Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a way of describing or quantifying a ratio that expresses how much of a person’s income should be devoted to housing. By
and large, it is assumed that people can afford to pay about a third of their income on housing. The relationship of household income to housing
costs is key to understanding whether in fact housing is affordable. We need to ask ourselves who needs housing in our community and why is it
important to provide this housing at affordable levels?
The Overview of Housing Needs In Marin County, published in February of 2002, set out a few examples of very low income jobs: cashier, cook,
recreation worker, retail salesperson, childcare worker, emergency medical technician. Low income jobs included: open space ranger, children’s
librarian, street maintenance worker, custodian, elementary school teacher and emergency dispatcher. Moderate income jobs included: fire
inspector, entry level firefighter and police officer, pharmacist and nurse practitioner.
Providing affordable workforce housing is a social good and helps address one of Mill Valley’s chief environmental problems – our lack of
affordable housing. People with service jobs make our community a safe and pleasant place to live. Service workers in Mill Valley should be able to
live here, if they desire. Furthermore, to the extent that service workers live in Mill Valley, their lives and ours are healthier and more sustainable:
We all enjoy cleaner air and less traffic congestion from the influx of a commuting workforce. Our local workforce should be part of the
community it serves and should not have to commute long distances to work here. It calls us to reawaken to the village concept that brought us
Mill Valley in the first place. Mill Valley has always prided itself on the inclusiveness and diversity of its residents with workers and the wealthy
living together in harmony and goodwill.
Actions:
On the Mill Valley Planning Commission and as Aide to Supervisor McGlashan, I have met with affordable housing developers and advocates to
learn about the challenge we face and to support their initiatives. I have attended affordable housing seminars and education sessions. I see the
mixed use development on Miller as providing some units of affordable housing as a result of the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance. On the
Commission, I have advocated for going beyond the 20% inclusionary housing requirement in larger projects (4 units +) that have come before us.
I consistently urge applicants to stretch to provide housing for very low and low income residents, as these categories are not well served by our
current housing choices.
Ideas:
My vision for Mill Valley includes a commitment to provide affordable housing ~ an essential community resource that ensures diversity. This will
not be easy. Land prices are high and development costs are climbing with resources and materials costs escalating. But, there are many roads to
the top of this mountain. The creation of affordable housing deserves a comprehensive approach that looks at many methods, only one of which is
building.
A comprehensive approach considers a range of ideas, including creative re-use of current structures, units along streets served by transit,
sponsorship/incentives for deed restricted second-units, second unit amnesty programs, commercial inclusionary units for workforce housing and
single family homes for families. Depending on the specific site, additional housing units on a single parcel next to transit can be a good part of an
overall plan. Thus far, second units have served to meet a large portion of our current housing allocation. However, second units on hillsides and
remote areas (away from existing transit and services) add to parking and traffic impacts to the neighborhoods and our City. They are not the
complete solution.
I will work to explore ways to bring more affordable housing into existence by inviting community partners to the table for a plan we can put in
place in Mill Valley. I will invite residents to meet with the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin Builders Association, the Marin Association of
Realtors, the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, and nonprofit housing developers, like the Ecumenical Association for Housing, to pursue
local housing trust fund monies, state and federal funds, and our own city funding strategy to strengthen and diversify Mill Valley’s housing
portfolio to include more affordable housing.
Affordable housing is a way of describing or quantifying a ratio that expresses how much of a person’s income should be devoted to housing. By
and large, it is assumed that people can afford to pay about a third of their income on housing. The relationship of household income to housing
costs is key to understanding whether in fact housing is affordable. We need to ask ourselves who needs housing in our community and why is it
important to provide this housing at affordable levels?
The Overview of Housing Needs In Marin County, published in February of 2002, set out a few examples of very low income jobs: cashier, cook,
recreation worker, retail salesperson, childcare worker, emergency medical technician. Low income jobs included: open space ranger, children’s
librarian, street maintenance worker, custodian, elementary school teacher and emergency dispatcher. Moderate income jobs included: fire
inspector, entry level firefighter and police officer, pharmacist and nurse practitioner.
Providing affordable workforce housing is a social good and helps address one of Mill Valley’s chief environmental problems – our lack of
affordable housing. People with service jobs make our community a safe and pleasant place to live. Service workers in Mill Valley should be able to
live here, if they desire. Furthermore, to the extent that service workers live in Mill Valley, their lives and ours are healthier and more sustainable:
We all enjoy cleaner air and less traffic congestion from the influx of a commuting workforce. Our local workforce should be part of the
community it serves and should not have to commute long distances to work here. It calls us to reawaken to the village concept that brought us
Mill Valley in the first place. Mill Valley has always prided itself on the inclusiveness and diversity of its residents with workers and the wealthy
living together in harmony and goodwill.
Actions:
On the Mill Valley Planning Commission and as Aide to Supervisor McGlashan, I have met with affordable housing developers and advocates to
learn about the challenge we face and to support their initiatives. I have attended affordable housing seminars and education sessions. I see the
mixed use development on Miller as providing some units of affordable housing as a result of the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance. On the
Commission, I have advocated for going beyond the 20% inclusionary housing requirement in larger projects (4 units +) that have come before us.
I consistently urge applicants to stretch to provide housing for very low and low income residents, as these categories are not well served by our
current housing choices.
Ideas:
My vision for Mill Valley includes a commitment to provide affordable housing ~ an essential community resource that ensures diversity. This will
not be easy. Land prices are high and development costs are climbing with resources and materials costs escalating. But, there are many roads to
the top of this mountain. The creation of affordable housing deserves a comprehensive approach that looks at many methods, only one of which is
building.
A comprehensive approach considers a range of ideas, including creative re-use of current structures, units along streets served by transit,
sponsorship/incentives for deed restricted second-units, second unit amnesty programs, commercial inclusionary units for workforce housing and
single family homes for families. Depending on the specific site, additional housing units on a single parcel next to transit can be a good part of an
overall plan. Thus far, second units have served to meet a large portion of our current housing allocation. However, second units on hillsides and
remote areas (away from existing transit and services) add to parking and traffic impacts to the neighborhoods and our City. They are not the
complete solution.
I will work to explore ways to bring more affordable housing into existence by inviting community partners to the table for a plan we can put in
place in Mill Valley. I will invite residents to meet with the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin Builders Association, the Marin Association of
Realtors, the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, and nonprofit housing developers, like the Ecumenical Association for Housing, to pursue
local housing trust fund monies, state and federal funds, and our own city funding strategy to strengthen and diversify Mill Valley’s housing
portfolio to include more affordable housing.