Affordable Housing and Pocket Neighborhood Development Feasibility Studies

Solano County, located in Northern California between the Bay Area and Sacramento regions, is a diverse and growing community that spans both urban centers and rich agricultural lands. With a population of over 450,000, the County encompasses seven incorporated cities and extensive unincorporated areas, many of which maintain a strong agricultural identity. Unincorporated Solano County is known for its commitment to preserving open space and agricultural lands while also striving to meet the evolving needs of its residents.

Like many counties across California, Solano faces significant challenges in addressing housing affordability, particularly for low and moderate income households. In response to statewide housing mandates and local priorities, the County is proactively seeking strategies to expand its housing options while remaining consistent with long-standing land use policies and values. As part of this effort, Solano County is interested in exploring innovative, community-oriented housing models that provide alternatives to traditional single-family subdivisions and large multifamily developments.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) invites qualified planning consultants to assist the County in evaluating the feasibility of two distinct housing approaches: compact, small-scale pocket neighborhoods / cottage housing, and larger-scale affordable housing developments on strategically selected sites within the unincorporated areas. These studies will help inform future planning decisions, identify potential implementation pathways, and support the County’s long-term goal of providing diverse, attainable housing choices that reflect both the needs of the community and the character of the region.

As part of the 2008 General Plan update, the Solano County Board of Supervisors adopted a new Agriculture Element, which was subsequently approved by voters in the November 2008 election. This update introduced a dedicated chapter focused on agriculture, an industry that occupies approximately 67 percent of the County’s land area. Agriculture plays a vital role in Solano County’s economy and is a key part of its identity. It is the most extensive land use in the County, contributing to regional economic health and prosperity and the area’s visual character.

The General Plan expresses a long-term vision to preserve and support agricultural uses. The Agriculture Element serves as a central location for the County’s agricultural goals and policies. In addition, the element includes Policy AG.P-33, which provides a controlled mechanism for converting limited areas of agricultural land to residential use in order to meet state housing requirements.

Policy AG.P-33 permits the redesignation of up to 50 acres of agriculturally designated land per calendar year to allow for the development of housing that serves low-income and very-low-income households. Any such conversion must meet all the required findings outlined in Exhibit A.

Solano County is subject to the Housing Element adopted in 2024, which requires the County to plan for the development of 315 housing units between January 31, 2023, and January 31, 2031. Of these, 80 units must serve very-low-income households, 50 units must serve low-income households, and 56 units must serve moderate-income households. Policy AG.P-33 supports the County’s strategy to meet very-low and low-income housing targets while upholding its commitment to protecting agricultural land.

In alignment with these goals, on November 26, 2024, Solano County staff held a public meeting to discuss potential applications to the State of California Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The meeting reviewed eligible CDBG activities and invited input from residents regarding local housing and community development needs. Local builders, developers, and agency representatives participated in the meeting and provided constructive feedback on two proposed applications: one for a Pocket Neighborhood/Cottage Housing Development Feasibility Study focused on low-to-moderate income households, and another for a more traditional affordable housing model through an Affordable Housing Development Site Feasibility Study. Based on the positive community response, County staff presented the proposed applications to the Solano County Board of Supervisors. On December 10, 2024, the Board approved the applications as part of the consent agenda, and staff successfully submitted both applications prior to the December 30, 2024, deadline.

The scope of this request is focused on the two (2) applications submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Pocket Neighborhood/Cottage Housing Feasibility Study, and the Affordable Housing Development Site Feasibility Study. While the Pocket Neighborhood / Cottage Housing Feasibility Study is not required to meet the findings outlined in Policy AG. P-33, the Affordable Development Site Feasibility Study will need to be conducted in accordance with those findings as detailed in Exhibit A.