How can we make sure everyone has access to healthy, safe housing? How can we make housing more affordable while improving our quality of life?
Where should housing be located, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and commute times? These questions and many more are at the core of the 2023-2031 Santa Cruz County Housing Element.
The County invites community members, including those impacted by the ongoing housing crisis, to participate in the process during upcoming community meetings.
Dinner will be served at in-person meetings, and Spanish-language translation is available at all meetings.
Dates are:
- May 31: (virtual via Zoom) Click to join phone 1-669-900-6833 (Meeting ID: 848 9880 7139) 5:30 – 7 p.m.
- June 28: Watsonville Civic Plaza, 4th floor community room 275 Main St., Watsonville, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
The Housing Element identifies policies and programs to meet existing and projected housing needs for the unincorporated areas of the County.
Every eight years, the state requires all counties and cities to update their Housing Element to ensure an adequate supply of housing units can be developed to meet the needs of community members at all income levels.
The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments has assigned Santa Cruz County to plan for 4,634 units by Dec. 15, 2031. The numbers for city of Santa Cruz, 3,736; Watsonville, 2,053; Capitola, 1,336, and Scotts Valley, 1,220.
State law requires environmental impact review and a public participation process.
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Learn more, sign up for updates and submit comments at www.sccoplanning.com/2023HousingElement.