The City of Newman shared its Housing Element Update, spanning from 2023 to 2031. This update, integral to addressing the evolving housing needs of the Newman community, is a testament to the city’s dedication to "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building for the Future." As Newman continues to grow, ensuring a diverse range of housing options for all income levels is paramount for maintaining the community’s vitality and inclusivity.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) plays a crucial role in ensuring that Newman’s housing element aligns with state housing goals and statutory requirements. The revised draft housing element, submitted on May 28, 2024, with subsequent revisions on July 22, 2024, underwent a detailed review facilitated by a conversation on June 27, 2024, between HCD and Newman’s city officials and consultants.

HCD’s review acknowledges that while Newman’s revised draft addresses many statutory requirements from the Jan. 23, 2024 review, further revisions are necessary for full compliance with State Housing Element Law. Key areas needing enhancement include:

1. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH): The housing element must thoroughly address disparities in access to transportation and incorporate these disparities as contributing factors to fair housing issues. Additional actions, such as those funded by the Caltrans Sustainable Communities Grant, should be included such as: Partnership Opportunities for Affordable Housing; Accessory Dwelling Unit Amnesty; Support Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness; and several others need geographic targeting and metrics to measure their impact effectively.

2. Inventory of Suitable Land: The element must provide a comprehensive inventory of land suitable for residential development, ensuring appropriate zoning and availability of public facilities and services to meet the locality’s housing needs across different income levels.

The Housing Element sets forth specific goals, policies, and programs to guide housing development in Newman:

1.       Facilitate Housing Construction:

·         Promote the provision of housing for all economic segments, ensuring high quality in new residential developments;

·         Maintain an adequate supply of residential land in appropriate land use designations and zoning categories to accommodate projected regional growth;

·         Strive for a mix of 75% single-family and 25% multi-family units in the housing stock;

·         Encourage residential use in and adjacent to Downtown to support the Downtown Revitalization Program;

·         Disperse affordable housing throughout the community to promote social and economic integration, with an emphasis on homeownership in new housing for low- and moderate-income households;

·         Pursue state and federal funding to develop affordable housing, collaborating with other jurisdictions and agencies when appropriate;

·         Ensure city policies, regulations, and procedures do not unnecessarily increase housing production costs;

·         Support the development of secondary residential units (ADUs) while maintaining the character of single-family neighborhoods;

·         Integrate below-market-rate units within housing developments, ensuring they are visually indistinguishable from market-rate units;

·         Collaborate with the Stanislaus County Housing Authority and other agencies to preserve lower-income housing units at risk of conversion to market-rate.

2.       Preserve and Improve Existing Housing Stock:

·         Encourage the rehabilitation of existing housing units;

·         Promote energy conservation and sustainable development practices;

·         Publicize housing needs and resources to inform and engage the community.

Newman’s previous housing element cycle (2015-2023) highlighted significant challenges, particularly in meeting the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The city issued only 56 housing permits against a target of 778 units, a shortfall that underscores the need for more effective strategies and increased housing production. For the current cycle, the RHNA has increased to 1,048 units, reflecting a substantial rise in regional housing demand.

To meet these ambitious targets, Newman plans to designate sufficient land at various densities and implement robust community engagement and outreach programs. The city’s approach includes reviewing the amount of land designated for residential use and making necessary adjustments to the General Plan to accommodate housing needs.

A cornerstone of Newman’s 6th Cycle Housing Element Update is active community involvement. The city launched a dedicated housing element update website to facilitate transparent and inclusive engagement.