The Town of Moraga’s 2023–2031 (“6th Cycle”) Housing Element provides a strategic roadmap for addressing the community’s housing needs over the next eight years. Moraga’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) rose from 229 units in the 5th cycle to 1,118 units in the 6th cycle, including 501 lower-income units. Completed jointly by Barry Miller and BAE Urban Economics, the Housing Element identifies sites and policies to support housing development while preserving Moraga’s character and natural setting.

Building on prior efforts, the Housing Element evaluates local demographics, housing conditions, and market trends, and addresses barriers to housing production, including zoning, fees, and high labor and construction costs. Programs are designed to increase development capacity and production through rezoning, permit streamlining, and adoption of objective design standards to expedite approvals. The Element also advances fair housing, with targeted strategies for Saint Mary’s College students, the local workforce, and older adults.

Community engagement was extensive, with over 1,200 residents participating in workshops, surveys, and stakeholder meetings. The project website -- “Make Moraga Home” – was regularly updated with interactive activities. The Element establishes measurable objectives to ensure Moraga meets its housing targets while fostering an inclusive, sustainable, and livable community. It was adopted and submitted for State review before the January 31, 2023 deadline and certified in September 2023. Several sites were rezoned concurrently with adoption and now have development applications pending.