Town of Paradise Housing Element Update

Urban Planning Partners was enlisted by the Town of Paradise to assist with the preparation of the Town’s 6th Cycle Housing Element.

The Town of Paradise has traditionally been known as a small rural town on the outskirts of Chico. Meeting the housing needs of Paradise’s residents and the Town’s share of regional housing needs is an important goal for the Town, and the 6th Cycle Housing Element update comes at a critical time for the Town. In 2018, Paradise and some surrounding areas in Butte County faced one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. The number of people drawn to the region over the past 30 years has steadily increased, but the fire caused an enormous housing shortage. This fire, known as the 2018 Camp Fire, resulted in the loss of 85 lives, nearly 19,000 structures, the burning of more than 150,000 acres over two weeks, and $9 billion in insurance claims. The rebuild process is an integral part of this Housing Element to ensure that housing of various types and sizes is created for residents across all income levels, ages, and abilities to have a place to call home.

As part of the project, the UPP team assisted the Town of Paradise in creating a roadmap for how to meet the Town’s growth and housing challenges, identifying what the existing housing conditions and community needs are, reiterating goals, and creating a plan for more housing. Since the last Housing Element update in 2014, dozens of statewide housing bills have passed, with goals ranging from addressing segregation, design standards, and resiliency. UPP ensured that this Housing Element will include goals, policies, and programs that guide the community to meet these new requirements and rebuild safely, fairly, and consistently with the Town’s character.