Land Acquisition for Housing Acquire vacant, underutilized, and blighted properties for future development as affordable housing.
assets of the former Redevelopment Agency to obtain discretionary approvals for housing development, and to work with potential purchasers to promote low- and extremely low-income housing.
The City will continue to use existing funding mechanisms, including public-private partnerships for affordable housing development.
The City will continue to further affordable housing goals
through the following measures, concentrating efforts on small lots when practical:
• Seek new state and federal resources for future affordable housing development;
• Track vacant underutilized and/or blighted properties, including small sites for sale; • Work with non-profit and
for-profit housing
organizations such as the HBHDC, RCAA, and Habitat for Humanity to facilitate development of appropriate sites;
• Land bank properties for future affordable housing development when feasible; • Facilitate development of
affordable housing on small lots, and consolidation of small lots to provide for affordable housing development;
• Coordinate development of acquired land with the First- Time Homebuyers Program when feasible; and
ongoing in the process of getting the Housing Fund up and running so that it would again be able to acquire properties to assist with future housing
development. The City continued to work with non- profit and for-profit affordable housing partners to purchase land for affordable housing projects. These included the 2018 AHSC application with DANCO Communities for The Isaacson’s affordable housing development, which will provide approximately 43 units. In 2017, a draft administrative West End Specific Plan
identified mixed-use housing opportunities for the City’s Happy Valley property. The program will be updated and continued, in new program 4.
• Continue to use HOME, CDBG, and the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund. 7 Development and Acquisition of Affordable Single- Family Housing Provide programs for development and acquisition of single-family housing to assist potential very low-, low-, and moderate- income homebuyers in purchasing a home.
The City will focus on assisting potential homebuyers with acquisition of the existing stock of homes until the cost of acquisition and construction of home declines to a level that makes the latter feasible. The City will continue sale of affordable units in the Sandpiper Mobile Home Park project. The City will continue to use CDBG, HOME, and other programs to fund affordable single-family housing opportunities in Arcata, including these First Time Homebuyer Programs:
• Down Payment Assistance; • 2nd Mortgage Assistance; • Community Land Trust
Assistance; and • Cooperative Housing
Program.
The City will further use Federal, State, local and private
programs to develop: • Mortgage tax credits; • Condominium conversions; • Incentives for affordable
housing development; and • Planning and technical
assistance for private and non-profit developers of affordable single-family housing.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2017, the City continued to use CDBG funds to provide for the Homebuyer Assistance Program, which offers low interest deferred loans to qualifying homebuyers to purchase owner-occupied homes in Arcata. The City was able to assist one household with the program in 2015 due to high housing costs and low available inventory, and two households in 2016. In 2018, the City's FTHB program was not active due to CDBG restrictions on supplemental activities. The FTHB program was reactivated in 2019 using HOME program income funds. The program will be combined with program 2, updated and continued, in new program 1.
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Development and Acquisition of
The City will continue to use HOME, CDBG, and available Federal, State, and local
2014 and
ongoing In 2015, the City was able to assist its affordable housing partners to create 18 units of
Affordable Multifamily Housing Provide programs for development of multifamily housing for very low-, low-, and moderate- income tenants.
programs and funding to provide affordable multifamily housing to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. The City will develop new opportunities using Federal, State, local, and private programs to develop:
• Mortgage tax credit projects • Planning and technical
assistance for private and non-profit developers of affordable single-family housing.
affordable rental housing for low-income families in Arcata using CDBG funds for off-site improvements. From 2016 to 2018, the City continued to work with affordable housing partners to identify projects that would create new
affordable multifamily housing. In 2017, the City met with non- profit and other developers to assist them to acquire and develop 6 affordable
multifamily housing units. In 2018, the City was working on two potential affordable housing projects. One was The Isaacson's 40+ unit complex, and the other was an addition to Arcata Gardens affordable housing complex which would provide more than 40
additional units.
The program will be updated and continued, in new program 5.
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State and Federal Grants and Loans
Identify, advocate, sponsor, and connect developers with state and federal housing programs, grants, and loans.
The City will work with Federal, State, County and other local resources to identify sources of funding for development of affordable housing units, updating such information annually and as it becomes available.
The City will apply for funding programs where appropriate and beneficial for Arcata residents, emphasizing funding for extremely low-income households including persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City actively coordinated with County, State, and Federal resources to seek available sources of funding for affordable housing
developments and supported similar efforts by our non-profit and for-profit affordable housing partners. From 2015 to 2017, the City continued to meet with housing advocates on a regular basis. In 2017, the City was awarded state and federal funding to support affordable housing
development. City staff was projected to meet directly with
The City will also work with developers to connect them with appropriate programs and sources of funding.
affordable housing advocates a minimum of one time every year during the planning cycle. In 2018, the City was awarded a 2017 CDBG grant and applied for AHSC grant funding and HEAP grant funding and was awaiting notification on both funding sources.
The program will be continued, in new program 6.
