MILLBRAE, CA –The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), announced that the City of Millbrae’s 2023-2031 Housing Element, which is part of the City’s General Plan, received State certification today, signifying the City's compliance with the State Housing Element law.
Certification demonstrates the City’s commitment to housing production, providing valuable guidance to housing developers and ensuring the City’s continued eligibility for grants and State funding opportunities, including support towards the production of additional affordable housing.
The Housing Element is a core element of the City's General Plan. The General Plan is a long-range plan that guides decision-making and establishes rules and standards for new development and city improvements. It reflects the community's vision for the future and is intended to provide direction through the year 2040.
The Housing Element aims to achieve several all-inclusive goals and provides the City with a roadmap for improving and creating housing within the City. The update focuses on removing barriers and addressing challenges related to housing shortages and homelessness in the City of Millbrae.
Key policy commitments in the City’s updated Housing Element include:
- Designation of properties eligible for redevelopment to accommodate new housing;
- New programs to streamline housing production, simplify housing development regulations, and reduce permit processing time;
- Establishment of a new local density bonus program to encourage redevelopment towards new housing;
- New housing mobility programs to improve housing choices in lower-density neighborhoods.
Millbrae’s assigned share of the region’s housing need for the next eight years is 2,199 new residential units, over 1,267 of which are intended to be affordable. In 2022 alone, the City permitted 461 housing units, including 147 affordable units. Additionally, the City approved planning entitlements for 100 new housing units and issued certificates of occupancy for 263 new units in 2023.
The Housing Element update builds on previous City plans, goals, objectives, and strategies to ensure that the City meets the housing needs of current and future Millbrae residents and provides fair housing options for all. City Manager Thomas Williams states, “we continue to make housing a top priority in Millbrae and are proud of the certification of the Housing Element which is a testament to our efforts.” With the certification from HCD, the City can now begin to implement the Housing Element Programs.
To learn more about the City’s Housing Element, please visit https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/269/Housing-Element-Update