The Healdsburg City Council will take up the topic of growth control again next week, facing a deadline to make a decision, draft legal language and get something on the November ballot.
At issue is a concern that the current growth management ordinance (GMO), adopted by voters in 2001, stifles apartment projects, which are widely seen as a missing rung on the housing ladder in Healdsburg.
Since the GMO was adopted, most market rate housing built in Healdsburg has been single family dwellings and as the housing market accelerates, affordability has vanished.
Spurred by calls to “do something,” the council has discussed the matter of a GMO modification at its last few meetings. On May 21, it came close to a consensus, which will be discussed Monday night.
Comparing two GMO modification proposals put forth by councilmembers Leah Gold and Shaun McCaffery, the council discussed asking the voters to approve an annual increase of 60 units a year, limit it to “multi-family dwellings” (apartments) and work out to how limit it to those who earn 160 percent of the area median income (AMI).
If the modification resulted in new housing being built, the restrictions on income and type would theoretically allow more locals to afford to rent in the community where they work. Increasing the percentage of those who both live and work in Healdsburg is a goal of the city’s Housing Action Plan, adopted last year.
The Monday, June 4 meeting is at 6 p.m. at Healdsburg City Hall.
