Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.

Saint Helena

What About Affordable Homes?
Housing Element Status
Certified
Rent Burden
47%
rent burdened
Affordable Housing Production
0%
affordable permits issued
Housing Programs
53
total programs
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Housing Programs

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.

6th Cycle Programs

53
total programs

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.

Overview of Program Deliverables

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
H-A
The City will prepare a sites inventory and suitability analysis that identifies suitable sites for housing development that allows targeted income housing developers to have a clear idea of what sites are suitable for meeting the Regional Housing Needs of the City. To accommodate the remaining lower-income RHNA of 156 units, the City of St. Helena will identify and rezone a minimum of 14 acres to the HDR zoning district, allowing exclusively residential uses and a minimum of 20 units per acre to a maximum of 28 units per acre by January 31, 2024. Rezoned sites will permit owner-occupied and rental multifamily uses by right pursuant to Government Code section 65583.2(h) and (i) for developments in which 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower income households and will be selected from sites 2, 3, 5, 8, and 10 in the parcel listing (Table 58). As reflected in 11: Housing Resources, each site has the capacity to accommodate at least 16 units and will be available for development in the planning period where water, sewer, and dry utilities can be provided. The City will maintain an inventory of parcels meeting the requirements of Government Code Section 65583.2(c); that is, vacant sites identified in two or more consecutive housing elements or nonvacant sites identified in a prior housing element, that are identified to accommodate housing for lower income households. This inventory shall be made available online. All previously used lower-income sites currently meet the lower-income density threshold (20 du/ac), however the City shall update the zoning code to allow by-right approval for housing developments that include 20 percent or more of its units affordable to lower income households (Gov. Code, § 65583.2, subd. (c).) on these sites. The City will consider AFFH in the identification of sites within the inventory and will work to provide sites that proactively work to overcome concentrations of lower- and moderate-income earning populations on the eastern portion of the city.
Identify housing sites suitable to accommodate: · Very low income: 104 units · Low income: 59 units · Moderate income 26 units · Above Moderate income: 67 units · Total: 256 units Provide sites that proactively work to overcome concentrations of lower- and moderate-income earning populations; with the goal of facilitating the development of 82 lower income units in the western portion of the city Provide sites appropriate for affordable housing types Commit to streamlining review of Hunter Subdivision project to completion with the goal of Building Permit applications in 2025. Evaluate timeline at the end of 2025 and if determined necessary, identify additional housing sites to meet the City’s 6th Cycle RHNA requirements
By January 31, 2024 Publicly- available inventory: by 2024 Hunter Subdivision Building permits: 2025 Evaluate timeline by end of 2025
H-B
The City will remove the Growth Management System (GMS) from the Zoning Code. Due to Senate Bill 330, the GMS cannot currently be enforced. The City shall remove the GMS from the zoning code through the current Comprehensive Zoning Code Update currently underway. The GMS has been removed from the Draft Zoning Code, which is scheduled for adoption in summer/fall 2023.
During the planning period, encourage the development of: · 4 very low-income units · 4 low-income units · 10 moderate-income units · 10 above moderate-income units Address the city's lack of affordable housing by removing governmental constraints
Implementatio n: immediate Revised Zoning Code: by 2025 (prior to sunset of SB 330)
H-C
The City will continue to give priority access to water and sewer infrastructure to projects that include affordable housing units. As required by State law, the City shall deliver the adopted housing element to water and sewer providers, including a cover memo describing the City’s housing element, as well as the City’s housing needs and regional housing need.
Establish specific procedures providing priority access to water and sewer infrastructure to developments with units affordable to lower- income households, as required by State law Provide water and sewer providers with the adopted housing element, including cover memo, as required by State law
Establish procedure: by 2025 Provide providers with housing element: immediately upon adoption
H-D
The City will continue to work with private property owners/developers to plan for road and utility improvements necessary to support housing on sites identified for lower-income housing, in the event these sites are developed. Funding for off-site improvements will be provided through development impact fees. The City shall annually evaluate funding levels and potential opportunities for use of the funds in line with this program. The City will prioritize funding for improvement projects in the southeast quadrant of the city, including at sites 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12, as possible.
During the planning period, encourage the development of: · 4 very low-income units · 4 low-income units · 4 units identified for seniors, farmworkers, or persons with disabilities Provide funding to assist in the completion of two roadway or utility improvement projects in the southeast quadrant, with a goal of providing $100,000 during the planning period.
Throughout the planning period, as needed Evaluate funding levels and opportunities: annually
H-E
