West Hollywood studies rewrite of inclusionary housing rules; staff backs mixed-income option

West Hollywood City Council held a study session to review options for updating its inclusionary housing ordinance and asked staff to return with ordinance language, zoning amendments and further analysis.

City staff and consultants presented a suite of policy options (A through E) that translate local set-asides into HCD income bands and test how state density bonus incentives affect feasibility. Staff recommended Option D, which mixes extremely low-, very low- and low-income set-asides and uses a local density bonus to account for a 5% low-income component that does not qualify for state stacking. Francisco Contreras, Long Range Planning Manager, said the session's purpose was to "review the policy framework, consider the key tradeoffs, hear outside perspectives and public comment, and receive Council's high-level direction before staff returns with a refined ordinance update and related zoning amendments."

Why it matters: consultants stressed that inclusionary requirements are a trade-off between more below-market units and the risk of reducing overall production. Shane Phillips of UCLA's Lewis Center said his…