Moraga, California


What you need to know about Moraga’s Housing Element

June 7, 2023

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5 min


What is the California Housing Element?

California state law requires cities and counties to plan for their housing needs as part of their General Plan, each community’s “blueprint” for future development. The Housing Element must identify specific housing needs and incorporate strategies for meeting those needs, including changes to zoning and other efforts to remove barriers to building affordable and market-rate homes.

Communities must update their Housing Element at least every eight years. California is currently in the 6th Cycle of the Housing Element. The range of dates that the 6th Cycle covers varies by county. Moraga’s 6th Cycle covers 2023 to 2031.

How is Moraga implementing the Housing Element?

Moraga is implementing its Housing Element by rezoning some areas to allow for more housing, providing incentives for developers to build affordable housing, and working with nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing.

  • Moraga’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is for 1,118 units over the next eight years. This is a substantial increase from the previous cycle’s 229 units. The 6th Cycle includes plans for:

    • 318 very-low-income units
    • 183 low-income units
    • 172 moderate-income units
    • 445 above-moderate-income units
  • 225 housing units are already in the development pipeline.

  • Specific locations in Moraga that have been approved or identified for potential housing developments include:

    • Moraga Center Specific Plan: Located around the intersection of Moraga Road and Moraga Way and began development during the 5th Cycle of the Housing Element. 62 units were completed in the previous cycle, with 355 additional units identified for potential development during the 6th Cycle.
    • Palos Colorados: This is an entitled project on a vacant lot. It will support 123 units.
    • Country Club Drive Extension: Initial construction for this project has begun, and it will support roughly 65 units.
    • Indian Valley: This proposed project would consist of 150 units. The local fire district is examining the safety standards, as the location is in a very high fire-severity zone.
  • The 6th Cycle Housing Element revisions for Contra Costa County were due on January 31, 2023. The draft of the Housing Element was published on June 30, 2022, and was submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on August 12, 2022. Since then, the city has received comments from the HCD and submitted two revised Housing Element drafts. The city currently needs to revise the Housing Element and resubmit it to the HCD.

Why should you care?

Moraga’s Housing Element will impact the future development of the city and its neighborhoods as well as direct how some local-government resources are spent. Because the number of housing units to be added in each region is determined by the state, some local governments have pushed back against what they view as unreasonable or inappropriate growth for their area.

Some pros of the Housing Element plans are:

  • It may improve access to affordable housing.
  • It can help reduce homelessness and overcrowding.
  • It can help stimulate the economy by creating jobs in the construction and service industries.
  • It can help improve the quality of life by providing more housing options and making it easier for people to find homes that meet their needs.

Potential cons of the Housing Element plans are:

  • More housing units can lead to increased traffic and congestion.
  • A bigger population may strain public services, such as schools and hospitals.
  • It can lead to the displacement of low-income residents, as new housing developments often cater to higher-income households.
  • It can be controversial, as it can lead to changes in the character of a community.
In conclusion

The California Housing Element is an important tool for ensuring that everyone has a place to live. If the city of Moraga does not implement a Housing Element that meets the state’s requirements, it could be sued by the state and lose state funding for housing programs. By implementing a Housing Element that meets the state’s requirements, Moraga can help ensure that everyone has access to affordable housing and that the community continues to thrive.

You can learn more about Moraga’s Housing Element here.

You can find background information on the California Housing Element here.

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