HCAOG will host a workshop at the Wharfinger on the many-times-postponed Regional Housing Needs Allocation.  This process determines how we allocate planned growth in the cities and the county.  Should we plan for focused growth near jobs and existing infrastructure, or continue past practices of allocating over half the housing to the unincorporated county where there will likely be reduced access to jobs, services, and transit?

You can read up on the sage of this process here.

And here is the agenda for the meeting:

2008 Regional Housing Needs Allocation

Public Workshop

Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 9:00 am

Wharfinger Building, Great Room

1 Marina Way, Eureka

1. INTRODUCTIONS

2. STATEMENT OF MEETING PROCEDURES

3. 2008 REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC INPUT

Background: This is an opportunity for public comment on the factors to be considered in the development of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation.  The factors are listed below as contained in GC Section 65584.01(d):

(d)  To the extent that sufficient data is available from local governments pursuant to subdivision (b) or other sources, each council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, shall include the following factors to develop the methodology that allocates regional housing needs:

(1)  Each member jurisdiction’s existing and projected jobs and housing relationship.

(2)  The opportunities and constraints to development of additional housing in each member jurisdiction, including all of the following:

(A)  Lack of capacity for sewer or water service due to federal or state laws, regulations or regulatory actions, or supply and distribution decision made by a sewer or water service provider other than the local jurisdiction that preclude the jurisdiction from providing necessary infrastructure for additional development during the planning period.

(B)  The availability of land suitable for urban development or for conversion to residential use, the availability of underutilized land, and opportunities for infill development and increased residential densities.  The council of governments may not limit its consideration of suitable housing sites or land suitable for urban development to existing zoning ordinances and land use restrictions of a locality, but shall consider the potential for increased residential development under alternative zoning ordinances and land use restrictions.  The determination of available land suitable for urban development may exclude lands where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Department of Water Resources has determined that flood management infrastructure designed to protect that land is not adequate to avoid the risk of flooding.

(C)  Lands preserved or protected from urban development under existing federal or state programs, or both, designed to protect open space, farmland, environmental habitats, and natural resources on a long-term basis.

(D)  County policies to preserve prime agricultural land, as defined pursuant to Section 56064, within an unincorporated area.

(3)  The distribution of household growth assumed for purposes of a comparable period of regional transportation plans and opportunities transportation infrastructure.

(4)  The market demand for housing.

(5)  Agreements between a county and cities in a county to direct growth toward incorporated areas of the county.

(6)  The loss of units contained in assisted housing developments, as defined in

paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, that changed to non-low-income use through mortgage prepayment, subsidy contract expirations, or termination of use restrictions.

(7)  High-housing cost burdens.

(8)  The housing needs of farmworkers.

(9)  The housing needs generated by the presence of a private university or a campus of the California State University or University of California within any member jurisdiction.

(10)  Any other factors adopted by the council of governments.

4. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS

Background: To the extent that time allows, discussion of the required factors, and data analysis, some of the factors can be emphasized or de-emphasized whichever the case may be, and actual methodology discussions may be initiated at this meeting.  The methodology discussions should utilize the factor discussions above to justify and/or support any procedural direction.

5. WRAP-UP NEXT MEETING

Background: The meeting facilitator will re-cap the meeting progress and set a date for the next meeting.