Fortuna council approves zoning changes to allow single-room-occupancy housing

The Fortuna City Council on Jan. 6 adopted Ordinance 2024-772, which amends the city's zoning code to allow single-room-occupancy (SRO) housing as part of the city's effort to meet Housing Element objectives for extremely low-income households.

Community Development Director Sherry Mead summarized the ordinance during the council's second-reading agenda. Mead said the ordinance implements Housing Element program H-15 and brings local zoning into alignment with state law by ensuring SRO facilities are not more heavily restricted than other residential uses. The amendments include development, parking, management and compatibility standards and allow SROs by right in primary residential districts and by conditional-use permit in commercial and industrial districts where residential uses are permitted.

Mead told the council the item followed standard procedure: recommendation from the planning commission (Dec. 10), introduction and first reading (Dec. 16) and public notice in compliance with city requirements. She said the ordinance is exempt from CEQA under Guidelines sections 15162 and 15061(b)(3) and that staff will file a notice of exemption if the council adopts it.

A motion to hold the second reading and adopt Ordinance 2024-772 (read by title only) was made and seconded. The council voted Aye: Connolly, King, Mayor Pro Tem Trent and Mayor Mike Johnson (4-0); the ordinance passed.

The adopted code changes allow SRO development subject to the standards included in the ordinance; where SROs are allowed by conditional use permit, projects will be evaluated for compatibility with surrounding uses.