HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - Regional Housing Needs Assmnt AllocationCITY OF PALM DESERT/PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT ALLOCATION (RHNA) UPDATE
SUBMITTED BY: JANET M. MOORE, HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: APRIL 12, 2007
CONTENTS: RHNA TIMELINE
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, receive and file.
Background:
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) is a state mandated process for
establishing fair -share allocation of needed housing, including affordable housing, among local
jurisdictions in the state. State Housing Element law (Article 10.6 of the Government Code)
requires the California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to
prepare regional housing needs determinations. Consequently, multi -jurisdictional agencies or
Councils of Governments (COGs) are given the responsibility of distributing the state's housing
needs in an equitable manner that attempts to avoid the disproportionate distribution of Very -
Low and Low-income households.
The City of Palm Desert falls under the jurisdiction of the Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG), the regional Council of Government (COG) for jurisdictions in a six
county area. SCAG then works with 14 sub -regional associations including the Coachella
Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), that covers ten cities and some unincorporated
County areas.
1999 Assessment:
The last assessment covered the period of January 1998 through June 2005. Palm Desert's
allocation was low due to the expected growth of the area as projected by the City's Planning
Department. The allocation for Palm Desert was as follows:
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Staff Report
Informational Report on Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) Update
April 12, 2007
Page 2
City of Palm Desert
1999 RHNA
income Group Construction Need
Very Low 77
Low 67
Moderate 85
Above -Moderate 215
TOTAL 444
Source: 1999 SCAG RHNA
The Agency's efforts to produce affordable housing over the last RHNA cycle of 1998-2005 will
result in the Agency successfully exceeding the 1999 RHNA allocation requirement of 229
restricted income units. Projects included in the production are Hovley Gardens, Palm Village,
as well as two projects currently under construction, which includes Falcon Crest and La Rocca
Villas, consisting of 93 single-family for -sale homes and 27 senior rental apartments
respectively. Those units built after 2005 that exceed the 1998 requirement may be counted
toward the next cycle.
The new RHNA cycle was expected in 2005 but was delayed and is now due June 30, 2007.
Through a cooperative process, SCAG and CVAG produced a nine-year (2006 - 2014) RHNA
allocation for CVAG's jurisdictions. Planning Directors from the valley cities participated in the
planning process.
2007 Assessment:
The RHNA essentially consists of two components: New Construction Need and
Existing Need.
New Construction Need (also known as "Future Housinq Need'?
"New Construction Need" allocated by SCAG and CVAG for the City of Palm Desert considers
the forecasted household growth rates of the entire region, the vacancy need, the replacement
need, and a "fair share allocation" which is used to assign future construction need to various
income categories.
The purpose of the income category goals is to ensure that each jurisdiction within a COG
attains their share of the state housing goal without any relative disproportionate distribution of
household income groups. The household income groups are defined according to the HUD
Area Median Income (AMI): Very Low (less than 50% of AMI), Low (50-80% of AMI), Moderate
(80-120% of AMI) and Above Moderate (greater than 120% of AMI).
To determine Palm Desert's allocation, actual construction during the previous RHNA cycle,
transportation projections, population and household growth projections, vacancies, demolition
trends and the increase in jobs expected for Palm Desert, were all reviewed. The draft SCAG
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Staff Report
Informational Report on Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) Update
April 12, 2007
Page 3
RHNA of 2007 indicates that the City should plan for an additional 4,546 new housing units
through 2014 amongst all income categories. Allocation of the 2007 RHNA for Palm Desert and
other jurisdictions within CVAG's Sub -Region are as follows:
CVAG SUB -REGION CONSTRUCTION NEED ALLOCATION
2007 RHNA
I Income Group
Jurisdictions
Palm
Indian
La
Palm
Rancho
Blythe
Cathedral
Coachella
OHS
Wells
Indio
Ouinta
Desert
Springs
Mirage
Unincorporated
(Very -Low
175
775
1,277
2,142
60
947
1,056
1,095
518
774
1,144
(1-ow
127
537
885
1,556
42
661
718
752
363
534
798
(Moderate
143
603
1,050
1,855
47
745
789
840
417
598
927
Above- Moderate'
326
1,385
2,471
4,284
93
1,754
1,726
1,859
943
1,274
2,129
ITOTAL
771
3,300
5,683
9,837
242
4,107
4,289
4,546
2,241
3,180
4,998
'The above -moderate need is generally
accomplished
by
developers and owner -builders.
