Reso23-13PC Reso 0041 Amending Zoning Ordinance - Affordable Housing

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ATTY/RESO.0041/PC RESO AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE – AFFORDABLE HOUSING REV: 06-01-23 SK Page 4 of 25 10. Support the housing objectives contained in State law. C. Findings. The City Council finds and determines that the lack of access to affordable housing has a direct impact upon the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City. 1. The amendments made to this Article are necessary in order to provide increased affordable housing opportunities for very low to moderate income residents and very low to moderate income persons employed in the City are in the public interest and consistent with the Housing Element as described in the accompanying staff report. 2. As of the adoption of this amendment, approximately forty-six thirty-nine (39) percent of households (more than three thousand (3,000)11,750 households) are cost-burdened paying more than thirty percent (30%) of their household income for housing, and of those cost-burdened households twenty-five forty- nine percent (4925%) of those are severely cost-burdened paying rent over fifty percent (50%) of their household income for housing. Approximately eighty percent seventy-three percent (7380%) of lower income households in the City pay more than thirty percent (30%) of their income for housing, and fifty percent forty-four percent (4450%) of lower income households are severely rent burdened paying over fifty percent (50%) of their income for housing. The number of homes affordable to lower income households are significantly lower than the proportion of lower income households in Redwood City. 3. Housing production in the City has not kept up with employment growth. Over the last decade, job growth has outpaced housing units permitted by more than eight (8) jobs to one (1) housing unit. The City's 2007-2023 Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) data shows a significant mismatch between demand for housing affordable from very low, low and moderate income households and production of housing affordable to very low, low and moderate income households. As of the 2020 Annual Progress Report, the City has an affordable housing production deficit of five hundred two (502) units for moderate income, one hundred twenty-eight (128) units for low income, and four hundred nineteen (419) units for very low-income households. As of the 2022 Annual Progress Report, the City has an affordable housing production deficit of five hundred two (502) units for moderate income and three hundred sixty-three (363) units for very low-income households. Additionally, for the City’s 2023-2031 RHNA, there is a need for one thousand one hundred fifteen (1,115) very low income units, six hundred forty-three (643) low income units and seven hundred eighty nine (789) moderate income units. 4. Because of the high cost of both existing and newly constructed housing, the City will be limited in its ability to contribute to the attainment of State housing goals. The amendments made to this Article will contribute and to maintaining a thriving mixed-income community.