Alameda County supervisors approve 2025 general plan and housing element reports, note RHNA shortfall

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on March 5 approved resolutions adopting the county27s 2025 general plan annual report and housing element annual report and authorized staff to submit the reports to the state.

Planning staffer Olga Viorty presented the report, saying the county issued permits for 107 housing units in 2025 in unincorporated areas: 11 single-family homes, one duplex (two units) and 94 accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Staff said the county has permitted about 718 units so far this housing-element cycle, or roughly 15% of its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Viorty cited Government Code section 65400 as part of the state reporting requirement and outlined ongoing general-plan updates and programs, including environmental justice implementation status reports and upcoming specific-plan work for Castro Valley and San Lorenzo Village.

The board27s questions focused on what staff is doing to support ADU production, the status of a mobile-home park ordinance and tenant protections. Staff said ADU assistance includes a county website, design help and financing information and that the county had 18 mobile-home parks in unincorporated areas; a draft mobile-home conversion/closure ordinance is scheduled to return to the planning commission in roughly 30 days before further consideration by the board. On tenant protections, supervisors asked staff to provide a concise countywide update so all members hear the same information.

Public commenters raised technical difficulties with the remote connection and urged clearer, more quantitative tracking of progress toward RHNA goals. Several supervisors acknowledged that RHNA performance nationally is uneven and noted local policy and funding constraints; one supervisor urged legislative options to seek RHNA credit for county-funded housing built inside city limits when county funding is the primary driver.

The board voted in favor of the resolution (motion by Supervisor Miley, seconded by Supervisor Marquez; roll call recorded a unanimous aye among present members with Supervisor Tam excused). The board directed staff to proceed with submittal to the state and to keep supervisors informed of next steps and upcoming planned updates to the safety, open-space and community climate action elements.

Next steps: staff will submit the reports to the state before the April 1 deadline and return to the board with further updates on specific-plan timing and tenant-protection work.