Staff presents 2024 housing‑element annual progress report; city reports capacity above RHNA but first‑year permits lag target

City staff presented the 2024 annual progress report on the Stockton General Plan and Housing Element during an informational session, summarizing housing capacity, building permits and next steps for reporting to the state.

Senior planner Anson Lahasset told the commission that the General Plan is the city’s long‑range policy document and that the 2024 housing element was certified by the state and approved by the city council in 2024. The city’s share of the San Joaquin County regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) for the current eight‑year cycle is 12,673 units; staff said Stockton’s capacity within city limits is 22,999 units. Lahasset emphasized the city’s role is to provide opportunity and capacity, while actual construction depends on developers and market conditions.

Staff reported that 837 new housing units received building permits in 2024. Of those, staff said about 253 were very‑low‑income units resulting from two affordable projects (Park Center Apartments and St. Mary’s Pathways), and 52 permits were for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), of which 31 were identified as low‑income ADUs. Staff noted the area median income for a family of four in San Joaquin County is $103,800 and summarized the state income bands used in RHNA reporting (very low, low, moderate, above moderate).

The presentation reviewed recent accomplishments: outreach on a draft development code and design guidelines, adoption of the Stockton Housing Action Plan and three neighborhood action plans, a public‑facility fee nexus study in progress, and construction plans approved for affordable projects. Staff noted the 2024 totals were below the annualized target: to meet the RHNA goal for the cycle Stockton would need to average about 1,584 units per year; the city averaged 545 units per year in the previous cycle.

Commissioners asked about the composition of permitted units (single‑family vs. multifamily, rental vs. ownership) and staff said the detailed breakdown is in attachments to the staff report and could be provided later. Commissioners and staff discussed barriers to more rapid production—participants cited land cost, construction costs, fees, and financing. Director of Community Development Stephanie Ocasio noted Stockton’s “pro‑housing” designation from the state and local steps to encourage housing, including preapproved ADU plans and fee waivers for affordable developments, but said market economics and costs remain the main drivers for private development.

Commission discussion included incentives and strategies that could increase housing production, such as reducing land cost barriers, pursuing targeted brownfield redevelopment (Southpointe was cited as a model), adjusting development‑code densities, and concentrating higher‑density housing near frequent transit corridors. Staff said the annual reports are informational and will be presented to City Council for acceptance and then submitted to the state by April 1.