Town Manager's Newsletter - Special Edition

Wednesday July 20, 2022

David P. Donery, Town Manager

Housing Element Update
Information Session
Thursday, July 21 6:00 - 7:30pm Virtual

Attend the Information Session to learn more about the Housing Element Update.

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89819056711

Or One tap mobile:
+16699006833,,89819056711# US (San Jose)
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"Raise Hand" to comment or Press *9 to "raise hand" during an item if you would like to comment by phone.

Get Involved & stay updated:

Sign up for the Housing Element email list to receive updates & news

Attend: The Town has Community Information sessions & workshops planned for Summer 2022.
Visit: the Housing Element Update page on the Town website for more information.
Participate: in upcoming surveys & review and comment on the draft Housing Element when it is released. You can also share your input via email at heac@townofsananselmo.org
Share: spread the word - encourage your San Anselmo friends and neighbors to get involved too.

Why is the Town doing this?

Across California in 2022, cities and towns are focused on updating the Housing Element section of their General Plan. San Anselmo is in the midst of this process. The Update involves participation from community stakeholders through public meetings, workshops, and online surveys. The effort will involve extensive data gathering and analysis and will be assisted by a consultant team.

What is a Housing Element Update?

Housing Elements are housing plans that are one part of the Town’s General Plan – a blueprint for all the ways the Town of San Anselmo is planned and managed, from our roads and sidewalks to our parks and neighborhoods. With an update required every eight years by the State of California, this Housing Element Update will create a foundation for all the policies and programs related to housing.

While town governments do not generally build housing themselves, they create the rules that affect where housing can be built, how much and how it is approved. Each jurisdiction’s housing plan needs to help ensure that there will be enough capacity and supportive policies to meet the projected need for an eight-year period. The last Housing Element Update, the 5th cycle, was adopted by the Town Council and certified by the State of California in 2015.

Why Does it Matter?
Purchasing a home is out of reach for many, while renters face inaccessible rent prices. The Housing Element will include policies that will create a path towards creating more housing and a variety of housing choices. More housing and a range of housing choices may mean:

Workers, like our teachers, firefighters, health care, and other essential workers can find homes near job centers.
Young adults and students moving into the housing market can stay in the community they grew up in.
Our aging population will have more options for retirement, including downsizing, providing housing for on-site health or home care, and staying in their communities.
Your children and grandchildren can stay near you in the communities they feel part of.
More people across incomes will have more opportunities to rent or own homes in places they live, work, and love.