The City is updating its Housing Element and the public participation component of the effort has begun. A Task Force of 17 members met for the first time Thursday, June 4th. At that meeting the members got to know one another, reviewed background material on Housing Elements, and participated in a visioning exercise. A second Task Force meeting was held Thursday, July 2nd. At that meeting the Task Force members confirmed their VISION for housing in Martinez, reviewed the City's existing Housing Element, came up with key topics for the Update, and provided feedback and guidance on conducting the community workshop and stakeholders meetings.
State law requires every California city to adopt a general plan, a plan that maps out the future of a city. It must contain seven elements including one regarding housing. Unlike other mandatory general plan elements, the housing element, which is required to be updated every five years, is subject to detailed statutory requirements, housing element law, and a mandatory review by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). These requirements reflect the State’s acknowledgement that the availability of housing is a matter of statewide importance. The City’s current Housing Element was adopted by the City Council July 2005 and certified by the State the following month. This document covers the planning period that ended June 30, 2009.
Each housing element planning period begins with the State allocating each region a share of the statewide housing needs. Housing element law requires the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to prepare a Regional Housing Needs Plan for every city and county in the nine-county Bay Area region. This Plan details the number of housing units allocated to each city and county in the Bay Area and specifies the number of units that must be accommodated in each of four affordability categories (very-low, low, moderate, and above-moderate income). Martinez’s previous and current Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is detailed below.
Planning Period Comparison
| | Number of Housing Units (by Income Level) |
| | Very Low | Low | Moderate | Above Moderate | TOTALS |
| 1999-2006 Allocation | 248 | 139 | 341 | 613 | 1341 |
| 2007-2014 Allocation | 261 | 166 | 179 | 454 | 1060 |
The updated Housing Element will establish City housing policies and programs for the planning period 2009-2014. It serves as a guide to City officials in decision making and sets forth an action plan to implement the City’s housing goals. This Housing Element is intended to direct residential development and preservation in a manner consistent with the General Plan and overall requirements of the State Housing Element Law. The Housing Element will identify local housing issues within the broader regional context, determine associated housing needs, and set forth a housing strategy that is designed to address those needs consistent with adopted goals and policies.
The Housing Element is required to demonstrate that the City has identified and zoned land to sufficiently and appropriately accommodate the development of the housing units identified in the City’s allocation, which is considered the City’s fair share of regional housing needs. This allocation is not a production quota, but the City must show that the housing units can be accommodated. There is no mechanism at the State, regional, or city level that requires the units identified in the Allocation to be constructed. The Housing Element must be reviewed for compliance with State laws.
For more information you can contact Terry Blount, AICP, Planning Manager for the City of Martinez, at 925.372.3534 or tblount@cityofmartinez.org
Housing Element Update 2009
Housing Element Update Overview
Housing Element Update Schedule
Current Housing (2001-2007) Element Review
Task Force Meetings
Meeting Agenda #1 (June 4, 2009)
Meeting Summary #1
Meeting Agenda #2 (July 2, 2009)
Meeting Summary #2
Meeting Agenda #3 (September 24, 2009)
Meeting Summary #3
Meeting Agenda #4 (November 19, 2009)
Meeting Summary #4
Community Workshop
Workshop Comment Sheet
Fact Sheet on Housing Element
Community Workshop Power Point
Summary of Community Comments
City Council & Planning Commission Joint Meetings
Housing Element Joint Meeting With City Council & Planning Commission Report 10-07-09
Discussion Draft Housing Element 12-16-09
Housing Element Joint Meeting with City Council & Planning Commission Report 12-16-09
