Planners to consider city’s updated ‘housing element’

The updated Housing Element study, a document required by the city as a planning tool, will be reviewed by the Sonoma Planning Commission on January 22. The session was originally scheduled for January 8.

Among many topics, the study addresses low-income housing, a mandate complicated by the loss of state redevelopment funds. All such funding is gone, according to the staff report, and the housing assets formerly owned by the Redevelopment Agency— including a two-acre housing site located at the corner of Broadway and Clay Street—have been transferred to the Sonoma County Housing Authority. To address the problem, the city will look at establishing affordable housing impact fees.

Though it is not the city’s responsibility to fund and build such units, “it is evident that the housing market will not produce low and very-low income units without substantial incentives, including financial assistance.” The costs of land and of construction are simply too high, according to report by Planning Commissioner David Goodison. “In addition, increased foreclosures places additional pressure on the market for rental housing.”

As part of the Housing Element discussion, the Planning Commission will also consider a request from the homeowners association of the Pueblo Serena Mobile Home Park. Residents there have requested that a “Senior Only” zoning policy be applied to the park.

Each of the city’s three mobile home parks were originally designated senior-only facilities by their respective developers. Within the past five years, the Moon Valley Mobile Home Park converted to an all-age facility, but Pueblo Serena and Rancho de Sonoma remain restricted to seniors.

In some communities, the conversion of senior-only parks to all-age facilities, despite any owner objections, has been prohibited as a means of preserving senior housing. Without the restriction, said homeowner rep Lyn Marie deVincent, “we are extremely vulnerable.”

The special meeting will be held on Monday, January 22, 6:30 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room, 177 First St. W.