Plan Bay Area:
Housing Needs

Regional Housing Forecast to Be Released in Fall 2012

As part of the region’s planning efforts, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) are working with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Bay Conservation Development Commission, local governments and stakeholders on the Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) Plan.

ABAG and MTC must identify areas within the region sufficient to house an eight-year projection of the regional housing need. Additionally, the housing allocation plan must allocate housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern included in the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).

The agencies have set up an advisory committee (the SCS Housing Methodology Committee) made up of local elected officials, staff and various interest groups. It will advise staff about the appropriate methods for allocating the region’s housing need to individual jurisdictions and potentially the appropriate relationship of the RHNA to the SCS.

The housing allocation process started in January 2011. ABAG is scheduled to release draft methodologies in July 2011 and a preferred methodology in September 2011. Public participation is encouraged throughout, especially at public meetings and during official public comment periods following the release of discussion documents and board decisions.

The consistency of the housing allocation with a development pattern that promotes reductions in greenhouse gases is likely to emphasize compact, mixed-use commercial and residential development with access to transit. Plans for housing must also include sufficient affordable units so that people don’t have to commute from homes outside the Bay Area to jobs within the region. The goal is more livable communities, offering more housing and transportation choices, a higher quality of life and a vibrant economy.

More information on the development and release of the Regional Housing Need Allocation is shown below.

Regional Housing Need Allocation

Action/Decision	Regional Housing Need Allocation
Purpose	To calculate and allocate the amount of housing needed to house all of the Bay Area’s future population. State law (SB 375) requires ABAG and MTC to identify areas within the region sufficient to house an eight-year projection of the regional housing need. The Bay Area’s Regional Housing Need Allocation Plan must allocate housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern in the Sustainable Communities Strategy.
Key Activities	November 2011 – the State Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) issues a determination of the Bay Area’s overall housing need for all income levels. March 2012 – ABAG Executive Board releases preliminary draft Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) methodology. May 2012 – ABAG Executive Board releases draft RHNA methodology. June 2012 – ABAG Regional Planning Committee to hold public hearing on draft RHNA methodology. July 2012 – ABAG adopts final RHNA methodology and releases draft RHNA allocation. July 2012 – RHNA Revision and Appeals Process begins. February-March 2013 – ABAG holds public hearing on appeals and responds to comments. April 2013 – ABAG issues final allocation. May 2013 – ABAG adopts final allocation. June – July 2013 – HCD reviews final RHNA Plan.
Significance of the Task	An appropriate Regional Housing Need Allocation is essential for effective land use and transportation planning.  Regional Housing Need Allocation Plan is required by state law.
Key Participants	Regional Agencies Local Governments Stakeholders State Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD)
Opportunities for Public Involvement	By May 2012, ABAG releases draft RHNA methodology for comment at a joint meeting of ABAG’s Administrative Committee and MTC’s Planning Committee. In June 2012, ABAG will hold a public hearing about the draft RHNA methodology. By July 2012, ABAG adopts the final methodology and releases the draft RHNA allocation. The public has 60 days to comment on the draft allocation. RHNA Appeals Process begins immediately after the comment period closes. Local jurisdictions have 60 days to file appeals. By February-March 2013, ABAG holds public hearing on RHNA appeals and responds to comments. In May 2013, ABAG adopts the final RHNA allocation at a public hearing.
Estimated Timeframe	January 2011 – May 2013
Board Action	Release of draft RHNA methodology (May 2012) Adopt RHNA methodology (July 2012) Release draft RHNA allocation (July 2012) Adopt Final RHNA allocation (May 2013)
Staff Contacts	ABAG:  Hing Wong, 510.464.7966, HingW@abag.ca.gov MTC:  Doug Johnson, 510.817-5846, DougJ@mtc.ca.gov