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Replacement of Low- and
Moderate-Income Housing Within the Coastal Zone
Adhere to Article 10.7 Planning and Zoning Law of the California
Government Code
The City will continue to require all developers to replace and/or finance the replacement of all low- and moderate-income housing lost as a result of their development in the Coastal Zone. This replacement will be done according to the guidelines stipulated in Article 10.7.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City continued to require the replacement of low- and moderate-income housing in the Coastal Zone according to State law. No replacement housing was needed in those reporting cycles.
The program will be combined with program 23, updated and continued, in new program 14.
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Housing Market Monitoring
Monitor the local housing market to evaluate
effectiveness of housing assistance.
The City’s Community
Development Department shall collect data from landlords and tenants regarding housing costs, rents, vacancy rates, and other pertinent information in order to determine current housing costs and availability.
The Community Development Department will also increase coordination with the Humboldt Association of Realtors to assist in making information more readily available to the public, private developers, and housing advocates.
The data will be used to monitor rent structures and vacancy rates, and to assist in determining effectiveness of
Coordination in 2014 Ongoing monitoring
From 2015 to 2017, The City continued to monitor housing on an ongoing basis. The City worked
with local realtors and primary lending institutions to ensure that the Homeownership Program is accessible to low- income buyers. In 2017, improved coordination with the Humboldt Associate of Realtors was expected to assist monitoring efforts. The City planned to use monitoring data to determine whether existing programs were effective and where additional effort and funding should be focused. The City was also reviewing its policies regarding vacation
existing housing assistance, and where to target further
assistance.
rental impacts on the local housing market. In 2018, the City actively tracked rental costs. The City also planned to award a contract for the completion of an Infill Market Study Report which would include a Housing Assessment to identify current and future housing needs, gaps, and opportunities.
The program will be continued, in new program 7. 12 Community Land Trust Coordinating with the Community Land Trust to develop and resale restricted
affordable housing units to very low-, low-, and moderate- income households.
The City will continue to work with and monitor Humboldt Bay Housing and Development Corporation’s (HBHDC) Community Land Trust to identify whether support in areas such as financial
assistance and management are needed.
The City will also continue to work with the HBHDC to
facilitate and maintain a “project pipeline” of affordable new owner-occupied homes. The City will also coordinate with RCAA and Habitat for Humanity to ensure that available resources and information are shared. The City will continue to use CDBG and HOME to assist with Community Land Trust
developments.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City annually monitored the CLT program to identify needs adjustments to the program. The City had been limited due to funding restrictions on this type of program. No new CLT developments occurred in 2017 or 2018. In 2017, it was
planned that community land trust properties would
continue, and new units would be added. In 2018, the City continued to support the existing CLT homes with the FTHB program when they changed ownership.
The program will be continued, in new program 8. 13 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Development of an Affordable Housing
The City will assess the feasibility and, if feasible, develop an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be used for the development of affordable housing in the City.
2017 and
ongoing As of 2018, this program had not yet been started. The City had been reluctant to add additional development fees and had to find a stable funding mechanism in order for it to be
Trust Fund. In developing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the City will investigate the feasibility and appropriateness of fees and funding sources. The City will also apply for matching funds from the Local Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant Program through the California
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
feasible. If determined feasible, opportunities for development of affordable housing projects were planned to be expanded in 2017 through a new stable funding mechanism. For the program to be considered feasible, the Trust Fund would have likely needed to generate a minimum of $250,000 annually.
The program will be continued, in new program 9.
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Mobile Home Park Preservation
Develop programs to preserve mobile home parks with rents that are typically lower than other housing units.
The City will continue to work with the non-profit Resident Owned Parks (ROP) to establish ROPs in Arcata, with rents controlled by regulatory agreements.
The City will continue to assist ROPs through CDBG and HOME funding and focus on retention of existing mobile home parks and discourage conversion to other uses.
The City will also investigate: • HCD’s Mobile Home Park
Resident Ownership Program;
• The Senior Mobile Home Program; and
• Other parks which may be appropriate for future resident ownership.
2014 and
ongoing In 2015, the City Council was asked to entertain a rent stabilization ordinance. The Council had directed staff to produce a study of the current affordability of mobile home parks. The City worked on this study in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, it was planned that housing with typically lower rents in mobile home parks would continue to be available as the City focused on
preserving mobile home parks and discouraging their
conversion to other uses. The City adopted a Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance to assist with mobile home affordability. The City was reviewing a Mobile Home conversion study to evaluate mobile home park
preservation. In 2018, the City was working on a Mobile Home Conversion Ordinance. The City also applied for HEAP funding in order to add 5 units of PSH at the Arcata Mobile Home Park, which is a regulated affordable community owned
by ROP.
The program will be combined with program 5 and continued, in new program 3. 15 Housing Inspection and Code Enforcement Program City Building Department inspections to ensure safe and decent rental housing in Arcata.
The City will continue with established processes for prompt responses by its Building Department to complaints of housing code violations and making educational materials for tenants accessible (“A Guide for Renters – Substandard Housing,” and “Getting Repairs Corrected in Rentals”).