The City will apply streamlined ministerial review to housingdevelopments that meet the needs of lower income households and special needs groups, such as seniors, people with disabilities, farmworkers, and homeless families and individuals. The City shall evaluate the streamlined review policy every two years to identify constraints on special needs housing production. The City shall provide priority processing to development applications that work to provide housing for residents withspecial housing needs. The City shall also support these applicants by providing technical support through the entitlement process and shall provide additional density bonuses and modifications to development standards (beyond State law) to special needs housing projects proposed on the western half of the city, where fair housing issues are less concentrated.
During the planning period, encourage the development of: · 15 very low-income units · 8 low-income units · 6 units identified for seniors, farmworkers, or persons with disabilities Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city Address the lack of farmworker housing in the city Provide incentives that work to overcome concentrations of affordable housing on the eastern portion of the city
Evaluate constraints: every two years Apply streamlined review: throughout planning period
H-F T
The city will review and amend the Municipal Code, to with State law to: Allow low barrier navigation centers for compliancewith Government Code Sections 65660 and 65668(AB 101). Allow for residential care facilities of six or fewer inzones allowing single-family uses, subject only to the requirements of single-family uses, in compliance with State law (HSC § 1568.0831); andpermit facilities with seven or more beds in all residential zones with objectivity and certainty similar to other residential uses of the same form Update Chapter 17.144 (Affordable Housing) to reflect new maximum density bonus tier framework in compliance with California Government Code Sections 65915 through 65918. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to define “family” as one or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit. The definition should not distinguish between related and unrelated individuals and should not impose a numerical limit on the number of persons that constitute a family. Update parking requirements related to emergency shelters for compliance with Government Code section 65583, subdivision (a)(4)(A) to require only be the number of spaces necessary for staff working in the shelter and no more than other uses in the same zones. Allow accessory dwelling units in all zones allowing residential uses, including the AP Zone, mixed-use and commercial zones. · · · · · · · Update Chapter 17.116.030 (Accessory Dwelling Units) for compliance with Government Code section 65852.2. Update Chapter 173.200 (Reasonable Accommodation) to remove discretionary finding requirements that constrain development, including finding #5, which considers impacts to surrounding properties or uses. Incorporate objective design standards for single- family, small lot, and multifamily developments that provide a ministerial design review process Provide a by-right streamlined review process for affordable housing developments meeting state affordability thresholds, in compliance with SB 35 and SB 330. Allow permanent and supportive housing pursuant to Government Code section 65651 without discretionary action. Allow emergency shelters by right in BPO zone in compliance with Government Code section 65583(a)(4). Expand the definition of emergency shelters to include interim interventions in compliance with Government Code section 65583(a)(4).
Amend the Municipal Code for compliance with State law by 2025 Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city by removing governmental constraints to housing production Amend the inclusionary housing ordinance to update in-lieu fees to reflect real costs of developing affordable housing, provide incentives to construct workforce housing, and provide more on-site housing requirements for affordable housing development
By 2025
H-G
The City will, in accordance with SB 1035, update the General Plan Safety Element to include any new information on fire and flood hazards, as well as climate adaptation and resiliency strategies. In accordance with SB 99 and AB 747, the updated Safety Element will also include evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios and to include information identifying residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.
Update the Safety Element by 2024
2024
H-H
The City will identify and adopt, as appropriate, incentives for development to address the housing needs of “workforce” and farmworker households, with priority given to projects in lower-density higher income on the western half of the city. As part of this effort, the City will explore the feasibility of adding an above moderate-income workforce housing component to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance requirements and amend the Ordinance as appropriate.
Identify and adopt, as appropriate, development incentives such as higher density and height allowances, a streamlined design review process, and financial incentives, including fee reductions and waivers and contributions from the City’s Housing Trust Fund, to encourage the development of workforce and farmworker housing, including additional incentives for those projects in low-density high-income areas Encourage the development of: · 10 units identified for workforce or farmworker housing during the planning period · 2 workforce housing developments in low-density high-income areas Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city Address the lack of farmworker housing in the city
By 2025
H-I
The City will implement a program to provide financial assistance for the development of accessory dwelling units in exchange for affordability restrictions that will provide workforce housing. Potential funding sources include, but are not limited to, Housing Trust Funds and Transient Occupancy Tax revenues. To encourage housing mobility and housing choice, the City shall provide marketing of the ADU Workforce Housing Program (and financial incentives) targeted at low-density areas of the city, with particular emphasis on the western half of the city where fair housing issues and existing affordable units are less concentrated. As part of this effort, the City shall hold up to two multi-lingual engagement events.
