Rio Dell’s Planning Commission has begun reviewing the city’s housing obligations for 2027-2035, with city staff telling commissioners that the next Housing Element cycle will require the city to identify opportunities for 95 housing sites.
Community Development Director Kevin Caldwell said the requirement includes 40 sites for low-income housing and 55 for moderate- and above-moderate-income housing, according to the commission’s Sept. 22 meeting minutes. The staff presentation also listed the associated housing allocation as seven acutely low-income units, 11 extremely low-income units, six very low-income units, 16 low-income units, 10 moderate-income units and 45 above-moderate-income units.
Caldwell told the commission that Rio Dell is required to provide land and opportunities for construction, not build the housing itself. He said most low-income housing would likely require subsidies, other than some junior accessory dwelling units.
The locations discussed as possible ways to meet the obligation included Dinsmore Plateau, a church property on Rigby, a parcel on Belleview Avenue and a parcel off Painter Street. The minutes do not identify those properties as approved sites, and the commission did not take formal action on the Housing Element update.
Commissioners also discussed whether Riverside Estates Phase II could be developed, with Caldwell citing secondary access as a possible issue and saying engineering and fire officials would need to address the question. The discussion included manufactured housing, resident-owned mobilehome spaces, accessory dwelling units and tiny homes, which Caldwell said remain subject to California building codes.
The Sept. 22 meeting was a discussion item in the commission’s agenda. The city’s next steps include developing a site inventory and continuing review before any Housing Element is formally adopted.
