HCAOG Holds Hearing on Draft Housing Allocation Methodology for 2028 to 2037

The HCAOG Board of Directors met on November 20, 2025 at 4 30 p.m. at Eureka City Hall for a public hearing on the draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation methodology for Cycle 7, which will cover the period from 2028 to 2037. The meeting notice appeared on the HCAOG public calendar and the board packet included staff reports, data sources and proposed jurisdictional allocations, with a Zoom link and materials posted for those who could not attend in person. The hearing invited public comment both in advance and at the meeting.

HCAOG materials reiterate the role of RHNA as the state determined process to identify regional housing need and to allocate that need across local jurisdictions. The draft methodology under consideration reflects ongoing discussion of an allocation formula that would weigh jobs and population equally, using a 50 50 jobs population weighting that has been discussed previously within the regional planning process. Proposed allocations for individual jurisdictions were included in the agenda packet for review by elected officials, planning staff, developers and community organizations.

For Humboldt County residents the RHNA process has practical implications. Allocations set through RHNA inform each city and county housing element update, a legally required plan that governs zoning changes and site identification to accommodate the number and types of housing the state expects the region to plan for. The distribution of housing need influences whether communities must identify sites for higher density housing, adapt zoning rules, or prioritize affordable and workforce housing near jobs and services. In a rural and coastal county such as Humboldt, those decisions affect small cities, unincorporated communities, ecological protections, and the local economy.

The November 20 hearing provided a formal opportunity for public input before the board moves toward a final recommendation. Materials posted with the agenda packet allow residents to review the staff analysis and the underlying data that inform proposed allocations. Next steps will include further board deliberations and coordination with the state as the region finalizes its approach for Cycle 7.

As jurisdictions respond to the allocations in coming months, residents can expect local planning commissions and city councils to hold additional meetings to translate RHNA numbers into policy changes and zoning updates. Those engagements will determine how Humboldt communities balance housing needs with the countys environmental priorities and local character.