Establish an ADU Workforce Housing incentive program Market financial incentives to residents in LR and MR zones, particularly on the western portion of the City in combination with Programs H-Q and H-R, encourage the development of: · 80 accessory dwelling units, targeting 60 on the western portion of the city · 20 ADUs with affordability restrictions during the planning period, including 15 within the western portion of the city. · 15 ADUs near downtown Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city Address the lack of farmworker housing in the city
Establish program: by 2025 Provide marketing and engagement events: 2025
H-J
The City will encourage development of co-housing, ecohousing, a ‘green’ manufactured home, and other forms of housing, and will ensure these housing types are considered in the city’s streamlined approval process. The City will evaluate and update, as appropriate, current zoning practices to remove constraints to non-traditional housing types. The City will also amend the zoning code to provide objective standards for residential development that work for a variety of housing types, including non- traditional housing types.
Evaluate current zoning practices to identify constraints to non-traditional housing types by 2025 Amend the zoning code to remove constraints and provide objective design standards by 2026 Encourage the development of: · 10 missing middle units on infill parcels or in areas within the western portion of the city, consistent with AFFH. · 4 non-traditional housing units during the planning period. Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city
Encourage non- traditional housing types: throughout the planning period Evaluate zoning: by 2025 Amend zoning: by 2026
H-K
The City shall adopt a policy(ies) to incentivize new or more intense development on sites included in the sites inventory as lower-income capacity, including sites 7, 9, and 11 (for sites 1 and 2, see Program H-L). Incentives may include, but are not limited to, reducing development standards, providing flexible parking standards, priority processing, or deferred fees. The City shall engage property owners within six months of adoption to discuss constraints and potential incentives.
Adopt policies that Incentivize the development of new or more intense uses on non-vacant sites identified as lower-income capacity to meet the RHNA. Encourage the construction of 42 new lower- income units on sites 7, 9, and 11, including 32 on the western portion of the city
Engage property owners: within six months of adoption Adopt incentives: 2024
H-L
The City will maintain compliance with the Surplus Land Act throughout the 2023-2031 Housing Element planning period. The City will assess the appropriateness of and consider implementing the following: outreach opportunities with housing developers, requests for proposals, development incentives, fee waivers, priority processing, and financial assistance (when available) to facilitate and incentivize developers to develop housing units on City-owned sites. The City plans to make 3 properties available through the Surplus Land Act process over the next two years for a potential development of 57 lower-income units. The City shall conduct studies of City owned sites included in the sites inventor to determine the most efficient use for housing. These include sites 1, 2, and 3. Through this process, the City shall engage local affordable housing developers to determine site constraints and potential policies to meaningfully incentivize affordable housing development on these sites. The City shall proceed with the findings for housing development by 2026. The City anticipates two-and-a-half years to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (Fall 2026), and one-and-a-half additional years for land use entitlements and development agreements (Spring 2028). City owned sites included in the inventory (sites 1-3) shall be rezoned incompliance with Govt. Code Section 65583.2(h) and (i) within one year of the adoption deadline (by January 31, 2024).
Engage local affordable housing developers immediately Study city owned sites to determine the most efficient use for affordable housing development within the first year following adoption By 2026, implement an action plan to sell, or release an RFP to develop, City owned land for affordable housing development based on the findings of the conducted studies. Through the action plan, establish and implement a variety of incentives to facilitation housing development. Maintain compliance with the Surplus Land Act throughout the 2023-2031 Housing Element Planning Period Make properties available through the Surplus Land Act process Target Exclusive Negotiating Agreement by Fall 2026 Target land use entitlements issuance by Spring 2028 Encourage the development of 57 lower-income units in the northeast quadrant of the city near transit opportunities, and where fair housing issues are less concentrated, and walkability and environmental scores are more positive
Engage developers: immediately upon adoption Conduct studies: by July 2025 Implement action plan and incentives for City owned sites: by 2026 Rezone sites: by Jan. 31, 2026
H-M
Types The City will continue to provide incentives for higher density housing and will explore possible incentives for building attached market rate housing units for rent and for sale. Incentives may include, but are not restricted to, fast tracking development applications, deferred development fees, reduced parking and/or other city standards, and density bonuses.
Encourage the development of 20 lower income units during the planning period Study potential incentives for attached market rate units by 2027 Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city
