Rezoning (RHNA)

Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) (a.k.a. Rezoning Issues)

The issue of re-zoning parcels for high density affordable housing is a very hot topic in Placer County. Cindy recently voted in favor of rezoning 42 parcels with a concentration in Auburn, Penryn and Granite Bay. This new RM30 zone will allow up to 30 units per acre. These massive 3-5 story apartments will be randomly “plopped” within established communities, near single family homes and most likely result in new taxes to pay for premature infrastructure upgrades. Most, if not all, of the parcels do not meet state guidelines for parcel selection; they are not near services, public transportation, jobs, medical or adequate infrastructure. These parcels also violate new state legislation prohibiting the creation of communities of poverty and over concentration. The cause of the rezone is not only decades of what we see as illegitimate developer forgiveness of their 10% affordable housing obligation but approval of the Placer Ranch/Sunset Area Specific Plans (PRSP) where the identified shortfall could easily have been corrected.

  1. Placer County has identified a shortfall of affordable units since at least 2012.

  2. An illegitimate pattern of practice allowing developers to pay abysmally low in- lieu affordable fees was “called out by residents” numerous times!! Demands were issued that the shortfall caused by decades of in-lieu fees had to be corrected within the PRSP fell on deaf ears and Cindy voted to approve a plan which allowed the pattern to continue.

  3. In October 2020, Cindy voted to approve “Equivalency” which legitimized the ability to pay in-lieu fees that allowed the ability for developers to, transfer affordable units to later phases, to build off site or to purchase land elsewhere. This “KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD” will only allow the shortfall to continue to grow and require even more parcels to be rezoned further degrading the fabric of established communities and rural way of life for much of Placer County.

  4. On October 6, 2020 the board of supervisors (Including Cindy) voted to recognize the state mandate for affordable accountability. Yet the RM30 rezone she approved in 2024 to “solve” the problem does not have an affordable requirement, no affordable units will be forced on developers. In fact, one property owner in Granite Bay submitted a letter stating that if they were required to build all affordable units as is being promised to the state, they would withdraw their parcel. (removal of ~400 units)

  5. At that time, many in the county contend that most of the Board, including Cindy should have proposed higher in-lieu fees, making construction of affordable units a realistic option and held Specific Plans accountable for their obligation = no Equivalency allowed.

  6. A Fee Study from leading up to 2020 decisions and a vote in 2024 showed that the county could raise in-lieu fees $5.15 per square foot instead of the current (2024) $2.69 per foot. By comparison, Davis, CA is currently charging the equivalent fee of $81,979 vs. Placer’s $7,350 calculated on in-lieu fees. https://www.davisite.org/2023/06/recommendation-to-the-davis-city-council-for-changes-in-davis-affordable-housing-ordinance.html

  7. Cindy is not solving our problems. Allowing low in-lieu fees and allowing developers to skirt the issue of building the required units is only snowballing this issue that will forever change our communities.

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