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Vallejo Inclusionary Housing
Greenbelt Alliance is working to pass an inclusionary
housing policy in the City of Vallejo. An inclusionary housing policy
will require new housing developments to include a percentage of homes
that are affordable to people earning modest incomes.
Inclusionary housing helps ensure affordably priced homes are available
within cities, so that people don't have to move to the region's outskirts
to find a home they can afford. This takes development pressure off open
space, and enables people like teachers, nurses, and firefighters to
live in the communities they serve. More than 60 cities and counties
in the Bay Area have adopted inclusionary housing ordinances.
What's
at Stake
The housing market in the Bay Area—including Vallejo—is
out of balance. Too many expensive single-family houses are being built
at the edges of the region, and not enough starter homes, condominiums,
and apartments are going up in center cities. This pushes development
outward, paving over greenbelt lands and creating long commutes and more
traffic for everyone.
Many of the people who keep Vallejo running cannot afford to live there:
people like teachers, hospital workers, government employees, and childcare
providers. The entire community suffers as a result.
Vallejo can keep its economy strong and its quality of life high by building an adequate supply of affordable homes. By enabling people to live close to where they work, the City will ensure its businesses can attract better workers.
By building a range of housing options near jobs, shops, and transit,
the City can reduce the amount of driving necessary in day-to-day life, prevent
increased traffic, and create more livable communities.
To download or view a toolkit on Inclusionary Housing, click here. For
more information, contact Nicole Byrd by email or at (707) 427-2308.
What You Can Do
You can help. Here's how:
- Contact Vallejo City Council members and let them know you support an inclusionary housing ordinance. Download a flyer here.
Mayor Anthony Intintoli, mayor@ci.vallejo.ca.us,
707-648-4377
Tony Pearsall, tpearsall@ci.vallejo.ca.us
Tom Bartee, tbartee@ci.vallejo.ca.us
Gary Cloutier, garycloutier@sbcglobal.net
Gerald Davis, jdavis@ci.vallejo.ca.us
Stephanie Gomes, sgomes@ci.vallejo.ca.us
Hermie Sunga, hsunga@ci.vallejo.ca.us
Councilmembers'’ phone number: 707-648-4575
- Write a letter to the editor of the Vallejo Times Herald. Letters
should be 200 words or less.
Email: opinion@timesheraldonline.com
Mail: PO Box 3188,
Vallejo, CA 94590
Fax: 707-643-0128
Campaign Updates
September 2007
The inclusionary housing decision has been pushed back again to November
2007. With two new planning commissioners in place and potential turnover
in the City Council, the local politics are changing in Vallejo. Greenbelt
Alliance is continuing to work with City staff, local affordable
housing advocates, faith leaders and unions to keep this ordinance moving
forward and to get as much public involvement as possible.
August 2007
Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Housing Coalition have been working
to broaden the coalition and have successfully added more faith leaders
and new union partners. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance will now
go before the Planning Commission in November 2007, after the November
election. This extra time will allow the coalition to continue to build
allies, and there are many people concerned about Vallejo’s ability
to provide homes that local residents can afford. The ordinance will
likely be before the City Council in December 2007 or January 2008.
June 2007
The City of Vallejo has been working through the public process of designing
an inclusionary housing ordinance to help provide more affordable homes
for the citizens of Vallejo. Greenbelt Alliance is working with City
staff as well as local advocates for homes people can afford, to keep
this ordinance moving forward and to get as much public involvement as
possible.
March 2007
In February 2007, Vallejo planning staff brought their draft inclusionary
housing ordinance to the Vallejo Planning Commission. Unfortunately,
realtors turned out many people to speak in opposition to the ordinance.
The Planning Commission agreed to revisit the issue on March 21. Although
some Planning Commissioners are supportive of inclusionary housing,
they are concerned about Vallejo's ability to attract developers to
the community. Greenbelt Alliance continues to work with Nonprofit
Housing Association of Northern California, the Solano Housing Coalition,
local developers and city planners to improve the ordinance and turn
out supporters at the next hearing.
3/4/07 We should encourage affordable housing (letter
to the editor) Vacaville Reporter
January 2007
The City of Vallejo has moved closer to adopting an inclusionary housing
ordinance! In December, the City Council held a study session where
they received the results of a City-commissioned economic study on
inclusionary housing in Vallejo. The study showed it would be feasible
to adopt an inclusionary housing ordinance requiring 10-20% of every
housing development to be affordable for families earning between $37,000
- $88,800 (50 and 120% of Area Median Income). The City Council directed
staff to draft an ordinance for consideration. City staff is expected
to present a draft ordinance to the Planning Commission at the beginning
of February. Greenbelt Alliance is continuing to work with partners
to encourage the City to continue to move forward with this ordinance.
On Saturday, November 18, Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Housing
Coalition hosted an open house in downtown Vallejo. Seventy-five people
attended and learned about how to get involved. We will be meeting
with Planning Commissioners this month and organizing Vallejo residents,
including Greenbelt Alliance members, to attend the Feb. 5 hearing.
12/5/06 Coalition urges Vallejo to address lack of affordable homes, Bay City News Wire & CBS5
12/5/06 Vallejo Council to discuss inclusionary housing ordinance, Bay City News Wire & CBS5
December 2006
The City of Vallejo moved one step closer to adopting an inclusionary
housing ordinance in December. The City Council held a study session
where they received the results of a study on inclusionary housing in
Vallejo. The study revealed the urgent need for affordable homes in Vallejo
and
inclusionary housing as one tool to address the need. The Council directed
City staff to bring a draft ordinance to the Planning Commission and
the Council in early 2007. Thanks to everyone that came out to the City
Council hearing to show support for inclusionary housing!
11/15/2006 Letter to the Editor: A big step, Vallejo Times-Herald
November 2006
The City of Vallejo’s process to consider and adopt an inclusionary
housing ordinance is continuing to move forward. In mid-November the
City is holding stakeholder meetings where people can weigh in on the
policy. Greenbelt Alliance is working with the campaign committee to
show support for an inclusionary housing ordinance. We are continuing
a postcard drive with a focus on tabling at the Saturday farmers markets.
On Saturday, November 18, Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Housing Coalition
hosted an open house in downtown Vallejo where people could stop
by, get more information about the need for affordable homes and inclusionary
housing as one tool to get there, and take action to urge the Council
to adopt an inclusionary housing ordinance.
October 2006
The City of Vallejo has kicked off a process to study and hopefully adopt
an inclusionary housing ordinance. This ordinance would ensure that a
share of all new housing development is affordable to local workers and
families. Greenbelt Alliance and the Solano Housing Coalition are working
to build support for such an ordinance among Vallejo residents and organizations.
We have formed a campaign committee that is reaching out to labor, church
and community groups. We are continuing a postcard drive with a focus
on tabling at the Saturday farmers markets. In October, we will be meeting
with City Council members in preparation for stakeholder meetings in
November where policy parameters for the inclusionary housing ordinance
will be discussed.
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