Sacramento County Considering Reducing Affordable Housing Requirements
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - There could soon be less affordable housing in Sacramento County. A new proposal would cut the requirements for developers to include low income housing options in half.
Fifteen percent of the housing in each new real estate development in Sacramento County has to be set aside as affordable housing. If it doesn't, the developers have to pay a fine.
For families like Dynasty Fritz's, low-income housing in Natomas allows them to afford other necessities.
"I think it's cheaper. They can save more money they could like support us," said Dynasty.
But Sacramento County is considering cutting the low-income housing requirement for developers in half.
"Instead of having integrated communities, we'll have communities that have a higher percentage of more expensive homes," said Greg Sparks with the Sacramento Housing Alliance.
Sparks says changing the rule that's been in place since 2004 is a bad idea.
"Other jurisdictions have a much lower affordable housing obligation than the county and the county needs to be competitive," said Leighann Moffit, Sacramento County's planning director.
Some developers also believe allowing for more low-income homes hurts the real estate market.
"There will be less housing available for low very low and extremely low income households in those new neighborhoods," said Sparks.
The people in charge of planning f or the county will consider requiring eight percent affordable housing instead of 15 and the fines for developers who don't want to provide affordable housing could be cut by almost a third. Some fear this change could leave an affordable housing shortage.
It'd be hard 'cause some people can't really afford housing. Theyd be struggling," said Dynasty.
While some new homeowners prefer their neighborhoods have higher-end housing, this could also leave low-income families in the dust.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will vote December on a possible change to ease up the affordable housing requirements.
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