Housing Element

Share Housing Element on Facebook Share Housing Element on Twitter Share Housing Element on Linkedin Email Housing Element link


In compliance with state housing law, the Town of Danville adopted its 2023-2031 Housing Element, which has been submitted to the State of California for review and certification. State law mandates communities throughout California--including Danville--to accommodate a greater number of higher density multi-family housing units, including sites that were previously designated for other types of uses in the Danville 2030 General Plan. The Town's role is not to construct housing but to identify where and how Danville will accommodate the state-assigned units for people of all income groups. For the upcoming 2023-2031 planning period, the Town is expected to accommodate a minimum of 2,241 new homes.

The Housing Element update has been developed following a lengthy public process including inviting the community to identify suggested housing sites, evaluate housing plan simulations, and presentation of the proposed Housing Element update at Planning Commission and Town Council public hearings.

Many recent changes to State law have significantly eroded local control over housing development and increased the severity of penalties for non-compliance. Securing the State's certification of the Housing Element ensures that Danville remains eligible for state funding and avoid fines of up to $600,000 per month. Most importantly, a compliant Housing Element avoids potential lawsuits, with consequences that include court mandated compliance, court suspension of local control over building permits, and court approval of housing development on the Town's half.

Concerns about the impacts of state legislation are most effectively expressed directly to our State legislators, who are: Senate Steve Glazer and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.

Subscribe to this page to stay informed about upcoming meetings and information. Learn more from the Housing Element Fact Sheet and Housing Element FAQs.


In compliance with state housing law, the Town of Danville adopted its 2023-2031 Housing Element, which has been submitted to the State of California for review and certification. State law mandates communities throughout California--including Danville--to accommodate a greater number of higher density multi-family housing units, including sites that were previously designated for other types of uses in the Danville 2030 General Plan. The Town's role is not to construct housing but to identify where and how Danville will accommodate the state-assigned units for people of all income groups. For the upcoming 2023-2031 planning period, the Town is expected to accommodate a minimum of 2,241 new homes.

The Housing Element update has been developed following a lengthy public process including inviting the community to identify suggested housing sites, evaluate housing plan simulations, and presentation of the proposed Housing Element update at Planning Commission and Town Council public hearings.

Many recent changes to State law have significantly eroded local control over housing development and increased the severity of penalties for non-compliance. Securing the State's certification of the Housing Element ensures that Danville remains eligible for state funding and avoid fines of up to $600,000 per month. Most importantly, a compliant Housing Element avoids potential lawsuits, with consequences that include court mandated compliance, court suspension of local control over building permits, and court approval of housing development on the Town's half.

Concerns about the impacts of state legislation are most effectively expressed directly to our State legislators, who are: Senate Steve Glazer and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.

Subscribe to this page to stay informed about upcoming meetings and information. Learn more from the Housing Element Fact Sheet and Housing Element FAQs.

  • Housing 301 Workshop - July 7, 2022

    Share Housing 301 Workshop - July 7, 2022 on Facebook Share Housing 301 Workshop - July 7, 2022 on Twitter Share Housing 301 Workshop - July 7, 2022 on Linkedin Email Housing 301 Workshop - July 7, 2022 link


    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Town Launches Housing Plan Simulation Tool

    Share Town Launches Housing Plan Simulation Tool on Facebook Share Town Launches Housing Plan Simulation Tool on Twitter Share Town Launches Housing Plan Simulation Tool on Linkedin Email Town Launches Housing Plan Simulation Tool link

    You are invited to help shape Danville’s future by creating your version of a housing element that achieves the minimum 2,241-unit target mandated by the State of California. Use the Housing Plan Simulation Tool to ‘add’ what you believe is the appropriate number of housing units to qualified housing sites.

    The potential housing sites shown on this tool were identified through the Housing Site Suggestion Map public input process and staff analysis. Using this tool, the objective is to create a “balanced housing plan” that can accommodate Danville’s assignment of 2,241 housing units (plus a buffer). Cities are not required to build housing, but they are required to identify the lands on which housing could be built by the private market. All sites selected must meet criteria established by the State of California and are subject to its review and approval.

    Identifying enough land to accommodate Danville’s housing assignment is a requirement of state housing law, enacted in 1969. This ‘site inventory’ analysis is part of the Draft Danville 2023-2031 Housing Element (“Draft Housing Element”), which is now available for a public review period that will conclude on August 1, 2022.

    The release of this draft marks the beginning of many public review opportunities on the Draft Housing Element, leading to public hearings before the Planning Commission in December 2022 and final by the Town Council in January 2023.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Recently Asked Questions Regarding The Housing Site Suggestion Map

    Share Recently Asked Questions Regarding The Housing Site Suggestion Map on Facebook Share Recently Asked Questions Regarding The Housing Site Suggestion Map on Twitter Share Recently Asked Questions Regarding The Housing Site Suggestion Map on Linkedin Email Recently Asked Questions Regarding The Housing Site Suggestion Map link

    We’ve received several great questions about the community suggested sites and wanted to address those.

    Does a suggested site automatically become a future housing site? The answer is: No. Only sites that meet State established criteria could be considered a potential Housing Element site. One of the criteria is development viability, such as (but not limited to) the willingness of the property owner to potentially develop future housing on it. For example, a suggestion to develop HOA-owned open space may not be viable if the HOA does not support it.

