Lompoc Unified School District

Our staff is an invaluable resource, and housing is a major recruitment and retention barrier for incoming and existing staff. In the spring 2024 survey of LUSD employees, 81% of the 532 LUSD respondents agreed that “The high cost of housing negatively impacts the district’s ability to retain and recruit  employees.” The need for affordable housing in general, and for district employees, is an increasing need across the State. New state legislation reduces planning and zoning barriers for school districts to develop employee housing. This has spurred even more public school districts to pursue employee housing. We believe that this investment is necessary for our staff, students, families, and our community. 

A public-private partnership. We will rely on public-private partnerships to develop, maintain, and run LUSD employee housing. We had the chance to visit several other public school district employee housing projects, and we’ve been inspired by the quality of the housing, the positive impact on recruitment and retention and the community. We’ve also had a chance to see how other districts have financed their employee housing projects, most commonly with the use of a General Obligation bond and Certificates of Participation. Lompoc plans to use a public-private partnerships to fund our project.  We will not use any bond or general funds. 

Yes. We understand that tenant satisfaction is essential in any housing development to sustain long-term viability. This is particularly important with employee housing because the District has an ongoing relationship with its employees, and dissatisfaction could affect staff morale. The District is committed to offering LUSD employees quality housing options at below-market rates.

During the discovery phase, the District visited employee housing projects in other school districts in Northern and Southern California, all of which were high quality. These visits helped inform the District’s understanding of what is possible. If this initiative moves forward, the District’s intention would be to support the development of high-quality housing for LUSD employees that is consistent with the quality and character of the surrounding community and reflects the District’s commitment to being a good neighbor.

Developing employee housing is a long-term endeavor that involves future District decisions, potential regulatory review, and partnership agreements. At this time, no timeline has been established for when housing would become available.

Acknowledging the range of needs identified by staff in the survey in spring 2024, we anticipate offering a variety of housing options (e.g., studios, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units). We will be soliciting more information from staff in another survey in late spring 2025.

We will be seeking input from staff about amenities through a staff survey in late spring 2025. Once we have a compiled list, we will share staff input with the developer. Some interior amenities we have seen at other employee housing projects include:  various community spaces, laundry facilities, child-friendly areas, and storage spaces.  Exterior amenities we have seen at other employee housing projects include:  walking paths, BBQ areas, playgrounds, and areas for dogs.

The District’s intent is to make workforce housing opportunities available to all LUSD employees, both classified and certificated. Because demand may exceed the number of available units, eligibility and tenant selection criteria would be developed in the future by a third-party housing partner, not by the District, through a transparent process.

We are committed to providing below-market housing for LUSD employees. At this time, we do not have information about the cost. This will come later in the process. 

The District has identified the 4010 Jupiter Avenue property as one location that may warrant further consideration based on preliminary feasibility work. The district is now exploring next steps to determine whether and how to move forward with this location. Other district-owned sites may also be evaluated as part of this process. No final decision has been made regarding site selection.

LUSD partnered with the Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) to guide the process. Through a competitive selection, RRM Design Group was chosen to complete the feasability study for its expertise in housing design, legislation, and public engagement.

The studies conducted by RRM Design Group found that building a workforce housing community of approximately 150 to 200 units on the Jupiter Avenue site is highly feasible and promising.

The analysis included:

• A market study confirming strong demand for affordable employee housing.
• Preliminary environmental and traffic assessments showed no major barriers; any future project may be subject to further analysis. 
• Reviews of biological and cultural resources confirming site suitability.
• A site-planning evaluation identifying layout options that would fit well with the neighborhood.

Overall, the findings support moving forward with the next steps in planning and community engagement. 

Yes. We are committed to developing employee housing that is safe, high-quality, and below market. In the spring 2024 LUSD Employee Housing Survey, staff identified safety as a high priority for employee housing. We agree. We will do everything we can to ensure that safety is central to the housing project. 

New state laws such as AB 2295, AB 1021, and AB 130 streamline the development of multi-family housing on school-owned property and simplify environmental review, making projects like this more achievable for districts across California.

Supporting Maple High School students and staff remains one of our highest priorities. While the Jupiter Avenue site is being considered for the Workforce Housing project, no final decisions have been made about relocation.

If the project moves forward, the district is exploring several options to ensure Maple continues to thrive in a safe, supportive, and well-equipped learning environment. One option under consideration includes the use of classroom space at Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc campus, which could create exciting opportunities for Maple students to access college resources and courses.

LUSD is committed to engaging with Maple staff, students, and families throughout this process. Their voices, needs, and ideas will guide every step as plans continue to develop.