Planning commissioners review RHNA progress, urge proactive strategies and ask subcommittee to refine recommendations

The Planning Commission on Feb. 6 reviewed a subcommittee report on the city’s progress toward meeting RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) affordable‑housing targets and discussed recommended next steps, including issuing targeted requests for proposals (RFPs) on public parcels, pursuing public‑private partnerships (P3s), and exploring community land trusts and smaller unit types. Commissioners asked the subcommittee to refine the report and return with a shorter, prioritized draft to forward to the City Council.

Commissioners Susan (subcommittee co‑lead) and Bob (subcommittee co‑lead) presented the draft review and said staff produce a RHNA “tracker” but the subcommittee had compiled an independent spreadsheet to clarify which approved projects provide below‑market units and which do not. The presenters told the commission the city’s current mix of projects yields what one presenter called an “80/20” pattern—many market‑rate units and relatively few deed‑restricted low‑ or very‑low‑income units—and…