Santa Rosa

H-C-2

Implement the Housing Allocation Plan to increase the number of affordable units in Santa Rosa, both on site and through collection of in lieu fees and subsequent development of affordable units.

The City continues to implement the Housing Allocation Plan to increase the number of affordable units in Santa Rosa, both onsite and through collection of in-lieu fees used to subsidize affordable housing projects in various stages of financing. In 2022, $1.79 M was collected through In-Lieu Housing Impact fees and will be used to subsidize affordable housing projects.

H-C-9

Allow Low Density sites of 3 acres or less to develop at densities up to 15 units per acre under the following conditions: • Where infrastructure is sufficient to support the increased density; • When the project design is compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhood in terms of building mass, setbacks and landscaping; • Where at least one very low or two low income rental units are included for every 10 market rate units with affordability maintained for 10 years; and • Where affordable housing units are incorporated into the neighborhood using superior design such that affordable units are indistinguishable from market rate units.

The City implements the policy for allowing density sites that meet certain conditions, including being 3 acres or less in size, to develop at densities up to 15 units per acre on a project-by-project basis.

H-C-15

Participate in tax credit and mortgage revenue bond programs which provide tax exempt, low cost financing to developers of projects making a portion of the units affordable.

The City continues its participation in tax credit and mortgage revenue bond programs by providing tax credit applications and serving as the sponsor for affordable housing bond issuances.

H-D-6

Encourage the development of Single Room Occupancy facilities, consistent with the Single Room Occupancy Ordinance.

The City continues to facilitate and support innovative housing approaches, including Single-Room Occupancy facilities, on a project-by-project basis, to provide a variety of housing opportunities.

H-G-1

Maximize energy efficiency in residential areas.

The City continues to maximize energy efficiency in residential areas. The City participates in the County Property Assessed Clean Energy retrofit program, the Sonoma Clean Power renewable utility provider, and implementation of CALGreen building standards and select Tier 1 standards. The City has adopted all-electric reach code standards for new low-rise residential development effective January 1, 2020. New residential projects are reviewed for compliance with the Climate Action Plan.

H-A-3

Promote conservation and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock and discourage intrusion of incompatible uses into residential neighborhoods which would erode the character of established neighborhoods or lead to use conflicts.

City staff continue to implement the City’s Zoning Code regulations, which consider land use compatibility in residential neighborhoods, on a project-by-project basis. In 2022, City staff continued to administer the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which focuses on rehabilitating existing housing stock throughout the City, in particular housing units for low-income households.

H-B-2

Discourage the subdivision of mobile home parks or conversion to other uses through enforcement of the Conversion of Mobilehome Parks chapter of the City Code.

Implementation of the City's Mobile Home Parks Conversion ordinance is conducted on a project-by-project basis. The City continues to discourage the subdivision of mobile home parks or conversion to other uses through the enforcement of the Conversion of Mobile Home Parks chapter of the City Code.

H-C-3

Utilize fees generated through the Housing Allocation Plan for the development of housing units affordable to extremely low, very low, and low income households.

Fees generated through the In-Lieu Housing Impact fees from the City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance are used for the construction of affordable units. Since 1992, more than 2,010 affordable units have been supported through this fee.

H-C-8

Continue to provide funding for affordable housing projects, particularly if a portion of the project units are targeted to extremely low income households.

The City continues to provide financing for affordable housing projects through various ongoing grant programs and the use of in-lieu fees.

H-C-16

Aggressively participate in available federal, state, and private non-profit programs for the provision of affordable housing.

The City continues to participate in available federal, State, and private non-profit programs for provision of affordable housing. This is done by City staff who work with HUD and HCD to access all available resources and grants to sustain and expand affordable housing in Santa Rosa.

H-C-17

Allow mobile homes on single family lots through issuance of a certificate of compatibility

The City continued to permit mobile homes that meet the standards on single-family lots citywide.

H-C-20

Encourage the development of units with three or more bedrooms in affordable housing projects.

The City encourages the development of units with three or more bedrooms in affordable housing projects. The staff continuously meets and confers with applicants to address and encourage all levels of housing types and affordability.

