Hi All-
It was great to see many of you last week and I wanted to follow up regarding HCD’s review of housing elements. One of the issues we’ve encountered is that HCD will almost never approve densities below the “default” densities. Our frustration with HCD is that no amount of analysis or evidence seems good enough for HCD and there is no clear guidance of when HCD will or will not approve lower densities.
Napa has sponsored a bill to allow lower densities in unincorporated areas if certain conditions are met (AB 542). We are trying to get more certainty in the law as to the standards HCD can use in making these types of determinations. In a meeting with the housing advocates, they asked for examples of other counties that had proposed densities below the default densities and been rejected. In that regard, it would be helpful for us to hear from counties who have had similar experiences with HCD. Please contact me directly at
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if you would like to share your experience with me or if you have any other thoughts on the subject. (I can keep the name of your county confidential if desired, although it would be great to have your comments on the record!)
Also, if you have other comments about HCD’s review of housing elements, please let me know. As Pete and DeAnn explained, CSAC has been working with the League of Cities to try to reform HCD’s review... Many thanks, Hillary
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