As part of the 2040 General Plan update, the Sacramento City Council next week is set to discuss key strategies that address some of the City’s most pressing challenges over the next 20 years, including the availability and affordability of housing.
One of those strategies is to permit more housing types in single-unit neighborhoods.
After extensive community outreach and input, City staff on Jan. 19 will present to Council the 2040 General Plan Draft Land Use Map, Proposed Roadway Changes and other Key Strategies and recommend approval for staff to proceed to the next phase of plan.
“Planning has been working with the community for almost two years through outreach efforts of the 2040 General Plan, asking questions and listening to the needs of those who live and work in Sacramento,” said Matt Hertel, acting long range planning manager. “Allowing a greater array of housing types in Sacramento’s residential neighborhoods is one the actions the City can take to provide more housing options and help create more equitable and inclusive neighborhoods.”
One of the proposed strategies being presented to Council is to permit a greater array of housing types — such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes — in existing residential neighborhoods.
Currently, in single-family neighborhoods within the city, only single-unit homes (i.e. single-family), duplexes on any corner lot, and up to two Accessory Dwelling Units (not to exceed 1,200 square feet) are allowed in areas zoned R-1. Anything other than that is currently not permittable.
However, this doe not mean that high rises are heading into residential neighborhoods, Hertel said.
Design guidelines and limitations will remain in place to ensure that any new construction will be congruent with the look, feel, size and height of the single-unit homes, Hertel said.
Housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes already are found throughout the City’s “single-family” neighborhoods. There are more than 2,300 of these housing types — established before 1960 — scattered throughout the City’s neighborhoods. Here are some examples:
Those interested in participating in this Council meeting may submit public comments via eComment through the City’s Meetings & Agendas site online. To give your public comment during the meeting, please call (916) 808-7213 and follow the instructions given.
For more information, please visit the 2040 General Plan Update website.