Council of Infill Builders’ David Mogavero’s Infill Presentation

On July 12, 2021, at a Special Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) meeting (Joint Session: Land Use & Transportation, Air Quality and Climate Change Committees) architect David Mogavero spoke to ECOS.

How can we encourage infill development and discourage green-field development?

David Mogavero is a Board Member of the Council of Infill Builders, and a past president of ECOS.

David Mogavero addressed these questions:

How do we calculate infill capacity?
- How many market-rate and affordable dwelling units will we need in our region?
- How much infill housing development capacity do we have?
- Would still we need more greenfield development?
- What density criteria are used to determine needed infill development capacity?
What are potential problems with larger high-density infill developments?
- Nearby residents often resist higher density, affordable housing near transit hubs.
Small, high-density infill development problems:
- Do we need accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multiplex housing?
- How can we make small projects easier to finance and build?

Missed it?

Click here for David Mogavero’s slideshow.

More Info

Learn more about ECOS committees here: https://www.ecosacramento.net/about-us/committees.

To learn more about the Council of Infill Developers, visit their website at http://www.councilofinfillbuilders.org/.

See where apartment rent is rising fastest in the Sacramento region, as demand surges

Sacramento’s housing crisis continues to worsen, recent evidence confirms. Our region will not reach our greenhouse emission reduction targets as long as there is a jobs-housing imbalance in our urban core.

By Phillip Reese and Tony Bizjak | February 10, 2021 | The Sacramento Bee

Apartment rents jumped faster around Sacramento than in almost any other metro nationwide last year, adding to a long-simmering housing crunch, new data show.

Click here to read the article in full.

Photo by Maria Orlova from Pexels

Sacramento moves forward with zoning change

January 19, 2021 | By Theresa Clift | The Sacramento Bee

Good news!

The Sacramento City Council took a step Tuesday toward becoming one of the first cities in the country to eliminate traditional single-family zoning.
The change, for which the council unanimously signaled support, would allow houses across the city to contain up to four dwelling units. City officials said the proposal would help the city alleviate its housing crisis, as well as achieve equity goals, by making neighborhoods with high-performing schools, pristine parks and other amenities accessible for families who cannot afford the rising price tags to buy homes there.

Click here to read the full article.

Photo by Maria Orlova from Pexels

What Is A General Plan?!?

Posted here: January 12, 2021

Created by Tomboy Dru November 10, 2018 via YouTube

With the City of Sacramento working on updating the City General Plan, we thought we would post this fantastic video created by YouTube creator Tomboy Dru, who humorously breaks down what’s in a General Plan, by providing a general explanation of each General Plan element. These elements include land use, environmental resources, recreation and open space, noise, circulation or mobility, safety, energy, and housing or growth area. We highly recommend this video to gain an understanding of this important document, or to refresh your knowledge! Check out her channel for other great urban planning content, as well!

Click here to learn more about the City of Sacramento’s General Plan.

Click here to learn more about the County of Sacramento’s General Plan.

To learn about the general plan where you live, visit your local government websites.

Sacramento has a plan to address its housing crisis. Some neighborhoods are fighting it

By Theresa Clift | January 10, 2021 | The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento is in a seemingly untenable housing crisis, and city officials have proposed a change to the zoning code to encourage more housing by allowing duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes to be built in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes. The change would improve equity, city leaders say, by providing housing for low- and moderate-income families in neighborhoods with nice parks, high-performing schools and other amenities.
But the proposal has sparked a conflict that has galvanized some of the city’s wealthiest – and most influential – neighborhoods behind a common cause, pitting those communities against affordable housing advocates and some members of the City Council.

Click here to read the full article.

Sacramento County Early Action Planning Grant Support

On June 1, 2020, the Sierra Club Sacramento Group, 350 Sacramento and the Environmental Council of Sacramento sent a letter to the County of Sacramento encouraging the County to apply for an “Early Action Planning” grant.

We encourage the County to apply for the subject non-competitive grant as recommended by staff. The grant would fund mandated and non-mandated planning activities related to meeting the County’s housing needs.
We particularly support the proposed Infill Program planning, which would identify, assess, and seek to remove barriers to developing infill opportunities in the unincorporated County. According to the County’s annual General Plan Report for 2019, development of vacant and underutilized land, and revitalization of commercial corridors could provide about 33 thousand new housing units in the unincorporated area.

Click here to read the letter in full.