County moves to pursue state 'Pro Housing' designation, advances zoning changes to ease housing production
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Summary
Trinity County released a Pro Housing Designation draft application and adopted zoning amendments to align with its certified housing element — steps aimed at qualifying for state incentive grants and to speed production of affordable and special‑needs housing.
The Trinity County Board on Dec. 17 opened a 30‑day public review of a draft Pro Housing Designation application and approved a second reading of a zoning code update to conform with the county’s certified housing element.
Consultants and planning staff said the Pro Housing application bundles enacted policies and new proposed actions that, if adopted, can earn the county points toward a state designation and priority for multiple state grants. New proposed actions highlighted in the application include permitting triplexes by right in low‑density areas that are served by water and sewer systems, offering an extra density bonus for deed‑restricted affordable projects, priority processing for affordable and special‑needs housing (including ADUs), and adopting a universal design ordinance to increase accessible housing features.
Assistant planner Angel (recorded in the meeting) explained the zoning amendments are the second reading of ordinance text meant to ensure the county’s regulatory framework complies with state law and the housing element. The ordinance treats supportive housing like other residential uses for zoning purposes and relies on state licensing and building/health rules for occupancy and safety limits.
Board members and members of the public asked technical questions about septic and alternative wastewater systems in rural areas, which staff said will require follow‑up with Environmental Health and that some ADU/triplex provisions are scoped to served areas (water/sewer) or require septics approved by environmental health. Staff said the application and appendix 3 (self‑scoring sheet) are available online (trinity2050.com) and that staff will post responses to comments, revise the application as required and bring a final application and a proposed resolution to the board in January for submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) ahead of incentive program deadlines.
Supporters said the designation and incentives can unlock pre‑planning and capital funds to make projects viable in a county where median incomes are low relative to statewide metrics; opponents urged careful local engagement in rural districts where infrastructure and emergency response capacity may limit certain housing types.