Planning commission backs zoning changes to RHD parcels with conditions, urges board to clarify affordable-housing safeguards

The Ventura County Planning Commission on July 31 recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt amendments to Articles 2, 4, 5 and 9 of the Noncoastal Zoning Ordinance to implement Housing Element Program HEH and revise the Residential High Density (RHD) zone. Planning staff said the changes are intended to remove constraints to multifamily development in the RHD zone and to provide alternative compliance options for affordable-housing requirements, as required by state law.

"This requirement was found to be restrictive and in direct conflict with Government Code 65583.2," Jerilyn (Jerilyn) Hollis, case planner, told commissioners, explaining the removal of the 100% on-site affordability requirement. Hollis said the ordinance retains an affordable housing use restriction and offers a menu of compliance approaches: on-site affordability tiers, land donation, acquisition (financial assistance to eligible organizations), or a developer—s proposal of equivalent action. Under the alternative-compliance calculation example staff gave, an applicant choosing off-site/alternative compliance would be credited at a rate equivalent to 30% of…