Permit Sonoma announces draft Housing Strategy workshop

Permit Sonoma will present its draft Housing Strategy at the August 9 meeting of the Board of Supervisors and seek feedback from the supervisors and public. Permit Sonoma will also seek board approval of a resolution  to seek designation of Sonoma County as a “Prohousing” jurisdiction by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The designation would provide additional advantages for the county when competing for state grant funds for housing.

The draft housing strategy is the result of the most extensive and equitable housing plan public participation program in Sonoma County history. Over the last year, Permit Sonoma conducted three public surveys where 6,378 participants shared their thoughts about needs and opportunities, values and housing policies. In creating the draft Housing Strategy, Permit Sonoma has been aided by a Housing Advisory Committee. The Housing Advisory Committee is composed of housing service providers, for-profit and nonprofit developers, and representatives of the agricultural, farmworker, faith and homelessness communities.

The Housing Strategy is the policy and implementation framework for addressing housing element objectives such as meeting the County of Sonoma’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 3,881 housing units. The draft Housing Strategy proposes programs and policies to ensure fair housing and address concerns raised by the public such as barriers to development, the habitability of housing, and fairness, such as ensuring that  housing is used by full-time residents of the county.

The County of Sonoma is updating its housing element, as required by state law. Every eight years, the county examines all the policies, market conditions, and other forces that affect housing development and develops plans to guide the construction of enough homes for everyone in the community, regardless of income.

Under California law, the housing element is one of the seven mandated elements of the county’s general plan and must be updated on a set schedule. A housing element identifies policies and programs that will support the provision of an adequate housing supply for citizens of all income levels.

Details on how to join the meeting and meeting documents including a staff report and additional information are available on the Board of Supervisors calendar webpage. More information about the General Plan Housing Element is available on the project webpage.

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Contact Information: 
Bradley Dunn, Policy Manager 
Bradley.Dunn@sonoma-county.org
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 321-0502