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 5 of 25 5. A significant trend driving displacement of low-income households is the steadily increasing cost of housing in the City. Low-income households are struggling with housing prices and instability. 6. As of the adoption of this amendment, less than fifteen percent (15%) of low- wage earners who work in the City live in the City; sixty-six percent (66%) of low wage employees in Redwood City commute more than ten (10) miles to work; forty-eight percent (48%) commute more than twenty-five (25) miles. The City's Climate Action Plan identified a lack of affordable housing near the urban core and urban sprawl among contributing factors that lead to increased Vehicles Miles Travelled (VMT). 7. Implementation of a local preference will helps the City: (1) reduce the impacts of the jobs/housing imbalance; (2) reduce displacement of lower income households; and (3) have the benefit of reducing GHG emissions and VMT. 8. The City commissioned a Live/Work Policy Analysis Study (2021) to review supporting data for the proposed local preference and to analyze the potential impact of the local preference. The study concluded that the data and analysis demonstrate the significant need for the City's proposed local preference and that the imposition of such a preference is unlikely to result in violations of fair housing laws. 9. The California Legislature has required each local government agency to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan establishing policies for future development. As specified in Government Code Section 65583(c), the plan must (1) encourage the development of a variety of types of housing for all income levels, including multifamily rental housing; and (2) "[a]ssist in the development of adequate housing to meet the needs of extremely low, very low, low- and moderate-income households." The City is also charged by the Legislature to use the powers vested in it to make adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community (Section 65580(d)). 10. The City previously received and considered the nexus study from Strategic Economics and Vernazza Wolfe Associates, Inc. dated September 2015 entitled "Residential Impact Fee Nexus Study" and "Commercial Linkage Fee Nexus Study" which the City Council will continue to rely on. 11. Providing developers various alternative methods of compliance is in the best interest of the City and the developers by maximizing compliance with the Ordinance and alignment with state laws. 12. Scarcity of land with adequately zoned capacity contributes to increased land prices and housing development costs. Accepting land donations increases the sites with appropriate zoning, development standards, and infrastructure capacity to accommodate affordable residential developments.