Del Mar City Council members approved housing-element amendments Sept. 8 that revise the city's process for disability-related housing requests and update terminology for several specialized housing and care uses.
The action followed an August first reading and a second reading in September, according to a council agenda report cited by The San Diego Union-Tribune. The amendments address reasonable accommodations and the city's definitions for uses including supportive housing, transitional housing and emergency shelters.
A reasonable accommodation can allow an exception to an otherwise applicable housing rule when it is needed because of a disability or another qualifying need, the paper reports. Under Del Mar's revised process, an owner seeking an accommodation for the owner or a tenant must submit a written request identifying the accommodation, explaining why it is needed, and providing property and contact information.
Clearer Rules for Applications and Appeals
The amendments address three administrative questions: how an accommodation request is submitted, how the city evaluates it and how a decision can be appealed. The changes are tied to the city's housing-element objective of maintaining a mix of housing options for different income levels and housing needs, according to the council report.
Del Mar also says it has prepared local policies and regulations implementing that housing goal, and has identified fair housing-related resources for the public. The city developed housing element policies promoting accessible housing opportunities through annual fair housing trainings, according to the report.
New Definitions Cover Shelters, Care Facilities
The council also revised the code's treatment of residential care, supportive housing, transitional housing, low-barrier navigation centers, emergency shelters and adult and child day care. The amendments add definitions for adult and child day care, residential care facilities, emergency shelters and low-barrier navigation centers, while clarifying the terms supportive housing and transitional housing.
The update replaces older day care and community care terminology and removes the definition of “rest home” altogether, the outlet reports. The North Commercial zone remains the only area in Del Mar where an emergency shelter is permitted. Del Mar's 2021-2029 Housing Element sets out the city's housing policies.
What State Law Requires
California sets the framework, while Del Mar's zoning code supplies local procedures and site-specific rules. According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, state law requires local governments to remove constraints to housing for people with disabilities or provide reasonable accommodations. HCD also says Government Code Section 65583(a)(7) requires housing elements to analyze special housing needs, including those of people with disabilities and people in need of emergency shelter, as described in its guidance on people with disabilities. Del Mar permits emergency shelters in the North Commercial zone.
How Del Mar Compares to Other San Diego Cities
Del Mar isn't alone in wrestling with how to define and site these kinds of housing uses. Coronado's housing element materials also reference supportive housing, group homes and reasonable accommodation applications, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
The county's own housing zoning update describes a low barrier navigation center as an accessible, temporary, service-enriched shelter designed to help homeless individuals and families quickly obtain housing.
