Board directs staff to schedule study session to scope housing‑permit streamlining and opportunity‑area expansion

The Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 directed planning staff to schedule a study session to develop and refine scope for two housing element implementation actions: Action 7 (a new permit streamlining pathway for qualifying multifamily projects tied to the county’s Regional Housing Incentive Program) and Action 8 (identifying and rezoning sites to expand housing opportunity areas).

What staff presented

Planning staff presented a timeline and three options for each of the two core decisions under Action 7: (1) a study range for the maximum project size eligible for the ministerial/streamlined pathway (options ranged roughly from small multi‑building projects up to 50–75 units, an intermediate 75–100 units, and a larger 100–150 unit study range); and (2) three approaches to developing objective design standards (a single countywide standard; a countywide standard plus targeted community standards where development interest is high; or individual community standards for each eligible community). Staff noted the analysis and outreach timeline would depend on the board’s preliminary scope choices.

Why the study session was requested

Board members and speakers from the business and building community urged timely action to reduce permitting uncertainty and blunt construction cost escalation. Other supervisors and community members asked for additional data and comparative case studies, cautioned that different unincorporated communities have distinct character (and thus may need community‑specific standards), and requested more information about how objective design standards or form‑based approaches have worked in comparable jurisdictions.

Board direction

Rather than pick final scope options at the Nov. 4 meeting, the board directed staff to schedule a study session for an in‑depth briefing that would include case studies from other jurisdictions, parcel/filter mapping of candidate sites per community, and an explanation of objective design standards versus form‑based codes. Staff said the study session would be scheduled at the earliest availability and would inform a later public engagement and environmental review process.