AgdaPkt 2006-12-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT 8A Page 1 To the HQl10ratde Mayor a:nd aUy Council From the City Manager December 4, 2006 Subject Study Session - Housing Policy Considerations for Redwood City Recommendation No Council action required at this time. However, staff is seeking Council input on the following discussion items: A. Consider and discuss housing affordability policy questions not specifically addressed in the Draft Downtown Precise Plan. B. Provide broad "next steps" direction to staff for working with the Housing & Human Concerns Committee and the Planning Commission for updating the General Plan Housing Element. Background Staff wants to provide time for the City Council to begin discussing these important topics, sharing your perspective with your colleagues, and suggesting a process to eventually reach good policy decisions. For broader context and more in-depth background, the following attachments are provided: Memorandum to the City Council - Housing Affordability, and Housing Affordability Policy Decision Check List. Staffwill provide a very brief introduction at the study session that addresses the following topics, and be available for any questions the Council may have: 1. Update on the public review of the Draft Downtown Precise Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report, including the public outreach process (i.e., Planning Commission meetings, tutorials, "road show" presentations, and responses to inquiries). 2. There are choices for responding to the issue of insuring housing affordability in the Downtown Precise Plan Area, Redevelopment Area, and the broader City: a. Knowing what the City's requirements will be in the Downtown has been raised in the course of review of the Draft Precise Plan. Having a clearly stated policy as the Plan is adopted will help provide certainty to developers interested in building housing in the downtown (i.e.: must each project provide 15% affordable units? Should the 15% not apply to a specific project but rather the Plan area? Could some mix of the first several residential projects approved be exempted from a requirement that comes into effect later?) b. Redevelopment law mandates certain housing affordable requirements for the Redevelopment Area, and there is currently a surplus of built units; c. Housing affordability is a citywide issue, not just a downtown issue and the options are broader than simply requiring a certain number of below-market units in the downtown; d. These policy questions should be clearly addressed in the pending update of the City's General Plan Housing Element. 1 of 2