Encinitas City Council is halting plans for an affordable housing project on an empty city-owned lot on Quail Gardens Drive to explore other options. The council wants to avoid an affordable housing deficit and stay in compliance with the state’s No Net Loss law, which requires cities to produce the amount and types of housing they plan for in their housing element.
Encinitas must accommodate 1,554 total housing units, with 838 designated as low-income. While the city is on track to meet its goals for moderate-income and above-moderate-income units, it may fall short of low- and very low-income units. The city identified 15 sites for affordable housing, but only one has been 100 percent affordable so far.
Developments have fallen short of affordability requirements due to the city’s inclusionary housing policy. Encinitas is now considering sites outside the housing element, like L-7 on Quail Gardens Drive, to meet its goals. A task force will explore other options for affordable housing while engaging in community outreach on the L-7 site.
In other news, Oceanside is seeking to extend a sales tax hike, Supervisor Jim Desmond discussed plans for the Green Oak Ranch property in Vista, Vista approved a cannabis equity program, and Escondido passed a public camping ban. The region continues to address housing, equity, and homelessness challenges.
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Photo credit voiceofsandiego.org
