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What does it mean to be “prohousing”? For Santa Barbara County, it includes applying for a state designation that would increase funding opportunities for local housing and infrastructure projects but could limit local control on development policies. On Tuesday, the county’s Board of Supervisors approved an application for the California Department of Housing’s Prohousing Designation Program. Supervisors Laura Capps, Joan Hartmann, and Roy Lee formed the May 20 board, and all voted “yes.”
In a presentation to the supervisors, Lucille Boss, the county’s housing programs manager, said the program would adhere to the 2023 Housing Element update; the county says there will be no changes as a direct result of this designation.