streamlining and fee waivers for solar panel installations,*continue the "Build It Green" program and checklists,*provide information regarding rebate programs and energy audits available through PG&E, and*provide resource materials regarding green building and conservation programs.

The City has adopted and enforces the California Green Building Code. The City on an ongoing basis provides resource material on green building and conservation programs though the Planning and Building Departments. In December of 2022 the City adopted the new Residential Building Code with a local amendment requiring the following for new construction: • In the project includes a new garage, provide one Level 2 EV-Ready receptacle and associated infrastructure at each enclosed garage parking space, with a maximum of two, and one outside of the garage. • All indoor appliances, with the exception of cooking appliances, be electric. Outdoor appliances can be electrical or gas-fueled. • Provide an automatic hot water recirculating system

H-4.1

•The City will support special need households (including physically and developmentally disabled) in securing affordable and appropriate housing. The City will: * promote the use of Second Units as an opportunity to provide affordable housing for special needs individuals, such as seniors (and their caregivers) and disabled family members, * continue to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities, including group homes for six or less persons, as a use by right in all R-1 neighborhoods, * annually contact nonprofit housing sponsors to coordinate and implement a strategy for developing or making housing available for lower and moderate income households, including special needs households, and * as specified in Program H-2.6, the City will amend the Municipal Code to allow supportive housing, transitional housing and residential care facilities in the RM zone

The City continues on an ongoing basis to promote the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (second units) to potential applicants. The City continues to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities in the R-1 zoning districts. Modification to the Municipal Code to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities in the RM zoning district was completed in July 2016. The City continues to coordinate and participate with the Santa Clara County Housing Authority to seek opportunities for affordable housing within Monte Sereno. However, there has been no interest from developers to construct such projects in Monte Sereno. As ADU construction has been the most successful way Monte Sereno has seen new housing units constructed, focus was placed on further encouraging and incentivizing ADU construction as noted in Program H-2.1 above.

H-4.2

Working with other local organizations and agencies, the City will work to develop a plan to meet the changing needs of seniors. As Monte Serena's population ages, issues such as "aging in place" and better utilization of existing housing become paramount. The City can take a lead role in thoughtfully addressing these important issues while developing some potentially innovative housing.

The City of Monte Sereno is partnering with Santa Clara County Department of Aging and Adult Services to become part of the World Health Organization's Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities. Construction of ADUs and interest in ADUs has come from many senior members of the community who would like to continue living on their property but can no longer afford or maintain their main house. The construction of ADUs provide an opportunity for senior members of the community to remain in the community and on their property while down-sizing. Further, the ADU program has allowed other property owners to provide a place for their aging parents to live nearby, but still allowing for some level of independence. As ADU construction has been the most successful way Monte Sereno has seen new housing units constructed, focus was placed on further encouraging and incentivizing ADU construction as noted in Program H-2.1 above.

H-5.2

The City will provide written information on fair housing laws and resources at the Planning Department counter as well as on the City's website. Further, the City will promote the use of Project Sentinel, a HUD approved housing counseling agency in Santa Clara County as a resource for fair housing information and advisory services. The City will work with other organizations to-promptly address complaint of discrimination in the sale, rent and development of housing in Monte Sereno.

Written information on Fair Housing is available at the planning front counter and City's website. The City will continue to promote Project Sentinel as a resource for fair housing information and advisory services. The City has received no complaints of discrimination in calendar year 2022.

H-2.2

The City will explore and implement if appropriate other options to provide additional affordable housing opportunities within its existing housing stock. For example, shared housing or renting rooms would be most appropriate for a community such as Monte Sereno that has many large housing units capable of housing more people. Shared Housing programs match persons needing housing with homeowners and others who have space to rent. At a minimum, the City will contact shared housing agencies and publicize opportunities to share housing.

The City continues to explore shared housing opportunities and programs. The City continues to coordinate and participate with the Santa Clara County Housing Authority to seek opportunities for affordable housing within Monte Sereno. However, there has been no interest from developers to construct such projects in Monte Sereno. As ADU construction has been the most successful way Monte Sereno has seen new housing units constructed, focus continues to be placed on further encouraging and incentivizing ADU construction as noted in Program H-2.1 above.

H-2.4

The City will work with nearby communities to explore countywide housing needs and solutions. On an annual basis, the City Manager will provide a summary report of activities in cooperation with other jurisdictions/agencies to further increase the supply of affordable housing in the County of Santa Clara. Also, included in this report will be a description of the City's efforts to meet its RHNA goals. This information will also be included in the City's annual Housing Element update to HCD.

