CC Min 2008-08-25 Joint City Council, HHHCC and Redevelopment

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Public Comment Greg Richane, representing the San Mateo County Housing Leadership Council, spoke about the membership of this organization and those who work increase affordable housing for all levels. He spoke in favor of the new housing element addressing housing and zoning needs in the community and identified their wish list for the process. Pat Crawford, representing the Cool Cities Team, acknowledged how much she has learned through this process. She said she spoke for her team and shared her pride in the City's Downtown Precise Plan. She reminded everyone of the need to preserve neighborhoods and augment transportation. She stated that her hope is that green buildings and green housing become the norm. Morton Frank, a member of the American Institute of Architects, San Mateo County Chapter, spoke about the housing element referring not just to numbers but needs and wants. He expressed his hope that there will be new housing configurations to address mass building and aggregate housing needs to accommodate various family types. Members of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee spoke as to why they were there and what they hoped to accomplish. The committee spoke about establishing a process and timing for the General Plan and the housing element. Council asked for information on the current requirements and mechanisms for affordable housing and the private developments, and asked if there is flexibility in requiring an affordability component in the Precise Plan. Ms. Ekas addressed this issue stating this might be possible in the redevelopment area. She stated the Downtown Precise Plan is within the redevelopment area and spoke to the other areas as well. Council spoke of having policies for developers to follow without an inclusionary zoning component. Council spoke about Green Building components and that flexibility and balance be built into the plan. Council asked for thoughts on the rental and owner ratios. The committee members spoke to reconfiguring lots and keeping the flexibility in mind when coming up with a full range of housing options. Council asked staff to discuss what they have seen thus far with regards to ordinances versus policies. Ms. Ekas spoke to the fact that staff can take the City's ordinances, give them a look and try to make sense of what works in planning and include stakeholders. She spoke to the ongoing nature of conversations regarding these ordinances and policy negotiations. The Mayor asked how many cities in the county have an inclusionary zoning ordinance, and staff responded the bay area has the greatest regional concentration of these zoning ordinances in the state. The Mayor asked that actual numbers be brought back on this. Four Council Members were not prepared to embrace the concept of inclusionary housing. Some Council Members sought more flexibility and not necessarily more rules. Mayor Foust in particular wants policies that produce housing units and not prohibit them. Council asked for information on the Density Bonus Law and its impacts on the City, and Ms. Ekas stated it has not been used much in the City, explained the law itself, and discussed density caps. Council expressed concerns about neighborhoods that have over-stressed infrastructure. Council asked about getting market housing started, and JOINT CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING AND HUMAN CONCERNS COMMITTEE, AND AUGUST 25, 2008 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD MEETING MINUTES PAGE 7 MINUTE BOOK NO. 62 Page No. 212