Politics & Government

State Certifies Alameda's Housing Element

The Housing Element of the city's General Plan is now in compliance with state law for the first time in more than 20 years. it now identifies locations for a range of housing types and price levels, including multi-family housing.

From a City of Alameda press release:

The State of California has certified Alameda’s Housing Element of the City of Alameda General Plan for the first time in more than 20 years.

The Housing Element is required by state law and includes Alameda’s programs, policies, and plans for new housing development. A major objective for the Element is to identify adequate available sites that accommodate the City of Alameda’s regional housing need allocation.

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The California Department of Housing and Community Development, in a July 19, 2012 letter (attached) to City Manager John Russo, stated that it was “pleased to find the Housing Element in full compliance with state housing element law,” and that “the City now meets specific requirements for several state funding programs designed to reward local governments for compliance…”

“Alameda has been in limbo over this conflict far too long,” said Russo. “This Housing Element brings the City of Alameda into compliance with state law, preserves our access to limited state funds, minimizes our exposure to expensive lawsuits that have plagued other cities, and preserves local control over land use decisions for Alameda."

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Mayor Marie Gilmore said, “I applaud City staff for a skillful job of balancing the requirements of state law while ensuring that Alameda is able to preserve its unique historic neighborhoods and commercial districts. The new Housing Element ensures that new housing development is appropriately located and preserves the community’s ability to adequately review, discuss, and carefully deliberate each new housing development as it comes forward.”

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