The City currently participates with the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara County Office of Affordable Housing. Activities and programs include: *Mortgage Credit Certification Program for first time homebuyers *2016 Housing Bond to fund housing needs of the community’s poorest and most vulnerable residents *Information about how to get connected to long-term housing *Information about emergency shelters *Plan to tackle homelessness *Rental assistance

H-4.3

The City will review existing procedures and identify revisions to the City's procedures in order to expedite the development review process, especially for special needs housing and affordable housing for lower and moderate income households.

The City implemented a Permit Tracking system for the Building Permit process in July of 2020. The system enables the electronic tracking of the Building Permit process including multi-departmental review and scheduling of inspections. The system streamlines the review of permits and dissemination of comments to the applicants from the various departments' review of the permit. Additionally, the City added an electronic Planning permit tracking system which tracks the status of all Planning applications, pending reviews, and items scheduled for public hearing. This streamlines the application tracking for staff by providing automated project status and reporting.

H-5.1

The City will continue to implement its "Reasonable Accommodations" procedures as contained in the Municipal Code.

The City continues to implement its Reasonable Accommodation procedure. During the 2022 calendar year the City did not receive any requests for Reasonable Accommodation.

H-2.6

The City will revise the Municipal Code to 1) allow employee housing that provides housing for 6 or fewer employees in all residential zoned areas, 2) include residential care homes, supportive housing and transitional housing as a "use by right" in RM zones and 3) include Municipal Code Section 10.05 regarding SRO use as allowable in RM zones

Modification to allow for residential care homes, supportive housing and transitional housing in all residential zoning districts was completed in November 2016. Municipal Code Chapter 10.05 now also authorizes rental of single rooms in all residential districts.

H-2.1

The City will continue to administer and improve the Second Unit Program in order to encourage the construction of additional Second Units affordable to lower income households. Specific tasks that the City will undertake include: * Continue to survey affordability and use of Second Units at time of construction as well as conduct a survey of existing Second Units at least twice during the Planning Period to determine affordability and use of the unit. The first survey and results of that survey shall be completed by the end of 2019. * Revise the approval process for Second Units so that it is ministerial, rather than discretionary, * Review and revise Second Unit Program to remove constraints to Second Unit development, such as reducing setback requirements for Second Units in all R-1 zones and eliminating the existing policy in the R-1-8 zone that deducts Second Unit square footage from the allowable maximum size of the principal dwelling on lots of less than 12,000 square feet; * Explore other innovative uses of Second Units such as providing housing for multi- generational uses (small families, aging in place, etc.) and develop programs as feasible, and * Further amend the Second Unit Program, such as by permitting junior second units, if necessary to achieve RHNA production goals.

The City continues to administer and improve the Second Unit Program, now referred to as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and has taken the following actions: - Continue to survey affordability and use of ADUs; - Continue to publish incentives for ADUs through the City website and at City Hall front counter (ongoing), and such incentives include waiver of permit fees; - Provide to the residents the Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook published by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) -The City recently amended the local zoning code to stay current with state regulations regarding ADU construction. -The City recently enacted a revised amnesty program to encourage property owners to legalized non-permitted ADUs without code enforcement penalties. -The permitting process for ADUs was streamlined to no longer require a Planning Permit, only a building permit is required. Additionally, the City has adopted an ordinance to allow an additional residential unit on each single-family lot in accordance with SB 9. The annual ADU survey has found that 93% of ADUs constructed are used as dwelling units. And 74% are rented at very low or low income levels. ADU construction contributed significantly to Monte Sereno meeting the RHNA requirements for both the number of new dwelling units and the affordability categories for the 5th Cycle Housing Element. Additionally, the City recently amended its ADU regulations to comply with new state law coming into effect January 1, 2023 under SB-897 and AB-2221.

H-2.5

The City will revise the Municipal Code (Section 10.05.045) Public ("P") zoning district by December 2016 to allow multifamily residential uses by right on the First Baptist Church site (17765 Daves Avenue). Revisions will include development standards that include those described in Section 6 of this document (Site Inventory: "Proposed Guidelines for Public/Residential Multi Family Zone First Baptist Church Site)." The City will also complete any amendments to the General Plan that may be necessary to allow multifamily uses in the Public ("P") zoning district by December 2016. If the necessary amendments are not adopted by December 2016 and not successful in encouraging multi-family development, the City will provide alternate multi-family residential opportunities and will amend the Housing Element as necessary to correct any inconsistencies. Further, in conjunction with Program H-4.1, the City will make specific outreach with developers of housing affordable to lower income and special need households, including incentives such as density bonuses, fee waivers or other incentives. The City will also assist with identifying and/or applying for project funding from*other sources including, but not limited to, CDBG and HOME funds, at the request of the developer.

