Walnut Creek Housing Element Provides For 5,800 New Units Through 2031

WALNUT CREEK, CA — The city of Walnut Creek's housing element has been accepted and approved by state officials, the city announced Thursday.

The housing element — each California city is mandated to provide one every eight years as part of its general plan — is a framework of goals, policies and programs to support the development of an additional 5,805 new units of housing, including 3,501 affordable homes and up to 176 ADUs, in the city of Walnut Creek between now and the year 2031.

Of the 5,806 new housing units, 1,657 were designated for very low-income earners, 954 for low-income earners, 890 for moderate-income earners, and 2,304 for above-moderate-income earners.

To provide a buffer and ensure the city has sufficient capacity for affordable housing opportunities, the city included plans for an additional 525 housing units.

"I want to thank the City’s Community Development and legal staff for dedicated hard work to see this through to the finish line," Mayor Cindy Silva said. "There is considerable effort that goes into meeting the complex requirements set by the State, but the certification of our Housing Element Update shows the commitment of Walnut Creek to providing a range of housing needs."

The housing element was approved by the Walnut Creek City Council on Aug. 1, and the city received word this week that it has also been certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

"It's exciting to receive the State’s concurrence with our Housing Element," said Erika Vandenbrande, the city's community development director. "We look forward to implementing the many programs with our partners to increase the number of homes available at all levels of affordability."

The city noted that counties and cities are required to prepare housing elements every eight years to identify needs and actions to provide for housing at all income levels and for all populations despite a severe shortage in local, state and federal funding that makes many of the actions needed and planned financially infeasible.

"It is important to recognize that state law requires cities to plan for housing, but almost all housing is developed by the private sector," according to page 50 of the housing element. "Developers, not cities or counties, build housing. The role of local government is to facilitate
housing development through the planning process."

The 441-page document, which includes information on where in town the housing units could be built through redevelopment or new development, can be found here.

Additional information is posted at walnut-creek.org/HEU.