AgdaPkt 2015-10-26 Study and Joint SA PFA

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7.A. - Page 8 Alternative to Fee Payment: The ordinance allows alternatives to the payment of housing impact fees. These alternatives could include onsite affordable housing construction, contribution to offsite affordable housing, or other alternatives that meet the City's affordable housing goals. Alternative housing plans would be submitted with the primary development application and must be considered by the decision-making authority for the project. Any housing developed as part of an alternative plan must match the finishes, overall unit types, and amenities of the market-rate units. Impact Fee Use: Affordable housing funds would be spent to provide housing affordable to very low, low, and moderate income households. The City Council may adopt guidelines which prioritize how the money may be spent on renovating existing units, land purchase, or construction funding for new units. The fee must also meet the Mitigation Fee Act reporting requirements, which require annual updates on collection and expenditure of fees, as well as identification of projects for funding. Every five years, specific findings must be made regarding unspent fees with estimates for future funding commitments. GENERAL PLAN GOALS • Goal H-2 Promote, encourage, and assist in the development of housing that meets the needs of all socio-economic segments of the community. • Policy H-2.1 Pursue and maximize the use of State, federal, local, and private funding for the development, preservation and rehabilitation of housing affordable to very low, low, and moderate income households. • Policy H-2.5 Consider various avenues to ensure the provision or construction of affordable housing and other community benefits. • Program H-3 Countywide Nexus Study. Participate in the countywide Nexus study to determine a nexus and appropriate fees. Invite the public to attend public meetings to discuss the results of the nexus study. Consider results of the study in development of the new Partnership RWC program. PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT Notice was published in the Redwood City Daily Journal twice in the last 10 days, and provided to interested parties, including residential and commercial developers, housing advocates, commercial brokers, residents, businesses, and other interested community members. Notice was also provided through the City's E-News, website, and social media. Staff received a comment letter from the Builders Industry Association (BIA) and a coalition of organizations including Housing Leadership Council, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, Greenbelt Alliance, and SFPOP/PIA (Attachment 3). ALTERNATIVES 1. Consider exempting projects from the fee calculation that have a complete planning application.