17765 Daves Avenue In May 2016, the City Council approved Resolution 3621 to amend the General Plan designation of 17765 Daves Avenue to Public/Multi-Family Residential, which would have allowed up to 5 dwelling units per acre on the approximately 3.5-acre site. Multi-family zoning was instead established at an alternative site (18840 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, see below) as a result of a referendum petition that was filed and certified to require an election on Resolution 3621 or its repeal. As a consequence, the City Council approved Resolution 3706 in August of 2018, which repealed the Public/Multi-Family General Plan Designation for 17665 Daves Avenue. This site is currently zoned for two units an acre. Instead of this site becoming the destination for new multi-family housing during the 5th Housing Element Cycle, the City welcomed an alternative opportunity to support housing construction. 18840 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road The City amended its General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to allow multi-family residential uses on the Hacienda site (18840 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road) in June of 2018. This allowed for a new development of 36 housing units. In June 2018, the City Council adopted a series of resolutions (3692 through 3697) which approved annexation and development, of an approximately 4.5-acre site to construct 36 dwellings at a density of 9 dwelling unit per acre at 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Road. As part of these actions, the City Council amended the Multi-Family General Plan designation to allow 9 dwelling units per acre instead of the maximum 5 dwelling units per acre that was previously allowed. The project approved at 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Road resulted in a higher density than was approved for the 17765 Dave Avenue site. Also, the Saratoga Los Gatos Road site is 4.5 acres compared with the Daves Avenue suite of 3.5 acres, which also resulted in overall more dwelling units constructed. Staff encouraged the developer of the 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Road to include affordable units; however, the developer was not interested in constructing affordable units at this site. The Final Map for development on the 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Road site ( named Montalvo Oaks), was approved on November of 2019. Demolition of the site occurred in fall of 2019 and grading and improvements were approved and began in 2019. Building permits for the model homes and sales office were issued in December of 2019. Building Permits for the remaining 35 single-family dwellings and one accessory dwelling unit were issued in August and November 2020. Construction was completed at the end of 2022

H-3.2

The City will review and revise on a biannual basis the Capital Improvement Program (GIP) to identify public infrastructure priorities that will maintain the community's older residential neighborhoods.

Annually the Capital Improvement Program (GIP) and priorities are set and approved by the City Council during the budget setting process. The City Council also conducts mid- year budget review to make adjustments as needed to the GIP. Beginning with Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the City embarked on a five-year Pavement Management Program to improve the overall condition of the City's streets from a Pavement Condition Index rating of 63 (fair) to a rating of 70 (good). In 2020 the City improved 13 street segments across the City.

H-1.1

Continue to require Site Development Permit approval for all new homes and to require project consistency with the City Desi!:in Guidelines.

During the 2019 calendar year the City approved 14 Site Development Permits.

H-4.1

The City will support special need households (including physically and developmentally disabled) in securing affordable and appropriate housing. The City will: • promote the use of Second Units as an opportunity to provide affordable housing for special needs individuals, such as seniors (and their caregivers) and disabled family members, • continue to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities, including group homes for six or less persons, as a use by right in all R-1 neighborhoods, • annually contact nonprofit housing sponsors to coordinate and implement a strategy for developing or making housing available for lower and moderate income households, including special needs households, and • as specified in Program H-2.6, the City will amend the Municipal Code to allow supportive housing, transitional housing and residential care facilities in the RM zone

The City continues on an ongoing basis to promote the use of second units to potential applicants. The City continues to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities in the R-1 zoning districts. Modification to the Municipal Code to allow transitional housing, supportive housing and residential care facilities in the RM zoning district was completed in July 2016.

H-5.2

The City will provide written information on fair housing laws and resources at the Planning Department counter as well as on the City’s website. Further, the City will promote the use of Project Sentinel, a HUD approved housing counseling agency in Santa Clara County as a resource for fair housing information and advisory services. The City will work with other organizations to promptly address complaint of discrimination in the sale, rent and development of housing in Monte Sereno.

Written information on Fair Housing is available at the planning front counter and City's website. The City will continue to promote Project Sentinel as a resource for fair housing information and advisory services. The City has received no complaints of discrimination in calendar year 2018.

H-4.2

Working with other local organizations and agencies, the City will work to develop a plan to meet the changing needs of seniors. As Monte Sereno’s population ages, issues such as “aging in place” and better utilization of existing housing become paramount. The City can take a lead role in thoughtfully addressing these important issues while developing some potentially innovative housing.

The City of Monte Sereno is partnering with Santa Clara County Department of Aging and Adult Services to become part of the World Health Organization's Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities.