This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
On Tuesday, the County’s Board of Supervisors took steps to implement a housing marketing program aimed at people who work and live on the South Coast and Santa Ynez region. They also gave preliminary approval for updating the county’s inclusionary housing code, allowing housing projects to split their market-rate and affordable housing units onto two nearby properties.
As initially presented to the board, the county’s marketing program would have required developers of market-rate projects on the South Coast to create a plan for marketing to locals and submit it to the county. Developers with projects that include at least five new units would have to market to local people for 21 days before marketing to general audiences. The county would also require that developers advertise in a local newspaper and on social media platforms for at least six weeks, as well as conduct outreach to local employers, housing organizations, and jurisdictions…