H-D-16

Through flexibility in design guidelines which encourage innovative housing programs, stimulate development of senior housing which addresses the housing needs of the senior population

The City continues to implement on a project-by-project basis, design guidelines that can encourage innovative housing programs and stimulate the development of senior housing, which will address the housing needs of the senior population.

H-F-2

Fast track all development projects which are comprised fully of units affordable to extremely low, very low, and low income households with long term affordability restrictions. Utilize a fast track schedule mutually acceptable to the project applicant and the city.

The City continues to fast track all development projects, which are comprised fully of units affordable to extremely low, very low-, and low-income households with long-term affordability restrictions. The City also uses a fast-track schedule, mutually acceptable to the project applicant and the City. The City continues to prioritize affordable housing projects by coordinating and focusing staff efforts across departments on residential projects particularly those with high unit counts, and affordable units.

H-F-7

Ensure that regulations contained in the Santa Rosa Zoning Code provide development standards, parking requirements, and use allowances which facilitate the development of housing for all income groups

The Zoning Code contains several concessions and a reduced parking requirement to facilitate the development of housing for all income groups, including through the density bonus program (updated in 2021 in accordance with State law) and the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance was amended in 2019 to (1) revise the inclusionary (on-site) affordable unit percentage requirement, (2) modify the Housing Impact Fee structure, (3) reduce the inclusionary percentage and housing impact fee for multifamily housing and mixed-use development in the Downtown Area to help encourage higher intensity development, and (4) establish a new Commercial Linkage Fee to increase affordable housing development within the City. In 2022, housing impact fees totaled $1.79 million, and building permits were issued for 347 deed-restricted affordable units.

H-A-4

Meet and confer with Sonoma County Planning staff on a regular basis to address housing needs of lower income and special needs groups, to coordinate regarding issues including infrastructure, zoning and land use, annexations, community acceptance strategies, homeless shelters, farmworkers, persons with disabilities, environmental issues, funding, and impact fees.

The City continues to meet and confer with Sonoma County Planning Staff on a regular basis to address housing needs of lower income and special-needs groups, to coordinate regarding issues including infrastructure, zoning, and land use, annexations, community acceptance strategies, homeless shelters, farmworkers, persons with disabilities, environmental issues, funding, and impact fees. Santa Rosa planners attend monthly Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings, comprised of Planning staff from each of the nine cities within the County and County of Sonoma staff, to collaborate on State Legislation related to housing and to work on annexation initiatives.

H-B-3

Retain federal, state and locally subsidized affordable units which may be lost through contract termination.

No locally funded affordable units were lost to market rate during 2022, or during the Housing Element Cycle 5 planning period.

H-C-7

Utilize the Santa Rosa Housing Trust to maximize and leverage available federal, state, and local funding to assist in the development of affordable housing, the preservation and rehabilitation of low income housing, the development and maintenance of homeless shelters, and the acquisition and development of facilities for the physically and developmentally disabled

The City continues to use the Santa Rosa Housing Trust to maximize and leverage available federal, State, and local funding to assist in the development of affordable housing, the preservation and rehabilitation of low-income housing, the development and maintenance of homeless shelters, and the acquisition and development of facilities for the physically and developmentally disabled. The Santa Rosa Housing Trust partners with many private and non-profit organizations to develop, rehabilitate, and preserve affordable housing and to convert market rate housing to affordable housing. Through the Trust, the Santa Rosa Housing Authority has supported the creation of approximately 5,000 affordable units, representing $120 million invested in affordable housing in Santa Rosa.

H-C-14

Continue commitment of redevelopment area tax increment funds for affordable housing programs. Utilize the Redevelopment Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund for affordable housing targeting extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income households.

With the dissolvement of redevelopment by the Governor of CA in 2011, loan repayments are used to rehabilitate existing dwelling units, acquire land for development of new affordable units, and provide financial assistance to permanent supportive housing units.

H-D-1

Continue existing programs for persons with special needs, including disabled persons, elderly, homeless, large families, single parent households, and farmworkers.

The City continued to support existing programs, including-- the Housing Accessibility Modification (HAM) Program and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), which is funded by HUD, The City supports developments through loans from the Housing Authority—for persons with special needs, including disabled persons, elderly, homeless, large families, single-parent households, and farmworkers. The Housing Authority provides funding and regulatory oversight for properties that serve special-needs individuals and families.