County moves forward on housing‑element implementation: ROIs approved for code and affordable‑housing ordinance work

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 authorized two separate, but related, steps to implement parts of the county’s certified 2021–2029 housing element.

First, the board adopted a resolution of intention (ROI) directing long‑range planning staff to initiate amendments to Title 130 (zoning) and the land‑use element of the general plan to implement several housing element programs that remain incomplete. Tim Pitt, senior planner, told the board that the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is reviewing the county’s implementation status and that failure to demonstrate reasonable progress could ultimately threaten housing‑element certification and eligibility for certain state funding. The ROI is intended to allow staff to draft specific, legally compliant zoning changes (for example, conforming edits related to state density‑bonus law) that will later come before the planning commission and the board for public hearings.

Second, planning staff and the county’s Affordable Housing Task Force presented a recommended direction for a county affordable‑housing ordinance. The task force — including industry and nonprofit representatives — proposed a three‑part framework: (1) an optional or mandatory countywide affordable‑housing fee and accompanying trust fund for gap financing; (2) a voluntary inclusionary‑type program that would offer incentives (reduced design standards, expedited processing and financing alternatives) to developers who provide affordable units or equivalent mitigation; and (3) a clear mapping of existing county programs (fee deferrals, TIF offsets, partnerships) that applicants can use. Staff and the task force emphasized the need for feasibility and nexus studies before setting a fee level and warned that some inclusionary‑style ordinances have faced legal challenge in other jurisdictions; they recommended careful legal and fiscal analysis before adoption.

Public commenters and several supervisors urged the board to focus on practical, locally feasible measures such as mobile‑home rehabilitation, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) outreach, targeted gap funding and pilot programs rather than a single broad mandatory fee. Task force members and planning staff said the ROI would allow them to prepare ordinance language and to commission the feasibility work needed to set appropriate fee levels and program design.

The board voted 5–0 to adopt the ROI that allows staff to proceed with drafting the zoning and general‑plan amendments and to develop an affordable‑housing ordinance recommendation, while directing staff to keep the board and planning commission engaged during the process.

The action does not itself adopt a fee or mandate housing on any parcel; rather, it authorizes staff work to prepare ordinances, studies and formal public hearings.