Title
Planning Board Study Session to consider Draft Universal Design Ordinance
Body
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Re: Planning Board Study Session to consider Draft Universal Design Ordinance
BACKGROUND
Under State of California law, the City of Alameda should be ensuring that Alameda's planning and development policies and regulations provide for the full range and type of housing needed to accommodate Alameda's diverse population, including seniors, those living with disabilities, including mobility issues, and lower-income households.
Adopting a Universal Design Ordinance has been identified as a Housing Element implementation priority since 2012. The 2015-2023 City of Alameda Housing Element, which was certified by the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), includes a statement of goals, policies and action programs to improve the availability and types of housing in Alameda to address the community's diverse housing needs. Housing Element Goal #2 reads: "Provide housing that meets the City's diverse housing needs, specifically including affordable housing, special needs housing, and senior housing. To implement Goal #2, the Housing Element includes Policy HE-4 "Encourage and support residential opportunities for senior citizens, including senior housing projects, multifamily housing projects with accessible and small housing units, assisted living projects, and in-law projects" and Program 4.2 "Consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to require universal design elements in all new housing projects of five or more units."
In July 2016, staff circulated a draft Universal Design Ordinance. In August, staff met with a Joint Subcommittee of the Planning Board and the Commission on Disability Issues (CDI) to review the July Draft Universal Design Ordinance. At the September 12, 2016 Planning Board meeting...
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