Reso PC21-07 0063 PC Reso Zoning Ordinance Amendment Article 29

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ATTY/RESO.0063/PC RESO ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ARTICLE 29 REV: 08-12-21 SK Page 4 of 17 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 46 percent of households (more than 3,000 households) are cost-burdened paying more than 30 percent of their household income for housing, and 25 percent of those are severely cost-burdened paying rent over 50 percent of their household income for housing. Approximately 80 percent of lower income households in the City pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing, and 50 percent of lower income households are severely rent burdened paying over 50 percent 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 8 jobs to 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 502 units for moderate income, 128 units for low income, and 419 units for very low income households. 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 and to maintain a thriving mixed-income community. 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 15 percent of low-wage earners who work in the City live in the City; 66 percent of low wage employees in Redwood City commute more than 10 miles to work; 48 percent commute more than 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 help 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).