Source: 2007 SCAG RHNA
Additionally, it has been recommended by SCAG that each community should close the gap
between their current income household distribution and the County distribution percentages, by
specifically adjusting their respective levels in each of its four income categories. To do this
there is an additional affordable housing requirement of 10% of the City's allocation to move the
distribution towards the County average. SCAG finds that this 'lair share adjustment"' would
address the statutory planning requirement to achieve equity by moving closer to the County
income distribution over the 2006-2014 planning period and avoid the further concentration of
lower income households in "impacted" communities.
Existing Need
"Existing Need" is defined by estimating the number of households with one or more federally
defined "housing problems". Housing problems include overcrowding (more than 1.01 persons
per room), cost burden or over -payment (when shelter cost is in excess of 30% of gross
household income), and substandard housing (lack of plumbing and kitchen facilities for
exclusive use). Existing Need has been derived from household income distribution and share
of households with "housing problems" based on the latest decennial Census for household
growth through 2000.
SCAG declared that based on communication with the State Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) that HCD has indicated that "...the State expects that the
Existing Need allocation is to be used by jurisdictions to demonstrate logical and consistent
programming, goal setting, and allocation of resources ... Jurisdictions are not expected to
'solve' Existing Need, nor are they expected to provide new units as a response to Existing
Need."
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Staff Report
Informational Report on Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) Update
April 12, 2007
Page 4
SCAG 2007 RHNA Preliminary Existing Need Allocation
Households with Any Housing Problem
City of Palm Desert
(Tenure 30% of AMI 30-50% of AMI 50-80% of AMI 80/95% of AMI >95% of AMI TOTAL
(Renter 715 695 925 165 191 * 2691
(Owner 500 600 810 415 611* 2936
1
1 1215 1295 1735 580 802* 5627
*Estimated based on historic Information as this category Includes ALL housing units in the City even those Above -Moderate.
Source: 2007 SCAG RHNA
The Housing Authority addresses overcrowding for Agency owned units by following an
occupancy standard established in October of 2003. It is suggested that Developer restricted
units follow the same standard.
As a means to alleviate cost burden, housing cost for Agency owned rental units is calculated at
25% of the household's income set at 5% incremental values to AMI. It is difficult to determine
the effect to owner -occupied units that are still over burdened since the decrease in mortgage
interest rates gave rise to a significant number of Palm Desert household's refinancing. There
is no indication this was reflected in the Existing Need allocation noted for Palm Desert.
Substandard housing has been addressed primarily through the Home Improvement Program or
in the case of owner -occupied households over 120% AMI, through remodels and renovations.
During the last 10 years, 61 home improvement loans and/or grants have been provided to
make more suitable living conditions in existing homes within the City boundaries.
Planninq and Goals:
The City and Agency will continue to be proactive in ensuring that affordable housing is
developed in the City to address the proposed Regional Housing Needs Allocation. What
follows is a summary of the projects and goals that we expect to undertake during the next
RHNA cycle:
Anticipated Goals
The City and Agency will continue to work with non -profits and private developers to
create several hundred affordable housing units over the 2007 RHNA cycle.
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Staff Report
Informational Report on Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) Update
April 12, 2007
Page 5
® The City and Agency will continue to purchase restricted covenants and provide loans to
organizations, developers, or builders who create affordable housing opportunities within
the boundaries.
d The City and Agency will work with developers to comply with the General Plan to
provide affordable units within a market development when zoning concessions are
made.
® The City and Agency will look for opportunities to secure land for the construction of new
affordable housing opportunities.
® The City and Agency will identify parcels in its current inventory in order to plan
affordable developments.
Projects currently in process that include affordable units:
Number of Affordable
Units
Bedroom Breakdown
Above
Very- Mod-
Mod-
1-
2- 3- For.
