Healdsburg voters approve more multi-family housing

Healdsburg voters have passed Measure P which amends the city’s growth management ordinance to allow the construction of up to 150 multifamily and income-restricted rental units over three years, or an average of 50 a year.

Measure P needed majority approval and received 54.9 percent in favor, according to results late Tuesday night.

Voters passed growth management ordinance Measure M in 2000. It limited permits for the construction of new market rate housing units to an average of 30 per year up to 90 units in a three-year period.

The 150 multifamily and income-restricted units under Measure P are in addition to the new residential units allowed under Measure M.

Multifamily rental units allowed under Measure P will be restricted to occupants who earn no more than 160 percent of the Sonoma County area median income. Families of four generally earning between $101,000 and $134,000 annually would be eligible.

Developers would be required to agree with the city of Healdsburg on that income restriction.

The Healdsburg City Council’s resolution to put Measure P on the ballot noted the shortage of workforce and “missing middle” income housing in Healdsburg and in Sonoma County after the wildfires last year.