The county may soon require all new residential developments to
be comprised of 30 percent affordable units, an attempt to combat
increasing housing costs.
Supervisor Bob Cruz proposed an ordinance to create an
”
Inclusionary Housing Program.
”
The vote, scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting, was pushed to Jan. 13
because supervisors wanted clarification on some points in the
document.
The county may soon require all new residential developments to be comprised of 30 percent affordable units, an attempt to combat increasing housing costs.
Supervisor Bob Cruz proposed an ordinance to create an “Inclusionary Housing Program.” The vote, scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting, was pushed to Jan. 13 because supervisors wanted clarification on some points in the document.
The mandate to build affordable housing would apply only to subdivisions of more than 20 units. For developments with three to 20 units, the developer would have to pay an “in lieu” fee – the determining ratio would include both affordable and market rates.
Meanwhile, one- or two-unit developments would be exempt, according to the proposed ordinance.
The purpose of a regulation is to boost the supply of affordable housing in San Benito County, according to the document. That’s also a current goal of the county’s General Plan, the official growth blueprint.
“How many single-parent teachers can afford an $800,000 home?” Cruz asked Tuesday.
Furthermore, occupants could not turn around and resell their affordable housing units at market rates. An “affordability period” of 30 years would be placed on each home, and if a buyer chose to sell a house before that time expired, a new 30-year affordability requirement would come with the sale, according to the ordinance.
The ordinance would also require that Board members set up a Housing Advisory Committee to advise supervisors and the Planning Commission on related issues.
“I think it really just has to do with common sense in San Benito County,” Cruz said.
As director of Community Services and Workforce Development, Kathy Flores affirmed a need for more affordable housing in the county. Though rental increases have stabilized in recent years, she said.
Still, she mentioned professions such as educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and retail workers struggle to afford the county’s housing market.
“They just don’t make enough to be able to afford a home without some assistance,” she said.
Supervisor Pat Loe, who sat on a subcommittee with Cruz to draft the ordinance, agreed.
“I think it will allow people who work in this community to be able to afford to live here,” she said.
Such an ordinance may decrease the amount of constructed housing in the county, according to Richard Calhoun, owner of Creekside Realty in San Jose.
He believes it would drive away developers, many of whom would build their subdivisions in other communities. And if they do build here, he said, it might raise prices for market-rate homes in those developments to compensate for profit losses incurred from the affordable units.
“Real estate is probably people’s most expensive investment,” Calhoun said. “It would probably delay the development of certain properties.”
Many jurisdictions throughout California – including Monterey and Sonoma counties – have passed similar laws. In San Benito County, said Fred Goodrich, assistant planning director, there have been no previous requirements for developers regarding affordable housing.
The ordinance comes less than three months before the scheduled public vote on the controversial Growth Control Initiative. While the initiative would maintain the current 1-percent annual growth cap, it would allow for an additional 1/2 percent growth each year from new affordable housing units.
In other business:
– The Board pushed off a vote on a resolution that would allow Charter Cable – through a non-exclusive franchise agreement – to operate a more expansive system throughout the county.
County officials want Charter’s initial plans for access, which included a four-mile radius from the courthouse, to expand and comprise all unincorporated areas of San Benito County. County Counsel Karen Forcum told the Board there had been discrepancies regarding the geographic scope of the proposed deal.
The proposal is a five-year renewal to an ordinance passed in mid-2002 that expires Dec. 31. The Board agreed to bring the item back for the Jan. 6 meeting. Under the proposed ordinance, Charter would pay the county five percent of subscription revenues.
– The Board approved a resolution in favor of treatment and prevention of underage drinking. The county Substance Abuse Program will continually provide treatment and prevention services.
The resolution comes 11 days after the death of two 18-year-old graduates of San Benito High School in a single car crash off Fairview Road. The 16-year-old driver admitted to drinking, and a 12-pack of beer was found in the vehicle.
– The Board unanimously approved sending a letter conveying support for maintaining and enhancing veterans benefits, while federal government officials have talked about reducing them.
The letter will be sent to President Bush, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, California’s two senators, Congressman Sam Farr, state Assemblyman Simon Salinas and two veterans posts in Hollister, according to a staff report.
