Key Terms at a glance: City Planning, Affordable Housing, and Climate 101
The following terms are frequently used in climate-smart housing discussions. Something missing? Have a question? Let us know! info@daviscan.org
City Planning
Builders Remedy: Legal provisions that allow developers to challenge and remedy exclusionary zoning practices that hinder the development of affordable housing. If a locality has a noncompliant Housing Element the city or county must approve the housing development project, regardless of the local zoning and especially when the development includes 20% or more set aside for affordable units. The “Builder’s Remedy” arises from the Housing Accountability Act (Government Code Section 65589.51 ; the HAA).
Building Code: Regulations that set the standards for the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings to ensure safety and quality.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act): California legislation that requires state and local agencies to identify and mitigate environmental impacts of proposed projects. This is a standard step in a development project.
Circulation: The planning and design of transportation systems within a city, including roads, public transit, and pedestrian pathways.
Downtown Specific Plan: A focused planning document that addresses the unique needs and characteristics of a city's downtown area, often with specific guidelines for development. Davis Downtown Specific plan was adopted in December of 2022.
Density
High Density: High-density housing involves more compact development with a higher number of housing units per acre. This often includes apartment buildings, condominiums, and other multi-unit structures. High-density areas are characterized by a higher concentration of people and structures.
Medium Density: Medium-density housing includes a mix of housing types, such as townhouses, duplexes, and some low-rise apartment buildings. It strikes a balance between single-family homes and more compact, multi-unit housing.
Low Density: Low-density housing typically consists of single-family homes with larger lots, providing more space between each residence. This type of development often has a suburban feel and lower population density.
EIR (Environmental Impact Report): A comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project. This is a standard step in a development project.
Form-Based Code: A type of zoning code that emphasizes the physical form and appearance of buildings and public spaces, rather than just land use.
General Plan: A comprehensive, long-term document that outlines a city's vision for future growth and development, covering aspects like land use, transportation, and housing. The City of Davis’ existing General Plan was adopted in 2001 and has been amended through 2016.
GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Emissions: Gasses, such as carbon dioxide and methane, released into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Lowering GHG emissions is part of addressing climate change.
Housing Element Plan: A component of the General Plan that addresses a city's housing needs, including plans for affordable housing.
Land Use: The categorization and regulation of different types of land within a city, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational.
Measure J/R/D (in Davis, California): The purpose of Measure J, also known as the Citizen’s Right to Vote on Future Use of Open Space and Agricultural Lands (Ordinance No. 2008), was “to establish a mechanism for direct citizen participation in land use decisions affecting City policies for compact urban form, agricultural land preservation, and an adequate housing supply to meet City needs, by providing the people of the City of Davis the right to vote, without having to evoke referenda, on General Plan Land Use Map amendments that would convert any agricultural, open space, or urban reserve lands, as designated on the Land Use Map of the City of Davis General Plan, dated August 1, 1999, to an urban or urban reserve land use designation and on any development proposal on the Covell Center or Nishi properties.” Measure J was in effect from 2000 to 2010. In 2010 city voters approved Measure R (Ordinance 2350) to extend the life of Measure J to December 2020. In 2020, voters approved Measure D which further extends Measure J through December 31, 2030.
Walkable and Bike-Friendly Neighborhoods: Design neighborhoods with walkable streets, bike lanes, and easy access to public transportation to center our streets around people (and reduce reliance on cars). These should be accessible in all areas of the community.
Water Features: Incorporate water features like fountains or small ponds, which can have a cooling effect on the surrounding area.
Zoning: The division of a city into different zones or districts, each with specific land use regulations and restrictions.
Affordable Housing
AMI (Area Median Income): The median income of a specific area, used to determine income eligibility for affordable housing programs.
Deed Restricted: Housing units with legal restrictions on resale prices or rents to ensure long-term affordability. This can be for decades or permanently.
Inclusionary Zoning: Zoning policies that require developers to include a certain percentage of affordable housing units in new developments.
Market-Rate Affordable: Housing that, while not subsidized, is attainable to some individuals or families based on the market conditions, without direct government intervention.
Project Vouchers and Tenant Vouchers (for affordable housing): Subsidies provided by the government to make housing more affordable for low-income individuals or families. Yolo County Housing is the local authority.
RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation): A state-mandated process that requires local governments to plan for housing needs at various income levels.
Climate Change
Climate change: A human-caused global problem with global and local impacts. Carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is the primary driver of recent global warming, lingers in the atmosphere for many thousands of years, and the planet (especially the ocean) takes a while to respond to warming. Even if we stopped emitting all greenhouse gasses today, global warming and climate change will continue to affect future generations. In this way, humanity is “committed” to some level of climate change. Because we are already committed to some level of climate change, responding to climate change involves a two-pronged approach:
Mitigation: Reducing emissions of and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere
Adaptation: Making modifications in behavior, development, and policy to lessen the harm of the climate change already happening
Climate-smart design combines mitigation and adaptation by focusing on methods and innovations that lower greenhouse gas emissions and also design for humans to thrive in a changing climate.
Climate justice: A social movement based on the principles that those who are most and first affected, with the fewest resources to adapt and protect themselves, and are least engaged in decision-making should be at the center of climate policy and strategies.
Climate-related displacement: Specifically used to describe the involuntary movement of people as a reaction to sudden or developing changes in climate or the occurrence of a disaster, including those which are climate-related. Also called Disaster displacement. This can happen locally and globally.