In January 2023, the Concord City Council launched the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rezoning Project. The goal of this project is to facilitate community engagement and implement Objective 8.6 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element, which aims to rezone at least 20 acres in high-resource areas to expand multifamily housing options.
The State mandated process is divided into three phases: Phase 1 defined guiding principles for rezoning and assessed opportunities, and Phase 2 refined potential sites and created five rezoning alternatives. The City is now in Phase 3, analyzing the results and identifying seven sites for rezoning. Since March 2024, City staff and a hired consultant have been conducting community engagement activities, including workshops, interviews and surveys, seeking participation and input on the AFFH Rezoning Project in alignment with the Housing Element. This community feedback process has played a crucial role in making the public planning process more inclusive, promoting transparency and helping the City better understand the needs of the community.
The January 2025 staff report highlights a study session where the City Council and Planning Commission received an update on Phases 1 and 2. Based on input received from this community engagement period, the City provided guidance on which sites should be included in the AFFH overlay zone and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project.
This staff report was prepared by Concord Assistant Planner Ben Ulrey.
“The City of Concord is committed to expanding housing opportunities and ensuring fair access for all members of our community,” said Ben Ulrey. “The City’s Rezoning Project underscores our dedication to this cause and reaffirms that Concord is well-positioned to address its housing needs and achieve the goals outlined in the 2023-2031 Housing Element.”
To view the City of Concord staff report, as well as more information and examples of Housing Element Projects, check out this LINK article.
Not a LINK member yet? Sign up for free for a limited time only using the discount code PCEOREADER2025.