Marin County has been notified that its House Element update, which outlines a comprehensive plan for future housing in unincorporated areas, has passed muster in Sacramento.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviewed the Housing Element update that was approved Sept. 24, 2013, by the Marin County Board of Supervisors and submitted to the state. On Dec. 31, the state HCD notified the County of its certification.
The certification allows the County to keep $3.7 million in federal transportation funds allocated in November 2012 for the unincorporated portions of Marin. Maintaining a certified Housing Element also means that Marin remains eligible for funds that serve local transportation needs.
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Towns, cities and counties must deliver a plan every eight years to meet existing and planned housing needs according to state law. Marin’s Housing Element update for 2007-2014 shows how a range of housing choices can be provided to accommodate our diversity of incomes, lifestyles and workforce needs, even in a slow-growing county such as Marin. Designed to reflect updated demographic and employment projections for Marin, the Housing Element identifies sites appropriately zoned for future housing development in unincorporated Marin, including emergency shelter and transitional units.
The issues in the document were publicly presented and discussed at countywide and community levels in 2012 and 2013. The County’s Community Development Agency staff believes the update will help balance housing options in Marin while maintaining the integrity of existing land-use regulations, featuring open space, distinctive small town centers and green hillside community separators.
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In its letter, the state HCD said it was pleased to find Marin’s Housing Element in full compliance with state law. “The Department wishes Marin County success in implementing its Housing Element and looks forward to following its progress through the General Plan annual progress reports,” wrote HCD Assistant Deputy Director Glen Campara.