For -
PROJECT NAME
REQUIRED UNITS
Low Low erate
erate
bedroom
bedroom bedroom Sale
Rent
SUMMIT-MONTEREY
Restricted Sales Prices for
14 Units
35 Units
PROPERTIES
Moderate to Above -Moderate
at
at X
"Falling Waters"
income households (Up to 200%)
49
$305,990
$329,990 n/a
INATRA AND COOK
Provide 20% of 260 apt project at
PROJECT
Moderate income & additional
X
"Vineyards"
20% option to purchase covenant
52
13
39
20% of the 103 will be reserved
EMERALD BROOK
�"WNRA
and rented to Moderate income
n
Apartments"
households
21
12
9
20% of the 320 unit development
X
ARES REGIS GROUP
will be rented or sold to Moderate
"Enclave"
income households
64
19
39 6
POOK/HOVLEY ST
Cantera Apartments"
31 units available to restricted
x
PHASE 11
income households
31
12
17 2
Projects in the Planning process that, if approved, may include affordable units:
® 750-Unit rental complex (Palm Hills) with a goal of 20% affordable units
® 75-acre development with potential multi -family all -affordable 200+ unit complex
14 unit all affordable self-help for -sale project
Multi -Department Impacts:
The RHNA also plays a critical role in each jurisdiction's Housing Element. Produced by the
Planning Department, Housing Elements are required to be updated within time periods
identified by HCD, generally called "planning periods." Housing Elements include goals and
objectives necessary to meet the jurisdictions regional housing need during each planning
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Staff Report
Informational Report on Regional Housing Needs Assessment Allocation (RHNA) Update
April 12, 2007
Page 6
period. Cities are required to accommodate these needs by providing sufficient sites, with
adequate zoning and infrastructure, to make possible the development of these units, including
providing sites with sufficient density to make possible the development of housing for all
income levels.
Setting goals to accomplish the City's RHNA allocation is necessary in order for HCD to
consider compliance of a jurisdiction's Housing Element. Jurisdictions in compliance have the
opportunity to solicit state funding for housing resources to facilitate and assist the development
of housing affordable to the workforce. This Housing Element represents a policy statement
indicating that Palm Desert will continue to strive toward maintaining and enhancing its housing
quality and its desirability as a place to work and live. The Housing Element seeks to build upon
other General Plan requirements and is consistent with the goals and policies set forth therein.
Submitted by:
",Xl�
Ja et . Moore
H g Authority Administrator
Approval:
Jus ' cCarthy, ACM Redevelopment
C
Department Head:
ve'YrigXe
Director evelopment/Housing
A
Carlos L. rega, Executive Director
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RHNA Housing Need Allocation Plan Timeline
February 2007 - June 2008
Date Plan
February 1 CEHD and RC approves final integrated forecast with 4 variables and final RHNA
methodology and adopts draft RHNA allocation plan.
(February 15 Start of the 30-day period for local jurisdiction to request revision and/or to file appeal.
March 16 Last day for jurisdictions to request revision based on AB 2158 factors and/or file appeal
based on AB 2158 factors, methodology, or changed circumstances.
(March 26 Deadline for SCAG to notify jurisdictions of a public hearing for their appeal (within 10
days of end of filing period).
(March 30 Submit status report to state pursuant to Pilot Program.
April 25 - 30 Public hearings before RHNA Appeals Board held for appealing jurisdictions, and
possibly for jurisdictions requesting revision. The hearings will be held between the 30th
and 35th days from the date of SCAG's notification.
May 10 End of the appeals process with decisions by Appeals Board rendered on all revision
requests and appeals; staff to begin preparing final RHNA allocation. Alternative
distribution and transfers may occur until SCAG adopts a final housing need allocation
plan.
June 5
June 7
July 5
1July 6
I1September 4
tune 30, 2008 (statutory)
SCAG notifies jurisdictions 30 days in advance of the public hearing for the final
adoption of the final RHNA allocation.
SCAG issues a proposed final allocation plan based on appeals and input received. This
must occur within 45 days of the end of the appeals filing and hearing process, so the
last day technically is June 18.
SCAG holds a public hearing to adopt the final housing need allocation plan. This must
occur within 45 days of issuance of the proposed final allocation plan.
SCAG submits its final housing need allocation plan to HCD.
Deadline for final adoption of the Housing Allocation Plan by HCD.
Due date for jurisdictions in the SCAG Region to submit revised Housing Elements to
HCD.
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