Voting by mail in Sonoma County officially opened on October 8. On the November ballot is Measure P. As you exercise your right to vote, here is more information about Measure P.
Measure P ballot language: Shall the City of Healdsburg amend its current Growth Management Ordinance to allow for the construction of an average of 50 additional multifamily income-restricted rental units per year?
What is Measure P?
Measure P proposes an amendment to the City’s Growth Management Ordinance (GMO). Healdsburg’s GMO was passed by voter initiative in November 2000 as Measure M, and it limits residential growth in the City to 30 units on average per year, with no more than 90 units in a three-year period, with affordable units and accessory dwelling units being exempt.
Specifically, Measure P asks if the current Growth Management Ordinance should be amended to allow for the construction of up to 150 additional multifamily, income-restricted rental units over a three-year period, with an average of 50 additional units per year.
Are units allowed by Measure P affordable?
Traditionally, affordable units are targeted to households earning up to 120% of area median income. Any multifamily rental units allowed by the GMO amendment would be required to be affordable to households earning between 121% and 160% of Sonoma County Area Median Income, or between about $101,000 to $134,000 annually.
What income restrictions will apply?
New multifamily rental units drawn from the additional 50 growth management allocations allowed by Measure P would be restricted to occupants who earn no more than 160% of Sonoma County Area Median Income. Families of four generally earning between $101,000 and $134,000 would be eligible.
How will income restrictions be implemented?
Developers would be required to enter into an agreement with the City of Healdsburg restricting occupants to those earning no more than 160% of area median income.
What vote is needed for Measure P to pass?
A simple majority, or 51% of voters, must vote “yes” for Measure P to become law.
Measure P in Context
Here is background information about Measure P:
Growth Management in Healdsburg
Growth management has existed in Healdsburg since November 2000, when Healdsburg voters passed Measure M. The measure was citizen initiated, and it established residential growth control, known as the Grown Management Ordinance (GMO), in the City.
The GMO limits residential construction to an average of 30 units per year, with no more than 90 in a three-year period. Small accessory-dwelling units (built on a parcel where a single-family unit exists or will be built concurrently) and affordable units, which are rented or sold to households earning less than 120% of area median income, are exempt from this limitation.
The City recognizes the need for additional housing in Healdsburg. City Council has adopted a Housing Action Plan which focuses on 1) the development of affordable housing units restricted for long-term affordability, 2) accessory-dwelling units, and 3) units affordable to middle-income households. The need to develop housing affordable to middle-income families was a central theme of community discussion during preparation of the Housing Action Plan.
Proposed Growth Management Ordinance Amendment – Measure P
Multifamily residential projects require growth-management allocations and they often include a greater number of units. Since the current growth-management program allows only 30 units per year, multifamily projects can be difficult to build.
Measure P would allow for 50 growth-management allocations on average per year – up to 150 over a three-year period -- if the units are:
- Multifamily rental units; and
- Subject to an agreement requiring the units be rented to tenants earning no more than 160% of area median income.