For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be interpreted as set forth in this section.
"Affordable units"means units within a residential development which will be reserved for sale or rent to, and made available at an affordable rent or affordable ownership cost to very low, lower or moderate income households.
"Child care facility,"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(h)(4), means a child day care facility other than a family day care home, including, but not limited to, infant centers, preschools, extended day care facilities, and school-age child care centers.
"Density bonus,"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(f), means a density increase over the otherwise maximum allowable residential density as of the date of application by the applicant to the city.
"Development standard,"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(o)(1), includes a site or construction condition, including, but not limited to, a height limitation, a setback requirement, a floor area ratio, an on-site open-space requirement, or a parking ratio that applies to a residential development pursuant to any ordinance, general plan element, specific plan, or other local condition, law, policy, resolution, or regulation.
"Granting authority"means the building official, director, zoning administrator, planning commission, or city council, as the case may be.
"Household income levels"means households whose gross incomes do not exceed the qualifying very low, lower and moderate income limits established in 25 C.C.R. Section
6932, and amended periodically based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") estimate of median income in Marin County, and as adjusted by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Pursuant to 25 C.C.R. Sections
6926,
6928 and
6930, these income limits are equivalent to the following:
A. "Very low income household" means persons and families whose gross incomes do not exceed 50% of area median income, adjusted for household size appropriate for the unit and other factors determined by HUD.
B. "Lower income household" means persons and families whose gross incomes do not exceed 80% of area median income, adjusted for household size appropriate for the unit and other factors determined by HUD.
C. "Moderate income household" means persons and families whose gross incomes do not exceed 120% of area median income, adjusted for household size appropriate for the unit and other factors determined by HUD.
"Housing development,"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(i), means a development project for five or more residential units. For the purposes of this chapter, "housing development" also includes a subdivision or common interest development, as defined in Civil Code Section
4100, as approved by the city, and consists of residential units or unimproved residential lots and either a project to substantially rehabilitate and convert an existing commercial building to residential use or the substantial rehabilitation of an existing multifamily dwelling, as defined in Government Code Section
65863.4(d), where the result of the rehabilitation would be a net increase in available residential units. For the purpose of calculating a density bonus, the residential units shall be on contiguous sites that are the subject of one development application, but do not have to be based upon individual subdivision maps or parcels. The density bonus shall be permitted in geographic areas of the housing development other than the areas where the units for the lower income households are located.
"Lower income student"as defined in Section 65915(o)(4) means a student who has a household income and asset level that does not exceed the level for Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B award recipients as set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) of Section
69432.7 of the Education Code. The eligibility of a student to occupy a unit for lower income students under this section shall be verified by an affidavit, award letter, or letter of eligibility provided by the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled or by the California Student Aid Commission that the student receives or is eligible for financial aid, including an institutional grant or fee waiver from the college or university, the California Student Aid Commission, or the federal government.
"Maximum allowable residential density,"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(o)(2), means the maximum number of units allowed under the zoning ordinance, specific plan or land use element of the general plan, or if a range of density is permitted, means the maximum allowable density for the specific zoning range and land use element of the general plan applicable to the project. Where the density allowed under the zoning ordinance is inconsistent with the density allowed under the land use element of the general plan, the general plan density shall prevail.
"Shared housing building"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(o)(7)(A), means a residential or mixed-use structure, with five or more shared housing units and one or more common kitchens and dining areas designed for permanent residence of more than 30 days by its tenants. The kitchens and dining areas within the shared housing building shall be able to adequately accommodate all residents. A "shared housing building" may include other dwelling units that are not shared housing units, provided that those dwelling units do not occupy more than 25% of the floor area of the shared housing building. A shared housing building may include 100% shared housing units.
"Shared housing unit"as defined in Government Code Section
65915(o)(7)(B) means one or more habitable rooms, not within another dwelling unit, that includes a bathroom, sink, refrigerator, and microwave, is used for permanent residence, that meets the "minimum room area" specified in Section R304 of the California Residential Code (Part 2.5 of Title
24 of the California Code of Regulations), and complies with the definition of "guestroom" in Section R202 of the California Residential Code.
(Ord. 009-2015 § 2; Ord. 001-2024, 2/20/2024)