Housing Element Update:

 The Town of San Anselmo's Housing Element Update - Frequently Asked Questions cover the following topics:
 You can find the full document: HERE

• What is a Housing Element?
• What information is included in a Housing Element
• What is the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and how is it determined?
• How much housing does San Anselmo need to plan for?
• What does Affordable Housing mean?
• When will the housing be built?
• The Town has listed my property as a Housing Opportunity Site, now what?
• If my property is rezoned, will I be required to build housing?
• Can the Town meet the RHNA through the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units?
• How does the Housing Element consider traffic impacts, ongoing fire and flooding risk, and water conservation efforts in San Anselmo?
• Is there adequate water and sewer infrastructure to accommodate development on the Housing Opportunity Sites?
• What is Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) and how does that relate to the Housing Element?
• What happens if the Town does not adopt the Housing Element by January 31, 2023?
• What happens if San Anselmo is found to be not in compliance with the Housing Element Law?

Stay involved:

  As the Town moves forward to completing the Housing Element Update, your input continues to be an essential part of this process.  Now that the Housing Opportunity Sites have been selected, the next major milestone is to develop and consider goals, policies, and programs to help facilitate the development of housing Town wide.  A current example of a Housing Element goal, policy, and program that has successfully been implemented is as follows:

Goal 3:  Use our land efficiently to meet housing needs, and to implement “smart” and sustainable development principals.

Policy H3.10: Second Dwelling Units. The Town will encourage the construction of well-designed new second units and the legalization of existing second units as an important way to provide affordable housing.

Implementing Program: H3.D: Junior Second Units.  Review and adopt as appropriate standards to allow the creation of junior second units.

Progress: During the current Housing Element cycle (2015-2023), the Town continues to update its junior accessory dwelling units regulations to allow for the streamlined construction of these units by allowing a by-right approval process.

For more information on the Town’s current Housing Element’s Goals, Policies, and Program, read Section VI (starting on page 100) of the 2015-2023 Housing Element.

Upcoming Dates:

Please join us at the the Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC) meeting #5 on November 3, 2022, in discussing and developing goals, policies, and programs to help ensure the Town’s housing goals are achieved and/or provide guidance to decision makers.  You are encouraged to attend and to be an active participant in the process. 

December 12:  Public Release and Notice of Draft Housing Element (30-day public review period)
December 15:  HEAC Meeting #6: Review Draft Housing Element and provide comments and recommendation to the Planning Commission and Town Council.
December 19: Planning Commission public meeting to review Draft Housing Element and provide comments and recommendation Town Council.
January 10: Town Council meeting to review Draft Housing Element and consider HEAC, Planning Commission, and public comments to date.
 
 Further information on the Housing Element Update can be found at the Town’s Housing Element Update webpage and public comment via email may be sent to Heidi Scoble, Planning Director: hscoble@townofsananselmo.org