4A Public Hearing 2014 0915 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT City of San Leandro FY 2013‐2014 CAPER 15 OMB Control No: 2506‐0117 (exp. 07/31/2015) CR‐35 ‐ Other Actions 91.220(j)‐(k); 91.320(i)‐(j) Actions taken to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment. 91.220 (j); 91.320 (i) The City continues to work towards eliminating housing constraints that are identified in its State‐certified Housing Element of the General Plan that serve as barriers to affordable housing. For instance, the City has approved Zoning Code amendments to implement SB 2 which permits group residential uses, such as homeless shelters, rooming and boarding houses, supportive housing, and residential care facilities, as a matter of right on Industrial‐Light (IL) zoned parcels. The City has also approved Zoning Code amendments to the second unit ordinance to increase maximum size from 450 SF to a maximum range for 450 ‐ 750 SF depending on lot size. Actions taken to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 91.220(k); 91.320(j) Despite the difficulties of securing available adequate funding resources in meeting the City's underserved needs, the City addresses the underserved needs through the following: 1) Fostering and Maintaining Affordable Housing  The City annually monitors the preservation of 620 Below‐Market Rate (BMR) rental units (funded and/or regulated by the City/Redevelopment Agency) for tenants earning between 30% and 120% of the Area Median Income. Additionally, the City monitors fifty‐eight (58) existing BMR home ownership units.  City staff continues to respond to inquiries from private and non‐profit developers to acquire property and rehabilitate or building affordable rental units. This includes continuing to collaborate with BRIDGE Housing Corporation to begin constructing in late 2014 the Cornerstone affordable rental housing project which will include 115 family units in Phase 1 and 85 senior housing units in Phase 2.  The City's Housing Rehabilitation Program provided grants to twelve (12) owner‐occupied homes. The program continues to preserve and improve the City' existing housing stock and assist elderly homeowners to age in place.  The City's Rent Review Program, which is funded solely with City General Funds, provides a non‐ binding arbitration board review of eligible rent increase cases in San Leandro. Two (2) Rent Review Board cases were heard by the Rent Review Board in fiscal year 2013‐2014. 2) Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing  The City's CA State‐certified Housing Element of the General Plan identifies barriers to affordable housing and establishes "Goal 58: Elimination of Housing Constraints", which identifies policies and actions with implementation strategies to eliminate barriers. These policies include amending zoning regulations, streamlining permitting procedures, evaluating development fees, providing a customer‐ friendly environmental, resolving design issues, and correcting infrastructure deficiencies and soil contamination.  The City's Fair Housing Action Plan, which was implemented under the City's FY 2010‐2014 HUD Five‐ Year Consolidated Plan period (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2015), addresses the City's impediments identified in the Regional Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) for the Alameda County HOME Consortium that was completed in January 2010.  The City provides Chinese‐ and Spanish‐translated affordable housing programs/services (such as the Housing Rehabilitation Program, First‐Time Homebuyer Program, and Rent Review Program) brochures to the members of the public. These translated documents are also posted on the City website.