12 Aug Pittsburg Makes Changes to Its Housing Plan

Pittsburg assistant director of planning John Funderberg, at monitor, and senior planner Maurice Brenyah-Addow at the Aug. 5 City Council meeting. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

The Pittsburg City Council revised its housing element last week to further include fair housing opportunities across the city and stay compliant with state law. 

Revisions to the element, which is part of the city’s overall General Plan and addresses local housing needs, comes after the California Department of Housing and Community Development said changes were needed to “substantially comply” with state housing law. 

“They’ve moved the benchmark a few times on us, and they’ve done it on a lot of cities,” said John Funderburg, the city’s assistant director of planning, but changes made since are now consistent with goals set by council members, Pittsburg and what the state requires. 

At the request of HCD, city staff increased outreach in communities that are special needs populations or from protected classes; included data related to transportation disparities, especially regarding BART; added water and wastewater grant project priorities for low-income units and an accessory dwelling unit guidebook.

Funderburg said revisions made to the element were minimal. 

Despite having to do some catch-up with state requirements, Pittsburg’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation grade, which determines housing needs in California, is rated the highest in Contra Costa County. Unincorporated areas, El Cerrito, and Oakley are the next highest-graded areas in the county. 

“I’m hoping, as part of these next two cycles, …we’ll report back we’re still that No. 1,” said Funderburg. 

To increase outreach about housing needs, city staff held surveys, meetings and other listening sessions to hear from community members. HCD requested outreach efforts to have “meaningful, frequent, and ongoing” participation from residents and include specific efforts to communities that experience housing issues. 

Revisions to the housing element also included formally approving the ADU guidebook, which was previously unadopted. City staff has received several requests for information regarding ADUs (a.k.a. in-law units) in the community, and a few others are undergoing the process of getting requested permits for the units, according to Funderburg. 

“(The guidebook has) been a success,” he said. “We point them right to our ADU guidebook, and they really like that because it’s self-explanatory, and it gives you a step-by-step on how to go about applying for an ADU and what the city is doing to ensure we’re providing affordable housing.” 

The next Pittsburg City Council meeting is Aug. 19.