Inclusionary Housing Develops Into One Hot Topic
Sonora, CA — The opening salvo regarding inclusionary housing was fired Tuesday at the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Inclusionary housing is a proposal that would require builders-developers to make available to low wage earners a certain percentage of housing in all developments.
Third District Supervisor Teri Murrison feels that many issues dealing with inclusionary housing must be studied in depth before any final decision is reached by the Board.
Murrison goes on to state that the basic premise of inclusionary housing is good for people who want to be able to afford a home and for those that are active members of the community. On the other hand she says questions that must be studied include applicability of health and safety issues, setbacks, fire codes and the wideness of roads.
Many attending the four hour session voiced their inability to find affordable housing in the Mother Lode region.
Sonora area broker Clark Segerstrom of Centry 21 Real Estate says the trend of the market over the past two years has greatly increased the number of housing units that could be labeled affordable. Homes that were in the $300,000 range two years ago are now in the $200,000 range according to Segerstrom and certainly far more affordable.
According to the Modesto Bee, 16 counties and 154 cities in the state have adopted inclusionary housing codes. To date communities in the foothills have not joined that group.
The next scheduled Board hearing on inclusionary housing is set for Tuesday, September 18th.
Written by Bill Johnson
