The State of California requires cities to update their Housing Elements every eight years, with each period referred to as a “cycle.” Barry served as San Leandro’s Housing Element consultant for three consecutive cycles, from 1999 through 2016. Work on the third and fifth cycles was completed concurrently with the City’s General Plan updates, also managed by Barry. This integrated approach ensured seamless coordination between the two efforts and resulted in cost savings through the preparation of a single Environmental Impact Report covering both documents.

Barry’s responsibilities included designing and implementing community outreach materials; updating housing data and needs assessments; evaluating regulatory and non-regulatory constraints; identifying and mapping housing opportunity sites; and revising policies and action programs to respond to changing conditions and emerging issues. The evolving policies and programs in these Housing Elements reflect shifting community attitudes, including growing support for higher-density development and increased recognition of the urgent need for affordable and “missing middle” housing. Many of these policies and programs were carried forward into the City’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element, which is currently in effect.