Nearly three years into California’s eight-year housing cycle, Tiburon has fulfilled just 8.45% of its state housing mandate.
The Town Council received an update about its progress on the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, the state housing edict, during its meeting on Feb. 18. The progress report came at the request of Mayor Jon Welner, who sought a “mid-stream” check on the town’s housing compliance as it approaches a mid-cycle state review period.
California has enacted more housing laws and expanded requirements in recent years to meet housing needs across the state. As part of this process, municipalities have seen a jump in the number of residences they are required to allow this housing cycle.
Tiburon is required to permit 639 new residences by 2031. In the previous eight-year housing cycle, the number was 78.
“That tells you how serious California is getting with Tiburon adding housing,” Shari Meads, director of community development, told the council.
To stay on track with its overall goals, the town estimates it would have to permit around 80 residences per year. Out of the 639 new dwellings the town has to permit, 193 must be for very low-income households.
The town has approved 54 residences so far since the start of this cycle in 2023, including three houses and 51 additional dwellings. Four of the residences are categorized as very low-income households and account for about 2% of the town’s very low-income housing accommodation requirements.
In comparison, the town has met around 28% of its moderate-income housing requirements thus far, permitting 26 out of the 93 residences required in that category.
“Tiburon experiences a lot of demolitions and rebuilds,” said Meads. “Those do not count because it is not new housing.”
Meads said the California Department of Housing and Community Development is expected to evaluate the town’s housing progress at the midway point of the cycle in July 2027. The department could order corrective actions if it determines the town is not in compliance.
“There is a likely midcycle review coming, but the town is doing everything it can to comply, and if there are issues we will be talking about them with the state,” Welner said at the meeting.
Vice Mayor Isaac Nikfar looked ahead to future requirements for the town at the meeting, asking what Tiburon could expect in the next housing cycle.
“The sixth cycle is 639; the seventh cycle, do we anticipate that to be, I don’t know, six million?” he joked. “Or do we expect that to be something more reasonable like in the 100, 200, 300 range?”
“I would be surprised if it went down,” said Meads.