State Housing Mandates

By Tony M. Ferrara

This has emerged as one of the most serious problems affecting Arroyo Grande. It will take persistent and competent leadership to ensure the character of our community is not destroyed by another unfunded State mandate.

The responsibility for determining how these housing units are distributed throughout the county rests with the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments. Using HCD formulas, it has been determined that Arroyo Grande must build approximately 1680 new housing units over the next 7 years. In the past 10 years, Arroyo Grande has built approximately 750 new housing units. HCD would require us to build more than twice as many housing units in the next 7 years. While it is recognized that the City will need additional affordable housing, we must be mindful of our resources and our infrastructure capability.

The HCD mandates clearly violate a number of other State laws. They ignore Environmental Quality rules and regulations, local growth ordinances, and land use policies. HCD states that their primary goal is to ensure more housing units are built. Water availability, traffic congestion, local General Plans, and other key factors are not their concern! HCD vows to withhold State Grant monies from jurisdictions that don't comply.

HCD, under the current legislation has the authority as one State Agency to determine the goals and policies of every City and County General Plan. They have seriously eroded local governance and control. Yes, we need to continue to work toward resolving our affordable housing problems. But this is not the way. As your Mayor, I will ensure that Arroyo Grande's interests are represented at the County and State levels.