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 | Action Program No. 5: Ensure proper marketing of housing affordability programs and groups by partner agencies, including the Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) program, Human Investment Project (H.I.P.) Homesharing Program, Lease-Purchase Program, emergency shelters, Project Sentinel, and Center for the Independence of the Disabled. | Pacifica will change the focus of this goal to staff training and encouragement of partner organizations. City staff will train other staff on available housing referral resources, and will contact partner agencies to determine the level of service they are providing to Pacifica residents. The City has no control over the quantity of persons served by the referral programs, but can monitor the level of service being provided to residents. | Partner agencies, such as Human Investment Project (H.I.P.), continue to market housing affordability programs via the Home Sharing Program where a home provider is matched with a home seeker who pays rent in exchange for performance of household duties for reduced rent. The City shares this information weekly in a weekly e-newsletter sent to residents. | 1) Bi-annually by 12/31 in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021: Conduct training of Planning Division, Code Enforcement Division, and Parks, Beaches, and Recreation staff regarding available housing referral programs, services, and agencies.
2) Bi-annually by 12/31 in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021: Contact partner agencies to verify whether they continue to make referrals and cross-referrals to other assistance agencies. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 9: Promote Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company’s "Energy Savings Assistance Program." | 1) Continue to distribute program literature.
2) Successfully refer 35 households per year. | City staff maintains and distributes program information on the Planning Department website. The number of referrals is not known as click-through statistics are not available.
The City has not received a report from PG&E regarding the number residents participating in the program. | Annually (32-38 referrals) | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 4: Encourage preservation of the existing mobile home park as an important source of low- and moderate-income housing. | Monitor mobile home park operator’s long-term intentions for the site, encouraging maintenance of the mobile home park use. Administer Ordinance No. 550-C.S. if necessary. Unless development of additional mobile home parks occurs during the planning period, the maximum performance related to this policy would be one mobile home park conversion. | The mobilehome park operator intends to operate the site on a long-term basis and has resumed leasing units to residents after completing various site upgrades. The mobile home park is still in operation. | 12/31/2017 and 12/31/2020: Contact property owner to inquire about long-term intentions for the site. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 7: Emphasize housing rehabilitation to forestall decline in the housing stock. Utilize government subsidies including Section 8 or other rental assistance programs to enhance owner affordability. Use the Code Enforcement process to refer owners to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for housing rehabilitation. | Distribute rehabilitation and housing affordability program information to 300 property owners during building code or property maintenance code interactions with City inspectors. | City staff made no referrals for Section 8 housing services during the reporting period. | Annually (3-5 referrals) | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 2: Reduce potential loss of life and property damage from earthquakes by requiring seismic upgrades (structural strengthening and hazard mitigation) to unsafe buildings, which includes unreinforced-masonry buildings and soft-story buildings (those with ground floors having a lateral stiffness significantly less than that of the stories above). | 1) Continue to distribute program literature.
2) Refer five households per year. | 1) Reported in 2016 APR.
2) The City has not pursued enactment of an ordinance. | 1) 12/31/2016: Determine whether development of a mandatory seismic upgrade ordinance and sourcing of sufficient funding to implement upgrades are feasible.
2) 12/31/2017: If feasible, complete enactment of ordinance and implementation of seismic upgrade funding program(s), the impact to single family neighborhoods is reduced. Additional buffering above and beyond the quantitative requirements outlined in the Zoning Code is considered during the design review process. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 14: Consider amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow Rooming Houses and Boardinghouses for farmworker housing as a permitted use in the R-3 (Multiple-Family Residential) District. | Consider the zoning amendment and enact amendments if determined desirable and feasible. | The City has not pursued enactment of an ordinance. | 1) 12/31/2016: Complete consideration of the amendment.
2) 12/31/2017: Enact amendments to Zoning Code, if determined desirable and feasible. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 18: Encourage development of housing for all income levels, including lower income individuals, in suitable areas to meet ABAG's projected housing need. | Update available development site inventory annually to encourage development of housing units to satisfy the City’s RHNA. | The development site inventory found in Tables III-1 and III-2 of the Housing Element remained representative of available development sites within Pacifica. | Annually by 12/31: Post updated inventory on City’s website. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 8: Establish an incentive program for voluntary housing rehabilitation. | Continue implementation of Complete Streets policies. Condition all development approvals to require improvements to infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity. Pursue funding to implement Phase I of the Palmetto streetscape improvements and planning for subsequent phases. | In 2018, the City completed Phase I improvements to Palmetto Avenue, enhancing the neighborhood quality of the 92 housing units in the vicinity of the streetscape improvements.
In 2021, the City completed two major street connections on Monterey Road to Hickey Boulevard closing a gap of about 100 feet; and 1,400 feet along Palmetto Avenue from Westline Drive. | 1) 1/31/2015 through 1/31/2023: Condition 80 projects (10 per year) requiring Complete Streets improvements.
2) 12/31/2018: Secure sufficient funding to initiate Phase I improvements under the Palmetto streetscape improvement plan. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 12: Amend Second Unit Ordinance to incorporate updates in state law. | Amend Second Unit Ordinance to comply with state law by the end of 2016. | COMPLETED
City Council adopted a new ADU ordinance (Ord. No. 825-C.S.) in 2017 to comply with state law.
In early 2019, changes made by the California Legislature resulted in City Council adoption of Ordinance No. 841-C.S., which included a repeal and replacement of the City’s existing second residential unit standards with current ADU standards in the Pacifica Municipal Code (PMC).
