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Draft Housing Element December 14, 2022 <br />9 of 21 <br /> <br />This unit mix will help to secure more units suitable for larger households and families <br />(typically the most difficult to secure), while still leaving close to half of units as smaller <br />1-BR and studio units for smaller households. <br /> <br />Affordability Mix: The IZO currently does not specify the desired affordable housing mix <br />in terms of income levels, and past practice has been to negotiate this with developers <br />through the Affordable Housing Agreement. With the new emphasis in State law on <br />objective standards, the City has less ability to negotiate this. Since it will likely take <br />some time to complete the updates to the IZO, staff recommends the Objective Design <br />Standards for Housing Element sites include a target income mix for affordable rental <br />units, as follows: <br />• A minimum of 25 percent of units at no more than 50-percent AMI (“Very Low- <br />Income Units); <br />• A minimum of 25 percent of units at no more than 60-percent AMI (Low-Income <br />Units); and <br />• No more than 50 percent of units at no more than 80-percent AMI (reflecting the <br />low end of the Moderate-Income range (80-120-percent AMI). <br /> <br />For ownership units, staff recommends unit prices be set at no more than 120-percent <br />AMI, which is a Moderate-Income range within which most households will be able to <br />qualify for a first mortgage. <br /> <br />Staff believes this mix would secure more units in the hardest to reach very low-income <br />categories, as well as allowing for a balance that will be economically viable for <br />developers and allow for a proportion of units to meet moderate income “workforce” and <br />middle-income housing goals. However, with the update of the IZO there will be the <br />opportunity to study the appropriate affordability mix in more detail and amend it if <br />needed; but, in the interim, ensure any projects that move forward are held to a high <br />standard for affordability. <br /> <br />Site Selection <br />The City’s existing zoning (i.e., residential development capacity that exists currently <br />within Pleasanton’s residential and mixed-use zoning districts) and “pipeline” of entitled <br />projects is estimated to accommodate approximately 2,792 housing units; this number <br />includes 93 ADUs that are assumed will be built during the Housing Element period. <br />This estimated capacity reflects a shortfall of 3,173 units when compared to the total <br />RHNA allocation (total of 5,965 units). Thus, a total of up to 24 additional sites have <br />been identified which may be considered for future rezoning to allow housing . This list <br />was initially longer, though has been reduced throughout the process. Area 3 (Donlon) <br />was the most recent removal, though is still reflected in some of the analysis <br />documents, including the CEQA Environmental Impact Report, due to the timing of <br />when the decision was made to remove the site from the list . <br /> <br />As noted, currently, the sites inventory includes 24 sites (Exhibit E) which represents a <br />surplus of units above the required RHNA, particularly in the very low/low-income <br />category (generally derived from sites identified for density above 30 dwelling