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Alameda planning board forwards 2024 housing progress report after staff flags sharp drop in issued permits
Summary
Planning staff told the board that issued building permits fell from 243 units in 2024 to 65 in the most recent reporting year; after questions from several members and public comment, the board voted to send a revised annual progress report to City Council and HCD, and urged exploring targeted incentives to move shovel‑ready projects forward.
Alameda Planning Board members voted March 9 to recommend the city’s 2024 general plan and housing element annual progress report to the City Council after staff outlined a notable year‑over‑year decline in issued building permits and answered extensive board questions about project timelines and program performance.
Tristan Swear, the planning staff presenter, told the board the housing element is reported on an eight‑year RHNA cycle and that the city’s reporting breaks projects into units applied for, permits issued and units finaled. “In 2024, we issued … permits for 243 units,” Swear said. “That number has decreased significantly to 65 this year.” He cautioned that reporting lags mean one year’s issued permits do not always reflect a permanent slowdown but said there has been a meaningful drop in activity amid broader market conditions.
The board used the presentation as a prompt for detailed clarifying questions. Board member Ruiz asked staff to correct an apparent arithmetic…
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