Why no affordable housing required of Hidden Hills?





At a recent presentation to Calabasas homeowners’ presidents regarding the Calabasas General Plan update, the planning staff explained the process and progress so far. When the subject came to land use and the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, it was explained that the state’s requirement for 521 new housing units over the next eight years doesn’t actually mean we have to “build” that many new homes, rather only “plan” for them.

For those who have attended General Plan Advisory Committee meetings over the course of the past year, the RHNA question has been been a sore spot with many residents, particularly on the west side, who feel that their community will bear the brunt of most of the 316 very low, low and moderate housing units. One council member, Mr. Bozajian (a west-sider himself) has stated his opposition to the state allocation figures.

Yet the city attorney has many times stated before the GPAC and the City Council that the city has no choice but to comply with the state affordable housing programs. Calabasas could risk suits by developers seeking to build low to moderate housing, or the state could order such approvals in the city.

Some California cities have self-certified their own General Plan housing element, ignoring a statemandated policy of legislated economic equality.

And what about the city of Hidden Hills? What about their RHNA numbers for low-income housing? If our contiguous neighboring city is exempt, why not Calabasas? At the very least it should raise questions, and make one wonder who’s really driving this train, the state or the city? One thing’s for certain, it’s not the residents. Toby Keeler Calabasas


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