AgdaPkt 2014-10-20 Closed and Special Joint with SA_Revised_10_17_2014

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8.A. - Page 128 Response to Comment Letters on HCD Draft Housing Element Page 2 of 3 In addition, to address the jobs to housing ratio necessary to balance housing demand and supply, the 2010 General Plan included a specific goal (Goal BE -23), multiple policies, and an implementation program (Program BE -20) in the Built Environment Element related to jobs and housing. Program BE -20 states that the City will develop a system to periodically review total new commercial development square footage and new residential dwelling units, track changes to the city's jobs to housing balance, and adjust the Zoning Ordinance as appropriate to ensure adequate housing is developed to provide housing choice options for local businesses' employees. The City is continuing to implement this goal, policies, and programs and track progress through its annual General Plan reporting process. The City appreciates your feedback on the Draft Housing Element, and in response to some of the specific comments sent to HCD, the City is proposing the following updates and revisions to the Housing Element: 1. Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Scoring— Since the end of redevelopment in 2011, funding sources for affordable housing are even more limited. Redwood City recognizes that LIHTC remains a primary source of funding for affordable housing. The City maintains a map showing how various opportunity areas score for tax funding. The City will add an objective under Housing Element Program H -16 (Affordable Housing Development) to update this map with the new sites identified in the Housing Element and make it available on the City's Community GIS. 2. Annual Progress Report — Each year, the City completes an annual progress report on the Housing Element, which is presented to Planning Commission and City Council in conjunction with the annual General Plan progress report. The City will modify Housing Element Program H- 20: Outreach Plan to ensure interested community members are notified and invited to attend and discuss housing production progress at a public hearing. 3. Community Benefits Program —The City has undertaken an effort to complete a study and adopt related implementing ordinances related to community benefits. To provide clarity on timelines and intent, the City has updated the proposed program H -14 (Community Benefits Ordinance: Partnership RWC) to indicate next steps subsequent to the study. The City will consider (and adopt as appropriate), related policies and /or ordinances within an immediate timeframe of 2015. The City has also clarified that the program will specifically consider the inclusion of all types of housing, including affordable housing, as a potential benefit. 4. Public Meetings for Countywide Nexus Study — Redwood City values public input as the critical component in policy development. The City has updated Program H -3 Countywide Nexus study to clarify this intent and include the statement that public meetings will be held on the results of the Nexus Study. 5. Reasonable Accommodation — The City adopted a Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance to implement the previously adopted 2007 -2014 Housing Element, with the intent of facilitating access to housing for persons with disabilities. In order to ensure this goal is met, and compliance with the Fair Housing Act, the City has revised Program H -19 (Fair Housing Services) to include a statement that the City will review and revise the Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance, as necessary, to ensure compliance with State and federal fair housing laws in the immediate timeframe (2015).