Planning commission backs 2025 Housing Element annual report, cites pipeline of infill and future‑growth projects

Vincent Montgomery, planning manager for the Housing Division, presented the City of Salinas 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the planning commission on March 4, 2026 and explained the report fulfills the city’s statutory obligation under Government Code 65400.

Montgomery described the city’s housing pipeline and recent activity, saying the six‑cycle regional housing need allocation (RHNA) figure referenced in the presentation is 6,674 units (including 1,520 lower‑income units). He summarized recent production and pipeline metrics presented to the commission: five housing development applications deemed complete in 2025, 214 building permits issued in 2025, 146 certificates of occupancy issued, and a cited total of 443 permitted units in the recent reporting period. Montgomery also said the city awarded about $2.1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $700,000 in HOME funds in 2025 to support affordable housing.

Montgomery and staff described two primary financing tools the city is leveraging: the Pro Housing Incentive Program (PIP) and the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA). Montgomery said those sources will help move projects from concept to construction and that some larger future‑growth‑area specific plans (identified in the presentation as WASP, CASP and EASP) together represent the first large‑scale multi‑year infusion of housing expected to materially shift Salinas’ RHNA trajectory, with grading estimated by June 2026 and home sales projected to begin in spring 2027 for some parcels.

Commissioners pressed staff for more detail on breakdowns and timing. One commissioner asked for a unit affordability breakdown for the 415‑unit CASP tentative map and how many of the 415 units would be low‑ or very‑low income; staff said that specific breakdown was not in the slides and committed to provide the figures. Commissioners also asked about how many applications were filed versus permits issued; staff said they did not have all of those application counts on hand but would follow up.

Commissioners and staff discussed code enforcement and homelessness response as related housing programs: staff reported code enforcement opened 1,721 cases and closed 1,557 in 2025, and the Salinas Outreach and Response Team assisted 323 individuals with 78 people housed through SOAR referrals and 4,088 total services rendered.

Public commenters at the housing item again urged faster construction and criticized historic delays, and one attendee raised concerns about rent control and asked the commission to investigate causes of past slowdowns. Another commenter praised commissioners’ questions and urged attention to infrastructure needs such as water and wastewater as housing is built.

Commissioner Purnell moved and Commissioner Meeks seconded a resolution recommending City Council accept the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and authorize its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, as required by state law. The planning commission voted unanimously to approve the recommendation. Staff will schedule the matter for City Council consideration; the report must be submitted to HCD and the Governor’s Office by April 1, 2026.

Next steps: staff will provide requested itemizations (affordability breakdowns and application versus permit counts) to commissioners and include the housing APR in a forthcoming City Council agenda packet.