Affordable Housing in Santa Barbara County - Myth or Reality?

The 2006-2007 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury examined the affordable housing situation in the unincorporated county as well as the eight incorporated jurisdictions of the county. This inquiry showed that the term affordable housing is frequently misunderstood, confusing and often means different things to different people.

Except from SBCGJ Complete Report, section "How Do Jurisdictional Programs Work?"

Goleta

The City of Goleta incorporated in 2002. Within Goleta’s city limits, the population in 2005 was 30,700, with 11,500 housing units as estimated by the California Department of Finance. Surrounded by the ocean, the University of California, agricultural ranches and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Goleta is a largely a suburban area. Early building produced mostly single-family suburban developments. This housing stock is relatively new, with 87% having been built after 1960. There are also many mobile home parks, apartment complexes and retirement communities. Goleta has begun funding rehabilitation projects in the Old Town Redevelopment Project Area.

Like other South County communities, Goleta’s current home sale prices are out of reach for low and moderate-income families. The median sales price for a single-family home was $882,800 in 2005. New condos can sell for as much as $800,000.

City officials acknowledge that local businesses have found it difficult to recruit workers.

When Goleta incorporated, the existing affordable housing projects stayed under the jurisdiction of Santa Barbara County. The city is in the process of assuming responsibility for units previously managed by the county. At this point, city staff is uncertain how affordable housing projects will be managed. The County Housing Authority owns and operates 227 housing units within Goleta. The city just opened its first Goleta project in partnership with People’s Self-Help Housing, with eight affordable apartments.

The desire to control land-use issues was a major reason for incorporation. Goleta officials believe that they received an unduly high number of units in its RHNA allocation (2,388 units). They hope to have a stronger presence at the next round of negotiations with SBCAG, so that the city can have more input in its RHNA allocation. To date, 691 units have been built, 339 have been approved and 299 units are pending. The vast majority of these units are in the above-moderate category. Few building projects have been realized in the past year. The city’s Housing Element has identified vacant lands currently zoned or planned for rezoning to accommodate 1743 units.

There is much controversy over Goleta’s Housing Element. After three drafts, the State of California has not yet certified it. The council members who forged the plan hoped to concentrate housing developments in order to preserve open space. There are objections to the proposed 55% affordability requirement for development on selected sites. Goleta also faces at least six lawsuits alleging the city’s General Plan, and especially its Housing Element, violates state environmental quality, planning and zoning laws. It is difficult to predict what changes will occur as the new city council (elected in November 2006) deals with litigation and revisions to the General Plan.