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MCOG delays RTP/ATP adoption after HCD requests adjustments to RHNA methodology
Summary
Mendocino Council of Governments staff told the board they will not adopt the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan and Active Transportation Plan today after the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requested changes to the RHNA methodology and shifted housing unit assignments; staff plan to return in June with revised numbers or an appeal.
Mendocino Council of Governments staff told the board on May 4 that adoption of the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is being continued because the regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) methodology requires additional work after review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
“we are not planning to adopt the RTP and ATP today,” staff member James said, explaining HCD used an internal workbook to vet the county's RHNA methodology, asked for additional transfers of units to the city of Ukaya, and returned a revised set of numbers that required further local review. James said HCD declined to share its workbook but provided ranges that staff used to adjust the county's proposed allocation.
Staff described the magnitude of recent changes: roughly an additional ~400 units were shifted in the latest iterations (with Fort Bragg taking about 126 units and Willlets about 97), while the county saw an approximate net reduction of 600 units; staff said Ukaya would receive a total of 1,590 units under HCD's approval, including 992 in lower‑income categories. Staff emphasized the shifts are largely concentrated in lower‑income categories and that Ukaya has limited land remaining, which raises concerns about neighborhood concentration of low‑income units.
Board members and staff characterized the process as constrained by statute and staff‑level implementation choices at HCD. One board member said the local jurisdictions have “very few options” to alter HCD's determination and warned that formal appeals could be circular: the city could ask the board to submit an appeal, the board could adopt a differing approach, and HCD could still set final numbers.
Why it matters: RHNA numbers determine how many housing units — and the income categories of those units — each jurisdiction must plan to accommodate. The allocation affects future permitting, zoning discussions, infrastructure planning and potential grant eligibility.
Next steps: Staff said they had a meeting with HCD scheduled and planned to return to the board in June with revised materials. They also noted an administrative extension was requested through August 25 if the matter cannot be resolved at the June meeting. No adoption of the RTP/ATP occurred at the May 4 meeting.
