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News and Announcements

 

New ADU Incentives Program (April 2023):

Free Technical Assistance with ADU development for qualifying local homeowners.
Sign up for updates here: www.helloadu.org/new-santa-cruz-county-how-to-apply
Program Flyer in English & Spanish

The 2023 Housing Element Update is underway!

Every eight years, the state requires local communities to update their Housing Element to ensure the supply of adequate housing to meet community needs. The new 2023 Housing Element is currently being drafted for the 2023 - 2031 planning period. We need your input!

Visit the project website to learn more at www.sccoplanning.com/2023HousingElement, or Join our email list.

NEW THIS WEEK:  Join us at one of our upcoming Community Meetings on May 15, May 31, or June 28. See more information on the “Get Involved” page: Get Involved

Develop your own plan to share where the housing should go: SCC Interactive Housing Plan

  • Tiny Homes on Wheels Certified by California Coastal Commission

  • On April 14, 2023 the California Coastal Commission certified the County's ordinance providing regulations for tiny homes on wheels (THOW) as submitted. The regulations will become effective inside the Coastal Zone on April 28, 2023.

  • County Seeking Input on Regional Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Program.

  • See here for more information - VMT Mitigation Program (sccoplanning.com)

    SB 743, signed into law in 2013, required the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to establish a new metric for identifying and mitigating transportation impacts for projects that are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). OPR identified Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as the new metric. Watch our video explaining what VMT is and what this project is about: https://youtu.be/nkx5rIFr5ao

  • Notice About Construction Change Documents

  • Starting January 2023, construction changes will be strictly limited to changes that are within the original scope of work. Work that exceeds the original scope of work shall be applied for as a new permit.

  • Year 2023 Growth Goal Adopted
  • Santa Cruz County Code sets out a growth management system that implements Measure J, the Growth Management measure approved by County voters in 1978. Each year, the Board of Supervisors is required to establish an annual population growth rate that represents Santa Cruz County's fair share of statewide population growth. On September 20, 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted a 0.5% growth rate for the year 2023. Find more information here: Board of Supervisors Public Hearing, September 20, 2022, Year 2023 Growth Goal
  • New State Laws
  • The Planning Department has prepared public materials to help property owners understand new state laws in effect starting on January 1, 2022. Please use the links below to learn more about how these new laws might apply to your housing project.
    • • SB 8: extends the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330) to encourage more housing production [SB 330/SB8 Guide] [SB 330 Pre-Application]
    • • SB 9: increases development potential on eligible urban single-family zoned lots [SB 9 Guide]
    • • SB 478: encourages development of small-scale multifamily “missing middle” housing [SB 478 Guide]
    • • AB 803: allows subdivision of multifamily-zoned lots for single-family starter homes [AB 803 Guide]
  • Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
  • The 2021 update of the County’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is now available. You can find more information and links to the documents here.