Napa County's Housing Element Certified By State

Press release from the Napa County Government:

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Signifying Napa County’s compliance with State Housing Element Law, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the Housing Element for Napa County on July 12, 2024. The Housing Element serves as a key component of the County’s General Plan, establishing the housing goals and policies for the unincorporated areas to guide long-term development.

"This certification is an important milestone for Napa County and represents our commitment to housing,” said Joelle Gallagher, Chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors. "This was a process that involved many staff, stakeholders, and community members and I’m thankful to each and every one of them for their input and participation in this process."

The Housing Element expanded the assessment of fair housing to include comparisons to the Bay Area region, identified common locations of homeless encampment activity in the unincorporated county, added potential environmental constraints, and more. As part of the Housing Element, the County will continue to implement various programs like monitoring accessory dwelling unit (ADU) production and farmworker studies and will report on the results through an annual progress report.

The Housing Element update involved an extensive and comprehensive public outreach process. Established in 2021, the Housing Element Advisory Committee (HEAC) consisted of 12 members from diverse backgrounds including real estate, housing advocacy, and local nonprofits. Nine HEAC meetings were held with public participation and translation options available. Targeted outreach efforts were made to engage underrepresented groups, including Spanish speakers, individuals with disabilities, and the unhoused community. Organizations serving underrepresented groups including Abode Services, the Commission on Aging, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, and UpValley Family Centers were engaged for input. Additionally, a dedicated website was created for access to Housing Element meeting recordings, drafts, public hearing information, and public comment.

The certification follows the adoption of Housing Element revisions by the Napa County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 19, 2023. Implementation of the Housing Element is already underway with the completion of the rezoning of the Foster Road and Spanish Flat sites. On July 17, 2024, PBES staff conducted a public workshop at the Planning Commission, presenting additional draft revisions to the Napa County Code to further implement the programs contained in the approved Housing Element. It is anticipated the Planning Commission will further consider the proposed revisions in August and the Board in September/October of this year.

Read the Certified Housing Element here.

This press release was produced by the Napa County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.