Later in December 2019, Planning Commission adopted Resolution 2019-037 recommending City Council approval of additional changes, and in January 2020, the City Council subsequently approved the proposed changes and adopted Ordinance 854-C.S. | 12/31/2016: Enact amendments to Second Unit Ordinance to conform to state law. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 19: Form a committee to monitor housing trends affecting needs and development, as well as implementation of action programs. Devise strategies to accommodate housing needs that arise during the planning period that the Housing Element does not adequately address. | Form a committee to assert more active oversight in Housing Element implementation. Review the draft Housing Element Status and Annual Progress Report prior to the public hearing and consideration by City Council. | 1) The City did not establish a Housing Element implementation committee.
2) City staff focused efforts on assisting homeowners with obtaining permits to construct ADUs pursuant to Action Program 11 in order to fully implement the City's revised ADU ordinance.
3) N/A - the City did not establish a Housing Element implementation committee.
4) The City will consider the APR at the February 27, 2023 City Council meeting to seek City Council approval and transmittal of the Report by the April 1 deadline. | 1) 8/31/2015: Establish a Housing Element implementation committee.
2) Annually by 6/30: Planning Division staff conducts an internal review of implementation during first-half of year and projected implementation during remaining-half of year.
3) Annually between 1/1 and 2/28: Hold a committee meeting to discuss prior year Housing Element implementation and to review the draft Housing Element Status and Annual Progress Report.
4) Annually between 3/1 and 3/31: Present the Housing Element Status and Annual Progress Report at a City Council public hearing and seek Council approval and transmittal of the Report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by the April 1 deadline. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 3: Develop programs to help preserve the "at risk" units at Casa Pacifica senior housing complex. | Monitor Casa Pacifica Apartments for any indication of intent to cease participation in the Section 8 program. Formulate a comprehensive response with affordable housing partners to any notice of intent to cease Section 8 participation. | The current participation agreement is valid through 2025 and shall preserve 102 affordable units through 2025. | 12/31/2018: Contacted property owner to inquire about long-term intentions for the site. Due to the length of the current participation agreement (1/31/2015 through 1/31/2020), a single inquiry suffices. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 13: Amend Density Bonus Ordinance to reflect updates to state law. | Amend Density Bonus Ordinance to comply with state law by the end of 2016. | The City has not pursued enactment of an ordinance. | 12/31/2016: Enact amendments to Density Bonus Ordinance to conform to state law. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 17: The City shall initiate contact with developers from the private and nonprofit sectors interested in development opportunities in the City of Pacifica for rental housing affordable to persons with extremely low, very low, and low incomes. | Begin a bi-annual housing developer roundtable hosted by the City to provide factual information on development sites and the City’s development process, as well as to demonstrate a strong City commitment to affordable housing development. | The City processed a large number of housing project applications in 2022 and did not need to incentivize additional applications by conducting a developer roundtable. | By 12/31 in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022: Host developer roundtable. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 6: Create a reasonable accommodation program and procedures to allow deviations from zoning standards for projects that improve access for persons with disabilities. | Adopt an ordinance by the end of 2016. | COMPLETED
To promote housing opportunities for a person with disabilities, in late 2019 the City established a reasonable accommodation process consistent with Fair Housing Laws in land use, zoning, and building regulations by adopting Ordinance No. 851 in to ensure equal access to housing. | 12/31/2016: Enact Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 11: Encourage and facilitate construction of second residential units on properties zoned for single-family residential uses in conformance with existing zoning regulations. | Encourage construction of two second residential units per year, or 16 second units during the planning period. Periodically evaluate the City’s second unit zoning regulations and inquire with residents and construction professionals as to the perceived level of difficulty and expense associated with second unit construction. Where perceptions suggest second unit construction is difficult, develop strategies to revise the City’s regulations, such as by relaxing second unit parking requirements. | Forty-eight (48) accessory dwelling units (i.e., second residential unit or ADUs) received either a completed entitlement, building permit, or certificate of occupancy during the 2022 reporting period. | By 12/31 in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022: Review and revise, as necessary. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 15: Amend A (Agricultural) Zoning District to allow farmworker housing. | Amend A zoning district to comply with state law. | The City has not pursued enactment of an ordinance. | 6/30/2016: Enact amendments to Zoning Code. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 16: Amend Zoning Ordinance to allow Emergency Shelters, Transitional and Supportive Housing. | Amend the Zoning Code to create new definitions for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing. Create new permitted uses for these types of facilities to clarify their treatment by the City. Create development standards for the establishment and ongoing operations of these facilities. | The City has not pursued enactment of an ordinance. | 1) 9/30/2015: Develop and discuss at the Planning Commission potential development standards for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing.
2) 1/31/2016: Amend the Zoning Code to explicitly permit by-right emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 1: Advertise available grant and loan funding for lower income property owners to rehabilitate substandard housing units. | The City will strive to refer enough residents to ensure two residents will successfully apply for the program each year. | Advertising is ongoing. The City has observed little interest from residents to apply for housing rehabilitation loans. Additionally, County program staff has indicated that budget reductions have impacted its ability to administer the program, resulting in a lower program capacity to assist Pacifica residents. The City will, however, continue to market the County’s rehabilitation program to provide the opportunity to apply to any interested residents. | Annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Action Program No. 10: Prioritize in-fill mixed-use and residential development on underutilized sites and vacant sites interspersed with developed areas. | Contact two property owners of identified underutilized sites per year to encourage redevelopment with higher density, mixed-use projects. | The overwhelming majority of projects receiving planning or building permit approvals in 2022 were infill housing developments (98%). | Annually | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |