Planning: New Housing in Piedmont
– Two dozen citizens attend presentation of partial Draft General Plan 2015 – 2023 Housing Element –
At the June 26 Planning Commission meeting, the City’s planning consultant, Barry Miller, presented interesting demographic information about the population and housing stock of Piedmont. The fastest growing age group is over 55 years, giving the City the oldest average age in the county and the largest proportion of senior citizens. The consultant questioned how well Piedmont is responding to the needs of these residents. Planning Director Kate Black noted that the emphasis on the development of second units could serve the older residents as a way to age in place; either or by moving into their second unit and renting out the rest of their home for income or as housing for an onsite caretaker.
Piedmont, as a city, has the oldest overall housing stock in Alameda County and California with the highest proportion of homes built before 1940.
Piedmont is required to submit an updated Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by January 31, 2015. Prior to submission, the consultant hopes to have a review letter from HCD on the working draft of the updated Housing Element this Fall. The City’s submittal need not be certified by HCD as in compliance by January, 2015. Piedmont’s current Housing Element was approved three years ago, four years after the submission deadline.
When complete, the 2014 General Plan Housing Element will include five components:
- Evaluation of Past Performance: The City’s progress in implementing the policies and programs in the prior Housing Element. (see consultant’s presentation)
- Housing Needs Assessment: Piedmont demographic and housing stock information in order to profile Piedmont’s housing needs. (see consultant’s presentation)
- Housing Sites Inventory and Analysis: Sites available for development (including new construction or second units within homes) demonstrating the City’s ability to meet its housing needs. (see consultant’s presentation of the inventory)
- Constraints Analysis: Existing and potential constraints to the development of housing and how those will be addressed. (see consultant’s presentation)
- Policies and Programs: Policies and programs to address the housing needs of the City.
The completed Draft Housing Element will be presented to the Planning Commission on Monday, July 14 at 5 p.m.
In August, the draft will be presented to the City Council; simultaneously, it will be submitted to California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in hopes of receiving comments by October. The Housing Element will be revised based on the HCD comments in time for the Piedmont Planning Commission hearing in December and the City Council hearing in January. The revised Housing Element will be submitted to HCD by January 31, 2015.
