Mayor Faulconer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Increase Housing Supply, Boost Affordability for San Diegans
Mayor’s ‘Housing SD’ Package Aims to Lower Costs, Promote Building Near Transit & Cut Red Tape to Address Affordability Crisis
- Spur the construction of low-income and middle-class housing through incentives;
- Streamline development standards and speed up the review process;
- Direct funding toward affordable housing; and
- Encourage growth in transit-friendly areas, which also supports the goals of the Climate Action Plan.
- Middle Income Density Bonus Program – Creating a program to give incentives for developers to construct housing projects that provide units that can be sold or rented to entry-level/middle-income households. Estimated completion date: Winter 2019.
- Affordable/Sustainable Expedite Program – Revising the existing program to incorporate new City initiatives, address prior City Council direction and improve service delivery where qualifying projects can have their discretionary and ministerial permits expedited. Summer 2017.
- Companion (Second Dwelling) Unit Production – Changing the municipal code to implement state mandates reducing requirements for parking, fees and permits as well as further changes to help promote the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units. Summer 2017.
- Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program Update – Updating City regulations to reflect changes in state law and additional code changes to further incentivize the use of this housing tool to increase the production of more affordable units. Winter 2018.
- Updates to the Land Development Code (11th Code Update) – Several code amendments to streamline the development review process, including the expansion of live/work quarters and certain exemptions for designated historic structures. Fall 2017.
- Streamlined Environmental Review – Developing a checklist and compliance document to simplify use and ensure consistency in application of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15183, which allows a streamlined review process for public and private development projects that are consistent with the densities established by existing zoning, community plan or general plan policies for which an Environmental Impact Report was certified. Winter 2018.
- Development Impact Fee (DIF) Calculations – Reviewing and recommending a preferred methodology for calculating DIF, which are fees on new development to offset future costs derived by residents and employees that will require public facilities such as fire stations, libraries, parks and roads, etc. For example, a flat residential rate is applied to each new residential unit, regardless of unit size. As a result, smaller and more affordable units pay disproportionately more in DIF than larger units. Winter 2018.
- Parks Master Plan – Creating a new master plan for San Diego’s park system for the first time in more than 60 years. The plan would develop an implementation plan for prioritizing, phasing and funding of projects; identify high priority sites for parkland acquisition, design and development; and address needs in the current system and emerging trends for the future, among other things. Fall 2019.
- Transit Priority Area Parking Standards – Revising parking standards within Transit Priority Areas so the City is not unnecessarily requiring excessive parking in development projects. Parking spaces add significantly to the cost of building homes, which translates to increased sales prices or higher monthly rents. Fall 2018.
- Implementation of SB743 and Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) – Developing VMT thresholds and preparing the necessary environmental review process to comply with SB743, which reformed the CEQA analysis from level of service to VMT. Summer 2018.
- Housing Successor Fund & Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) – Awarding $25 million to help fund affordable housing developments targeting households demonstrating low to extremely low income. The City and Civic San Diego announced the NOFA in February 2017 and the funding will be used to support the acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of housing that will provide long-term affordability. Fall 2017.
- Transit Oriented Development Fund – Using $20 million in San Diego Housing Commission and Civic San Diego assets to create a transit-oriented development fund that would leverage those public assets at a 3:1 ratio to provide finance options that are currently unavailable or scarce. Fall 2017.
- Housing Inventory Annual Report – Developing an annual report that compiles information on San Diego’s housing inventory and greater housing outlook to better understand the crisis in the short term and help develop strategies that produce results in the long term. Summer 2017.