Santa Monica City Council 'Prioritizes Affordable Housing in City-Owned Land'

The Santa Monica City Council met this week to discuss affordable housing plans for its "Housing Element" update that "prioritizes 100% affordable housing in city-owned land" and "addresses historic discrimination and satisfies affirmatively furthering fair housing."

After a spirited 7-hour debate, Council, by a 4-3 vote, directed staff to focus its planning efforts on "prioritizing the production of affordable housing on city-owned land and seeking to distribute housing in new areas of Santa Monica to advance fair housing goals." 

Every eight years, Santa Monica is required by state law to analyze its housing needs and compile data on housing stock and demographics for its Housing Element and also list sites that "realistic potential for housing development based on a jurisdiction's (RHNA) Regional Housing Needs Allocation number."

For the 2021-2029 planning period, Santa Monica has been mandated to build 8,895 housing units, of which 6,168, city officials said in a report. "The significant focus on affordable housing reflects the housing needs of the community in light of high housing costs and residents and workers increasingly unable to afford housing in Santa Monica."

As approved past midnight, the Council's motion directs staff to focus its efforts on the following items:

Develop a compliant Housing Element that addresses historic discrimination and satisfies Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Prioritize 100% affordable housing on city-owned land (with consideration for use by artists or as open space).

Select Option B to activate housing potential in new areas, including business corridors on Montana Avenue, Ocean Park Boulevard, Main Street, the Office Campus area and the Industrial Conservation zone and for distribution of potential housing sites, with consideration of zoning changes necessary to incentivize housing relative to commercial.

Pursue 100% affordable housing overlay zone with exception of environmental justice and previously redlined zones.

Explore diverse opportunities for affordable homeownership and transition from renters to owners by residents.

Explore accessory dwelling unit incentives in (single-family) R1 areas, including potential for deed-restricted ADUs.

Explore options to densify areas that historically excluded diverse populations and affordable housing, to increase equitable and affordable housing access, including but not limited to voluntary lot splits/duplexes with affordability covenants.

Promote diversity and inclusion in every neighborhood in Santa Monica.

Councilmember Phil Brock who voted against the motion said his main concern was the housing overlay.

"We don't want to hurt residents down the line," he said. "I don't want to saddle any homeowner with a potential 4-story building next door."

"The Council's robust discussion reflects the diversity of thought in our community about one of our most valuable resources: housing," said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. "Our motion to prioritize City-owned land for 100% affordable housing demonstrates the deep commitment this Council has to affordable housing production throughout Santa Monica. And significantly, our focus on fair housing addresses historical redlining and social and economic inequities."

Once adopted by the City Council in October, the Housing Element will guide housing production and preservation in Santa Monica for the next eight years. It will "provide stability for existing residents and create housing opportunities for all​ while protecting air quality and natural resources through land uses that enable people to live in housing with access to parks, schools, and civic infrastructure," city officials said.

This update comes as state law has significantly changed over the last three years, limiting local control and strengthening enforcement mechanisms such as withholding state funding from communities who do not meet RHNA requirements, city officials said.

To learn more, visit www.santamonica.gov/housing-element-update.