For the purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall be interpreted as set forth in this section unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

    “Affordable housing agreement” means the agreement made between the applicant and the county governing the regulation and monitoring of the affordable units.

    “Amenities” means interior amenities including, but not limited to, fireplaces, garbage disposals, dishwashers, cabinets and storage space and bathrooms in excess of one.

    “Applicant” means any person, firm, partnership, association, joint venture, corporation, or any entity or combination of entities which seeks a density bonus or incentives or both under this chapter.

    “Density bonus” means an increase of at least twenty-five (25) percent in the number of dwelling units authorized for a particular parcel of land beyond the otherwise maximum allowable residential authorized by the county zoning ordinance, Title 17 of this code.

    “Density bonus unit” means a residential dwelling unit authorized as a result of the granting of a density bonus.

    “First time home buyer” means a person who has not held an ownership interest in a principal residence in the three years prior to the purchase of a restricted unit.

    “Household” means one person living alone or two or more persons sharing a residential dwelling.

    Incentive. An incentive may include any of the following:

    1.    Approval of a mixed-use development if commercial, office, industrial, or other land uses will help to offset the costs of the housing development. A mixed-use development will be approved only if the commercial, office, industrial, or other land uses are compatible with the surrounding land uses, the county general plan, and applicable specific plans;

    2.    Government-assisted financing, including, but not limited to, mortgage revenue bonds issued by the county;

    3.    A reduction in site development standards, but only if the overall quality of the development is not lessened. All developments must also meet any design guidelines codified by the county at a future date;

    4.    Other incentives proposed by the developer or the county which result in identifiable cost reductions, including but not limited to:

    a.    Waiver or reduction of certain county fees applicable to restricted units in a housing development,

    b.    Reduction of interior amenities,

    c.    Priority processing of a housing development which provides restricted units. Upon certification that the application is complete and eligible for priority processing, the housing development will be reviewed by the planning director in advance of all nonpriority items. The housing development review will be completed and a recommendation will be made by the planning director whether to approve the housing development within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of the completed application. The planning director may give written approval to extend the one hundred twenty (120) day period.

    “Lower income household” means a household whose gross income is eighty (80) percent or less of the Alameda County median income adjusted for household size, computed pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5; if the Health and Safety Code definition is amended, this definition shall be deemed to be amended to the same effect.

    “Median income” means the median income for Alameda County, published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

    “Planning director” means the Alameda County planning director or his or her designee.

    “Resale controls” means a resale restriction placed on restricted units by which the price of such units and/or the age or income of the purchaser will be restricted to ensure affordability and occupancy by very low or lower income households or senior households.

    “Restricted unit” means a residential dwelling unit to be sold or rented at a price or rent affordable to a very low or lower income household, or sold or rented to a senior household.

    “Senior household” means as established by Civil Code Section 51.3, a household in which at least one member is at least sixty-two (62) years of age, or a household with at least one member who is at least fifty-five (55) years of age in the case of a housing development with more than one hundred fifty (150) units.

    “Term of affordability” means the time during which restricted units in a housing development must remain as restricted units.

    “Unit type” means a dwelling unit with a defined floor area and a designated number of bedrooms.

    “Very low income household” means a household whose gross income is fifty (50) percent or less of the Alameda County median income adjusted for household size, computed pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5. (Ord. 93-5 § 1 (part): prior gen. code §§ 8-402--8-402.17)