Throughout the planning period Attached market-rate housing study by 2027
H-N Z
Housing The City will modify the Zoning Code to facilitate higher density housing, consistent with the 2040 General Plan Update and Housing Sites Analysis, and discourage the construction of oversize homes, particularly within the western portion of the city, consistent with AFFH. The City shall revise maximum lot coverage to 55 percent and maximum height to 42 feet in the HR zone and on key housing sites in the MR zone (see Section 17.40.020(N)). The City shall revise the zoning code to allow minor modifications of up to 10 percent increase in lot coverage standards and 5 percent (or two feet, whichever is greater) in maximum height. Minor modifications shall be approved by the Community Development Director without a public hearing. The City shall reduce parking requirements for multifamily uses with three or more units to require one parking space for studio or one-bedroom units. The City shall revise Section 17.40.020 to allow duplexes and triplexes and densities of 5.1 to 16 dwelling units per acres in the MR zone without a conditional use permit.
Modify the development standards within the Zoning Ordinance to encourage higher density developments by 2026, with a goal of encouraging the development of 30 multifamily units in the HR zone and on key housing sites in the MR zone, as well as through the development of duplexes and triplexes in the MR zone during the planning period Develop land use patterns that work to overcome geographic concentrations of lower-and moderate- income earning populations Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city
By 2026
H-O
The City will amend zoning regulations to prohibit exemptions from minimum density requirements.
Prohibit exemptions from minimum density requirements Encourage development patterns that work to overcome geographic concentrations of lower-and moderate-income earning populations
By 2026
H-P
The City will amend the Zoning Code to create and implement the development criteria set for mixed use development within St Helena.
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to create and implement the development criteria set for mixed use development by 2026 Encourage the development of 20 housing units in mixed-use projects during the planning period Explore and adopt, as appropriate, development incentives such as higher density and height allowances, a streamlined design review process, and financial incentives, including fee reductions and waivers and contributions from the City’s Housing Trust Fund, to encourage employers to provide on- site employee housing Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city
By 2026
H-Q D
Development The City will continue to provide financial incentives, such as fee waivers and pre-approved plans, for ADU development. The City will also explore additional options such as covering the cost of a feasibility consult or the license fee for pre-approved plans, or capping total fees. The City will work with Napa Sonoma ADU to provide public information regarding ADUs on the City website, including a guide for homeowners explaining the benefits and procedures for adding an ADU and links to resources, including the ADU Feasibility Calculator, Home Match Program, and Standard ADU Plans Program.
Provide direct financial incentives to 10 ADU projects in the planning period Explore additional financial incentives by 2025 Provide informational materials and technical assistance regarding the development of ADUs to 30 households in low-density western portions of the city within the planning period Address the lack of affordable housing types in the city
Explore additional incentives: by 2025 Provide information al materials: by 2025 Engage Napa Sonoma ADU: annually
H-R
The City will target specific areas for ADU incentives and will create incentives to construct ADUs in the low- and medium-density areas near downtown as well as in low-density higher-income areas of the city, particularly on the western portion of the city. Potential incentives include, but are not restricted to, fast tracking development applications, deferred development fees, and reduced parking and/or other city standards.
Establish place-based ADU strategies and incentives by 2026 In combination with Program H-I and H-Q, the development of: · 80 accessory dwelling units, targeting 60 on the western portion of the city · 20 ADUs with affordability restrictions during the planning period, including 15 within the western portion of the city. · 15 ADUs near downtown Proactively work to overcome concentrations of lower- and moderate-income earning households Proactively work to relieve displacement pressures on multifamily zones
Establish program: by 2026
H-S A
Incentives The City will link financial incentives and development standard variances to affordability requirements for ADUs. Whenever the City assists in the development of an ADU through financial incentives or by granting a variance, the City will require that either the main house or the ADU is used as a rental unit affordable to lower- and moderate-income households for a minimum of five years through an affordable housing regulatory agreement with the City.
Update the zoning ordinance to include affordability requirements for ADU projects receiving financial or regulatory incentives by 2026 Incentivize the development of: · 12 very low-income units · 14 low-income units · 6 moderate income units
By 2026
H-T
The City will continue to respond to complaints regarding illegal units. Additionally, the City will work with the property owners to help bring illegal units up to code and to abate the use of non- habitable buildings as living units.
Respond to complaints regarding illegal units Provide technical support to assist all lower income units to be brought up to code in the planning period Provide financial support to assist five lower income units in the southeast quadrant of the City to be brought up to code within the planning period
Throughout the planning period
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