Ascent led the preparation of the City’s sixth cycle Housing Element. Folsom was assigned a much higher Regional Housing Needs Allocation, particularly the lower-income RHNA (70 percent increase). Ascent staff worked closely with City staff, landowners, and other stakeholders to develop a rezone strategy focused on increasing housing capacity at light rail stations, along the city’s primary commercial corridor, and in a newly developing town center. We led all aspects of the project, including a major update to the sites inventory to reflect new sites created through the recent General Plan update and a new set of policies and programs to address stakeholder input received during focus group meetings. Ascent created a branded project website and hosted a virtual community workshop on the website, which included a filmed presentation and an interactive survey.
Throughout the process, Ascent and City staff held study sessions with the City Council to gather early feedback on the rezone strategy and other key policy decisions. Ascent also facilitated early check-in meetings with HCD staff to present the preliminary sites inventory and solicit feedback to ensure the approach was acceptable to HCD upon the Housing Element’s submittal for review. Following adoption, we continued to assist the City with General Plan, specific plan, and zoning amendments to increase housing capacity.


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