Bishop - County taking a closer look at local housing

Under state law, every jurisdiction in the state of California is required to adopt a housing element that describes how it can best meet its housing needs.

Inyo County is looking to update its Housing Element, and with most of the local land in public hands, residents are have the opportunity to brainstorm ideas with the Planning Commission on how best to accommodate local housing needs. Photo by Mike Bodine

That poses a unique challenge in Inyo, where more than 90 percent of the land is managed by the state, federal or Los Angeles city governments.
With its new housing element due by Aug. 31, the Inyo County Planning Department hopes to gather ideas from community members, housing providers, property owners, social service agencies and community organizations.
“As a stakeholder with knowledge of housing issues in Inyo County, we invite you to participate,” states a letter from the planning department to various agencies, individuals and groups.
The Planning Department will host two stakeholder workshops on the housing element; one on Wednesday, March 4 at Statham Hall in Lone Pine and the second on Thursday, March 5 at Bishop City Hall. Both meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Residents will have additional opportunities to publicly comment on the housing element update at future Planning Commission meetings and meetings of the Board of Supervisors.
“These meetings will seek your perspective on the county’s housing needs and how we can improve our housing programs,” the letter to stakeholders states.
The housing element law, enacted in 1969, mandates that local governments adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. The law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address housing needs and demand, local governments must adopt land use plans and regulatory systems which provide opportunities for, and do not unduly constrain, housing development.
The housing element is one of seven elements required for a localized general plan.
On Oct. 15, 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 2, introduced by Senator Gilbert Cedillo. This legislation requires local jurisdictions to strengthen provisions for addressing the housing needs of the homeless, including the identification of a zone or zones where emergency shelters are allowed as a permitted use without a conditional use permit.
Inyo County has retained the services of PMC, a consulting firm based out of Sacramento, to assist in developing a draft housing element.
The firm is currently working with county staff to evaluate the last housing element, approved in 2004, and to identify adequate sites to meet the county’s regional housing needs.
This task is a difficult one given the limited amount of privately owned, developable land in Inyo County.
That’s where the community comes in. Anyone with any ideas about how to enhance or improve Inyo’s housing element is invited to attend.
Inyo’s housing element will include an analysis of housing needs, resources and constraints, a program to review and revise the previous element, a housing program and a determination of adequate housing sites.
Anyone who is interested in housing issues in Inyo County but is unable to attend the public meetings is invited to submit comments or questions to county planning staff at any time by calling Senior Planner Josh Hart at (760) 878-0263.
As progress continues on the housing element, updates will be available at http://inyoplanning.org/projecttemplate.htm.