Horn and Jacob push for solutions to the region's housing crisis

SAN DIEGO – Housing affordability and the housing crisis are acute issues for San Diego County. They require changes on many levels to begin meeting the urgent needs in housing. Supervisors Bill Horn and Dianne Jacob teamed up, April 18, to ask staff to take a hard look at the problem and find ways to encourage home building for all income levels.

“The county is only producing a fraction of the 20-thousand housing units we need annually to meet current housing demands, Horn said. “We have to search for creative, smart solutions that can be implemented quickly so we can begin to close San Diego’s housing gap.”

The April 18 board action specifies a need often overlooked in the housing conversation: homes for the middle class. Moderate income-level homes are being built the least and that is having a devastating effect on the middle-class and the economy.

“We need to make it easier for property owners to build on their land, whether it’s a primary residence, granny flat, room addition or another type of housing,” Jacob said. “Every little step can add up and help address this crisis.”

The requested housing analysis, to be completed and presented to the board in 180 days, will include ways to streamline permitting and California Environmental Quality Act requirements, standardize regulations, modify zoning and parking requirements, explore density bonuses, inclusionary housing, accessory dwelling units, prefabricated homes and any other opportunities to boost discretionary and ministerial housing production.