The City of Alameda is seeking public feedback on its 2022 draft Housing Element. The city released its 2022 draft Housing Element Monday, April 4, on a new comprehensive city website.

City officials want public input to ensure “housing policies and programs are inclusive and represent the values and ideas of our city’s diverse population,” stated a city press release.

“The community plays a critical role in the creation of these plans,” wrote Andrew Thomas, Alameda Planning, Building, and Transportation Department Director. “More than 1,700 community members and 25 community organizations helped us write the 2040 Alameda General Plan, which the City Council adopted in January. We need everyone’s help to make this a great Housing Element.”

The Housing Element 2022 update will be Alameda’s housing plan for the years 2023-2031. It is required by State law and it must provide for Alameda’s fair share of the regional housing needs, referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The city is required by the state of California to build 5,353 housing units as of March 22, according to the city's housing sites inventory report. The Housing Element must determine where the new units will be located.

“The Housing Element is designed to achieve three goals for the Alameda community,” the draft Housing Element states. “Goal 1: Provide an ample supply of housing to meet the existing and projected housing needs. Goal 2: Affirmatively further fair housing to foster inclusive neighborhoods and remove barriers to housing for vulnerable communities. Goal 3: End and prevent homelessness in Alameda.”

The draft Housing Element is available for public viewing at https://www.alameda2040.org/housing. The 188-page draft will be available to the public until early next month.

To comment on the draft, click on the "Engage & Comment" tab on the top right of the page. Visitors have until May 9 to leave a comment. Readers can also mail in comments. Mail comments to Andrew Thomas, Planning, Building, and Transportation Director, City of Alameda, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Room 190, Alameda, CA 94501.

The city is also allowing residents to build their own housing plan. The tool asks residents to rank where they most want to see new housing units built. Locations include Alameda Marina, Park Street, Harbor Bay Shopping Center and more.

To create a housing plan or share housing comments, visit https://cityofalamedaca.abalancingact.com/housing.