The City will focus on the following areas to ensure safe and decent housing:
• Education; • Tenant Rights;
• Voluntary Inspections; • Flexible regulatory
compliance to correct health and safety violations;
• Recorded notices of nuisance for non-compliance; and • Abatement of violations on a
case-by-case basis under the process outlined in the Arcata Municipal Code.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City's Building Official promptly responded to complaints on an ongoing basis. There were several complaints investigated in 2017 and 2018. In 2015, the City prepared informational brochures entitled "A Guide for Renters, Substandard Housing" and "Getting Repairs Corrected in Rentals," which are available on the City's website and at City Hall to provide information to tenants.
The program will be combined with program 4, updated and continued, in new program 2.
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Access for Persons with Disabilities Provide housing units accessible to persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities.
The City will continue to encourage developers to produce dwelling units accessible to persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities. These efforts will include the following measures:
• Education and promoting “Universal Design” concepts that more easily allow for unit changes in occupant age, ability, and other special
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City encouraged developers to produce dwelling units accessible to persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities. This was an ongoing program and started at the Building Permit stage. Currently, all housing projects will meet the California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 11A (Housing
Accessibility) for accessible units. In addition, all City-
needs in housing projects; • Developing other building
design concepts in
cooperation with appropriate service agencies; and
• Encouraging nominal changes to development plans that would not affect marketability but would make them more usable by persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities. The City will continue to provide grants up to $1,000 through its Housing Rehabilitation Program for materials and installation of handicap-accessible ramps for low-income units.
assisted housing units will exceed the CBC, Chapter 11A accessibility requirements by a minimum of 10%. No
educational material on Universal Design has been produced or made available to the public by the end of the second year of the planning cycle. A minimum of one low- income owner occupant will receive financial assistance by the City for accessibility improvements for each year of the planning cycle.
The program will be combined with programs 19 and 25, updated and continued, in new program 10. 17 Uniform Building Code, California Residential Code, and Uniform Housing Code Review Review the California Building Code, California Residential Code, and Uniform Housing Code to update local codes and further development objectives.
The City will continue to review the California Building Code, California Residential Code, and Uniform Housing Code on an ongoing ad hoc, and scheduled tri-annual basis, identifying and adopting necessary revisions to the City’s Building and Housing Codes.
These reviews will allow trained City staff to stay current and amend local code as necessary, with a focus on:
• Furthering General Plan and Housing Element Goals; • Furthering local development
objectives; and
• Implementing new State Building Codes and Fire Codes.
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City adopted the most recent California Building Code and Residential Code and would continue to review and update as necessary.
In 2017, the City had adopted revisions to the City’s Building Code standards to allow efficiency dwelling units of 150 sq. ft.
This is already required by State Law. This program will be removed.
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Green and
Alternative Building
The City will continue to encourage the use of “Green” and alternative building
methods and materials through
2014 and
ongoing In prior housing element cycles, the City encouraged alternative, sustainable, and green building methods and
Guidelines Promote energy- efficient, environmentally sensitive, and sustainable design and building methods.
discussion, handouts, and design guidelines, requiring that funded projects exceed the State’s Title 24 standards at a minimum. The City will continue to evaluate alternative building method and materials, revising its Building Code to allow use of them if feasible and appropriate, beyond the minimum
requirements of Title 24. The City will also monitor and aggressively pursue existing and new grant sources for energy conservation and rehabilitation assistance.
The City will continue to implement its Land Use Code Solar Access requirements in all new developments.
The City will continue to support energy conservation by
coordinating efforts with other agencies and groups in Arcata, locally, and Statewide; providing the public with information about available resources.
adopted the green building code. The California Building Code now requires much more stringent energy efficiency design, which is the basis for building permit review. Since the building code has met or exceeded the City’s previous goals for energy efficiency and green building, this measure is not required.
The City continues to remain abreast of emerging concepts and design through its activities with energy conservation groups and agencies,
evaluating them for inclusion in local code. However, these efforts may present obstacles to housing production. In 2018, the City adopted a reach code, requiring more energy
efficiency than building code. This had a negative impact on housing production primarily due to increase in building costs in a tight profit margin market. As a result, the City has removed this measure from the housing element, which is primarily focused on promoting housing production to meet the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. The City will need to balance policy guidance for housing production against local codes that reach beyond the California Building Code’s Title 24 and other Green Building provisions.
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Handicapped Access Appeals Board Evaluation
The City continues to evaluate and improve its HAAB process: • The City’s Building Inspector
is in the process of becoming
2014 and
ongoing From 2015 to 2018, the City continued to evaluate and revise its Handicap Access Appeals Board
and Reasonable Accommodations
Continue the City’s Handicap Access Appeals Board (HAAB) process and procedures for reasonable accommodations. a Certified Accessible Specialist (CASP); • Information on reasonable accommodations is publicly available; and
• HCD-funded projects require accessibility compliance. The City will continue to use guidelines from HCD regarding reasonable accommodation policies, practices, and
procedures, and will continues to post the information locally and on the City website, and in pamphlets.
(HAAB) process to ensure persons with disabilities had access to housing with reasonable accommodations. In 2017, it was planned that the City would be responsive to the