    Can the list of the sites be downloaded? The answer is two-fold. In a few months, a list of all suggested sites and a determination of whether they meet State criteria will be made available. In the meantime, all sites suggested by the public can be viewed by clicking on the Housing Site Suggestion Map located at https://danvilletowntalks.org/housingelement?tool=map#tool_tab

    What’s next? Town staff is currently evaluating all suggested sites against the State criteria. All qualified sites suggested by the public and those carried over from prior housing elements will be featured on an online Housing Plan Simulation tool. Through this tool, community members can create and recommend their own ‘housing plan’ with assigned units and densities on various sites. Look for this tool - and workshops on how to use it - in June 2022.

    Please feel free to ask questions by either posting in the Question & Comments section of the project page or by emailing talkhousing@danville.ca.gov.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Community Suggests Housing Sites to Consider

    Share Community Suggests Housing Sites to Consider on Facebook Share Community Suggests Housing Sites to Consider on Twitter Share Community Suggests Housing Sites to Consider on Linkedin Email Community Suggests Housing Sites to Consider link

    At the close of the Housing Site Suggestion Map engagement process in April 2022, community members had dropped 281 ‘pins’ or suggestions on 99 separate sites to consider for housing development. As illustrated by the map, the most recommended sites are located along the I-680 corridor as well as major roadways such as San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Camino Tassajara.


    A staff analysis is currently underway to evaluate all suggested sites against criteria published by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (State HCD). Sites that meet State HCD criteria will be featured on the next online Housing Plan Simulation tool. Through this tool, community members can create and recommend their own ‘housing plan’ with assigned units and densities on various sites. Look for this tool - and workshops on how to use it - in late June 2022.


    Subscribe to this page to receive project updates.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Staff Discuss Housing Element Update on Town Talks with the Mayor

    Share Staff Discuss Housing Element Update on Town Talks with the Mayor on Facebook Share Staff Discuss Housing Element Update on Town Talks with the Mayor on Twitter Share Staff Discuss Housing Element Update on Town Talks with the Mayor on Linkedin Email Staff Discuss Housing Element Update on Town Talks with the Mayor link

    In this month's Town Talks installment, Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich hosted Chief of Planning David Crompton, Deputy Development Services Director Diane Friedmann, and Administrative Analyst Cat Bravo to discuss the latest on Danville's Housing Element Update and the current phase of community outreach. Mayor Arnerich and Town staff answered questions from residents as Danville confronts the task of planning for at least 2,241 new homes in the next eight-year Housing Element cycle (2023-2031).

    Town Talks with the Mayor is held on the first Friday of each month via Zoom. For details of upcoming events and previous videos, please visit www.DanvilleTownTalks.org/town-talks-with-the-mayor.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 28, 2022

    Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 28, 2022 on Facebook Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 28, 2022 on Twitter Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 28, 2022 on Linkedin Email Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 28, 2022 link


    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 17, 2022

    Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 17, 2022 on Facebook Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 17, 2022 on Twitter Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 17, 2022 on Linkedin Email Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 17, 2022 link


    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Penalties for Non-Compliance

    Share Penalties for Non-Compliance on Facebook Share Penalties for Non-Compliance on Twitter Share Penalties for Non-Compliance on Linkedin Email Penalties for Non-Compliance link

    Frequently, after delivering a presentation about the Housing Element, we will field a question that is akin to: “What happens if Danville chooses not to comply with State-imposed standards and adopt a Housing Element that charts our own vision for the future?”

    It’s a fair question. The answer, unfortunately, is rather ominous.

    Penalties for non-compliance include court-imposed fines of up to $600,000/month and potential lawsuits. Beyond the cost of fines and legal defense, the courts are now authorized to mandate compliance. What does that mean? It means that the courts can approve certain housing development on the Town’s behalf. In addition, the courts can suspend the Town’s ability to issue building permits.

    For those who are interested in the details, we’ve attached a memo prepared for the Encinitas City Council by one of California’s top legal experts on housing issues. A housing ‘enforcement’ flow chart, acquired from the State HCD website, is also included.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 9, 2022

    Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 9, 2022 on Facebook Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 9, 2022 on Twitter Share Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 9, 2022 on Linkedin Email Housing Element 201 Workshop - March 9, 2022 link


    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
  • Town to Launch Next Phase of Community Input Activities for the Housing Element Update

    Share Town to Launch Next Phase of Community Input Activities for the Housing Element Update on Facebook Share Town to Launch Next Phase of Community Input Activities for the Housing Element Update on Twitter Share Town to Launch Next Phase of Community Input Activities for the Housing Element Update on Linkedin Email Town to Launch Next Phase of Community Input Activities for the Housing Element Update link

    The community is invited to contribute ideas on where new housing could be accommodated by dropping ‘pins’ on an online “Housing Site Suggestion Map.” This map will be available at www.DanvilleTownTalks.org/HousingElement from March – April 2022. Community members can learn how to use this online interactive tool at any of the “Housing 201” Workshops. Use the registration feature on this site to secure your spot!


    All sites suggested will be evaluated against the California Department of Housing and Community Development site criteria. Feedback will be used to inform a list of potential housing opportunity sites in the next phase of the Housing Element update effort.

    loader image
    Didn't receive confirmation?
    Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.
    Submitting your comment
    Cancel
Page last updated: 17 May 2024, 12:07 PM