Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council receives annual update on Indio general plan and housing element; members push for "missing middle" solutions
Summary
City staff presented the annual general plan and housing-element progress report, highlighting climate-action work, a DuDec annexation study and housing project pipeline. Council discussed high above‑moderate development numbers and urged exploration of starter homes, manufactured housing and non‑traditional housing types to meet local needs.
City planning staff presented the annual report on the general plan and the housing‑element progress report required by the state.
Brian Halverson, Director of Community Development, summarized the general plan as the city’s blueprint for growth over the next 20–25 years and highlighted ongoing projects including code updates, a subdivision-regulation update and an annexation study (DuDec contract) for land east of Dillon north of I‑10. Halverson said staff are tracking progress on climate-action measures such as new bike lanes and energy-efficiency programs for homeowners.
David Razzo presented the housing-element annual progress information required under state law. Razzo said the housing element covers regional housing needs allocations (RHNA) and reported current production figures and pipeline activity; staff noted additional large housing projects are expected to appear in next year’s report.
Council discussion focused on the RHNA mix. One council member noted the city’s recent production heavily favors above‑moderate units (staff cited roughly 1,043 above‑moderate units) while very‑low and low income unit totals (staff cited about 228 and 170, respectively) remain much lower; Razzo and other staff acknowledged the imbalance and discussed outreach to housing partners. Council members asked for a presentation on the city’s housing-authority property consolidation, the current funds available and a concept from the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition about developing 20 acres for affordable single-family homes.
Several council members urged exploring “missing middle” housing (duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and manufactured housing on permanent foundations) and innovative approaches to encourage starter homes rather than only apartment complexes.
Council action: the report items (housing element and general-plan annual report) were taken as part of the consent calendar approved by the council.
