Committee Denies Saratoga’s Housing Allocation Appeal

Editor's Note: This article was written for Saratoga Patch as part of a San Jose State University journalism class assignment. The writer welcomes your feedback and comments.

In a 3-2 vote, the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Appeal Committee denied Saratoga’s appeal for housing mandates from 438 units to 204 units on April 1.

“Their statement was that our request didn’t meet the grounds for appeal,” said Saratoga Community Development Director James Lindsay.

In February, Saratoga appealed the Association of Bay Area Governments mandate that recommended the city build an additional 438 homes by 2022, according to RHNA.

“The basis of our appeal was that the allocation we received from ABAG was inconsistent with the state of California goals of reducing green house gas emissions,” Lindsay said.

In cities that don’t have a strong job base or opportunities to use mass transit such as Saratoga, the allocation may potentially increase green house gas emissions because residents would have to commute to their jobs, Lindsay explained.

At the Saratoga City Council meeting on Feb. 6, ABAG predicted a 22 percent increase in employment in Saratoga by 2040—18 years after the 438 homes would be built.

With RHNA’s denial of the city’s appeal, Saratoga is required to update its Housing Element and show how the 438 units can be accommodated within the next eight years, Lindsay said, which will begin at the end of this year and to be completed by fall of 2014.

“Part of that process is identifying housing sites,” he said. “We have to work with the community, Council and planning committee to find the best locations but it will be challenging.”

There will be opportunities for public input at community meetings and discussions during the Housing Element update.