Wednesday, October 31, 2012

McMillan: Encouraging Second Units Would Help Solve Housing Issue

Second units or in-law apartments could alleviate affordable housing needs.

The most noteworthy words in the city's draft housing element that are "critical decisions occur at the local level." Government could give property owners a break on fees for second units.



Housing elements provide communities with goal driven strategies that ensure cities create zoning for housing that will accommodate people whose income ranges from extremely low, very low, low to moderate. Housing elements work in conjunction with a city's general plan. Novato is currently updating both its housing element and general plan.
Novato is providing a housing element update that redesignates affordable multifamily housing as buildable in densities of 20 units per acre. This is the single most important objective of the draft housing element. If it is approved it will provide Novato with a level of local control that maintains the character and integrity of existing neighborhoods while making the creation of affordable housing a fiscally sound proposition.
According to Novato's 2009-2014 draft housing element:
"
Housing element law recognizes the most critical decisions regarding housing development occur at the local level within the context of the periodically updated general plan." page 2 Draft Housing Element 2009-2014 ..."

The most noteworthy words that are in this document are "critical decisions occur at the local level." It voices what everyone in our community wants — a basic say as to what is built in our neighborhoods, in our downtown, in our shopping centers, in our business and commercial districts and throughout Novato.

full articleEncouraging Second Units

No comments:

Post a Comment