Editor’s note: During an update to the board of supervisors at their June 11 meeting Melanie Beretti, acting Chief of Planning, announced that all of the Aromas sites had been removed by the staff from consideration as appropriate for potential housing development after considering public input. Lea este articulo en español aquí.
The designation by the County of Monterey of four sites in Aromas for consideration as possible high-density housing, which could result in as many as 1,347 units in the city over the next eight years, is drawing criticism from District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church.
Church told BenitoLink that he would oppose the inclusion of the sites in the 2023-31 6th Cycle Housing Element, part of the General Plan that is being considered at the June 11 supervisors meeting in Salinas.
The population of Aromas in 2020 was 2609, and based on the average California household, should those units be built, it would add 3,960 new residents. Aromas is located in three counties: Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito.
Including the sites as part of the state-allotted Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for Monterey County would create a path for more housing in the city. “When I was notified that the four properties in Aromas were included in the draft,” Church said, “I expressed strong concern that this was not an appropriate place for potential developments of this density and size.”
The Housing Element and the RHNA are state requirements to identify potential sites and encourage affordable housing to respond to California’s growing needs. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) sets the goals after consultation with the Department of Finance and the local Council of Governments, leaving the county to identify areas where those units may be built.
On August 21, 2021, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments was notified by the HCD that the county’s RHNA called for a total of 33,274 units over the next eight years, with the following proposed breakdown:
- Very-Low Income – 7,868 units
- Low Income – 5,146 units
- Moderate Income – 6,167 units
- Above-Moderate Income – 14,093 units
Aromas has the following proposed breakdown:
- Very-Low Income – 97 units
- Low Income – 47 units
- Moderate Income – 531 units
- Above-Moderate Income – 672 units
The allotments appear to place a heavier burden on Aromas, which is unincorporated, than some other cities in the county. The city of Monterey, for example, with a 2020 population of 30,040, has an allotment of 3,654 units. Aromas is just 8.6% the size of Monterey, but its allotment is almost one-third the size. Each incorporated city is responsible for its own housing element. The county board of supervisors are responsible for the unincorporated areas.
Inclusion in the Housing Element does not guarantee that the properties will be developed, and neither the state nor the county can compel its use for housing. Any decision to develop would rest solely with the property owner.
Church said he believes there is little chance of seeing houses on those properties in the immediate future.
“I have heard of no property owner who wishes to develop any of these four sites,” Church wrote. “On the contrary, I have heard from at least one property owner that they have no desire to do so. From discussions on Wednesday at the Planning Commission, it is my understanding that the Aromas sites were removed.”
Church said if the sites have not been removed, he will move that they are. According to the latest map on the Monterey County website, the sites are still listed in the plan.
RHNA sites in Aromas:
Site 14: 250 Aromas Road
Not considered vacant; projection does not include removal of existing unit
45.58 acres (9.71 developable) projected to yield 98 total units:
- 38 very low
- 24 low
- 36 moderate
Current zoning is low-density residential (2.5 units per acre)
A high-density housing rezone (20 units per acre) is assumed
Site 55: 555 Carpenteria Road
Not considered vacant; projection does not include removal of existing unit
5.74 acres (4.76 developable) projected to yield 47 total units:
- 3 very low
- 3 low
- 4 moderate
- 37 above-moderate
Current zoning is low-density residential (1 unit per acre)
A high-density housing rezone (20 units per acre) is assumed
Site 56: 19210 Pioneer Place
67.1 acres projected to yield 672 total units:
- 41 very low
- 41 low
- 54 moderate
- 536 above-moderate
Considered by Monterey County to be a “strong candidate for farmworker housing”
Current zoning is low-density residential (2.5 units per acre)
A high-density housing rezone (20 units per acre) is assumed
Site 57: 570 Carpenteria Road
Not considered vacant; projection does not include removal of existing unit.
54.53 acres (53.1 developable) projected to yield 531 total units:
- 32 very low
- 32 low
- 43 moderate
- 424 above-moderate
Current zoning is low-density residential (2.5 units per acre)
A high-density housing rezone (20 units per acre) is assumed
Church encourages interested residents to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on June 11 or submit responses directly to the supervisors by that date.
District 1 – Supervisor Luis Alejo
District 2 – Supervisor Glenn Church
District 3 – Supervisor Chris Lopez
District 4 – Supervisor Wendy Root Askew
District 5 – Supervisor Mary Adams
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