Healdsburg, California, Growth Management Ordinance, Measure R (November 2016)
| Measure R: Growth Management Ordinance |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local housing |
| Related articles |
| Local housing on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Sonoma County, California ballot measures Local zoning, land use and development on the ballot |
| See also |
| Healdsburg, California |
A growth management ordinance was on the ballot for Healdsburg voters in Sonoma County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of increasing inclusionary housing requirements on new development to 30 percent and removing existing restrictions on the number of new residential units allowed per year. |
| A no vote was a vote against increasing inclusionary housing requirements on new development to 30 percent and removing existing restrictions on the number of new residential units allowed per year. |
Election results
| Measure R | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 3,362 | 59.34% | ||
| Yes | 2,304 | 40.66% | ||
- Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Shall Healdsburg voters amend the existing Growth Management Ordinance to increase inclusionary housing requirements on new development to 30%, remove existing restrictions on the number of new residential units allowed per year, adopt and periodically amend new growth management measures in conjunction with the Housing Element update, and adopt and periodically update a Housing Action Plan to provide a greater variety of housing?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Healdsburg City Attorney:
| “ |
The Healdsburg City Council, by a vote of 4-1, has placed Measure R on the November ballot to request that voters adopt an ordinance that would amend the City’s existing Growth Management Ordinance (“GMO”). The current GMO was adopted by voters in 2000 and limits the number of building permits the City may issue for new residential units to an average of 30 per year and a maximum of 90 over a three year period. Affordable housing residential units are exempt from these restrictions. Measure R, if passed, would do four things. First, every new, market rate, residential development project is currently required to comply with the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO). The IHO requires each new, market rate, residential development project to make available 15% of the new units or lots to moderate-, low-, or very low-income households or to provide in-lieu fees, land dedication, or construction of affordable units at another site. Measure R would increase this affordable housing requirement to 30% of the new residential units. Second, Measure R would eliminate the existing restrictions on the number of building permits issued to new, market rate housing. Third, Measure R would require the City Council to adopt new growth management measures. Measure R would also limit the ability of the City Council to amend those new growth management measures so that, once adopted, the new growth management measures could only be amended in conjunction with an amendment to the City’s General Plan Housing Element. Fourth, Measure R would require the City to adopt and periodically update a planning document the City is calling a Housing Action Plan. A “yes” vote is a vote to adopt the ordinance amending the Healdsburg Municipal Code to modify the GMO as set forth above. A “no” vote is a vote against adopting the ordinance and would leave the existing GMO in effect. Measure R will be approved if it receives a simple majority of “yes” votes. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure R. If you desire a copy of the measure please call the City Clerk’s office at (707) 431-3323 and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost.[2] |
” |
| —Healdsburg City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Thomas Chambers, mayor, Healdsburg
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Housing prices have skyrocketed, young families can no longer afford to live in Healdsburg, and our middle income workforce has been priced out of the market. By voting yes on Measure R we can correct these inequities and provide greater housing opportunities for all Healdsburg residents. The current GMO has driven developers to tourist serving projects and expensive, high-end single-family residences and away from affordable, multi-family housing and rental units that this community desperately needs. Not one new (nonsubsidized) market rate, apartment unit has been built since 2000. The GMO’s attempt to give voters a voice 16 years ago, silenced the voters of the present and future and restricts our ability to respond to changing housing needs and priorities. Over the last two years, at over 30 well-attended public meetings, the City and its citizens identified the need to update the current GMO and developed a comprehensive Housing Action Plan (HAP). The HAP outlines the roadmap that will provide greater housing options affordable to all income levels. Additionally, a City Council Ordinance will limit the number of market rate units and require developers to build what the community has said it needs. This will restore affordability and diversity to the local housing market and preserve our unique small town character. One thing is certain: Healdsburg will continue to change. The decision we face is not whether to change or not to change, but how we adjust to and manage that change. Measure R offers us the ability to respond to changing housing needs and priorities and provides an opportunity to actively manage, rather than control, growth. Vote yes on Measure R to give your parents, kids and grandchildren a chance to live in Healdsburg.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Pete Foppiano, small business owner
- Ken Buchignani, retired citizen
- Delia Nieto
- Gail Jonas, retired attorney
- James Winston, principal officers, Healdsburg Citizens for Responsible Growth
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
This election is not about housing. It’s about who decides how much growth we have in Healdsburg – voters or city hall? Healdsburg’s Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2000. Residents clearly said they want a voice in how Healdsburg develops. It was a vote against unchecked growth. Now a few people want to take away your right to stop unlimited growth. They are promoting a misleading “Amendment” to the GMO. Here’s what the Healdsburg Tribune wrote July 28, 2016, “While the city is characterizing the current ballot measure as an attempt to modify the growth management ordinance, in fact it eliminates the ordinance altogether.” Amendment advocates would have you believe that the GMO has stopped affordable housing from being built – not true. Affordable housing is not limited by the current GMO. This is not about housing for more workers or families – it’s about large-scale development. Here’s how The Press Democrat characterized it on July 22, 2016: “The proposed change would allow more than twice as many market-rate homes to be built – up to 420 homes over an initial six-year period – and allow the City Council to reset the cap without voter approval.” Every city in Sonoma County is struggling with how to deal with affordable housing, and Healdsburg is no exception. We negotiated in good faith with the City to find creative solutions to house more workers and families, but the City rejected our ideas. Instead, they want to remove voters’ right to limit large projects altogether. We want the public to keep control of our own destiny in how Healdsburg grows. Please join Healdsburg Citizens for Responsible Growth, Healdsburg Fair Rent Group, Healdsburg Citizens for Sustainable Solutions, Sonoma County Democratic Party, Sonoma County Conservation Action, and Citizens for a Better Sonoma County in opposing this misguided measure. Please vote No on Measure R. www.HealdsburgGMO.com[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Healdsburg, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Healdsburg Local housing. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, "Consolidated General Election Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet," accessed November 3, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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