The Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project Helps Create Affordable Housing

A no vote from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for the California American Water desal project is assuredly a no vote for state mandated housing requirements as well.
 

Since 1969, California has required that all local governments, both cities and counties, adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. The recently established Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) determination for cities within Monterey County is for the 8-year period between June 30, 2023 to December 15, 2031. For more information click here.
 

In the cities of Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Sand City and Seaside which are all serviced by Cal Am, the RHNA requires the addition of 6,188 housing units.  
 

Based on the final RHNA Plan, each city and county must update its housing element to demonstrate how the jurisdiction will meet the expected growth in housing need over this period of time. Without adequate water supply, jurisdictions either cannot, or will not, comply with much needed housing – particularly for low to middle income families.
 

Adding primarily congregate housing facilities in these cities will aid in conserving water as well. Infill development which utilizes wastewater systems that will recycle water and treat and reuse significant water that would otherwise be wasted via the rural septic processes.