San Juan Bautista
– Mission City voters may soon have a chance to exempt the
proposed Artisan’s Plaza development from San Juan Bautista’s
growth restrictions.
San Juan Bautista – Mission City voters may soon have a chance to exempt the proposed Artisan’s Plaza development from San Juan Bautista’s growth restrictions.
The City Council voted on Tuesday to move forward with a special election that would ask local voters if the development should be exempted from the city’s 1 percent growth cap. The ballot measure will now to go the planning department before returning to the council for final approval. A vote could be held as soon as this summer, according to City Manager Jan McClintock.
Developer Tod duBois said the Artisan’s Plaza – which would feature more than 30 residential units – is not workable under the existing growth control ordinance, which normally limits projects to four units per year.
“The current ordinance is unworkable,” duBois said. “I tried my best to work within it.”
But those restrictions may also be changing. On Tuesday, the council also approved a revised growth control ordinance that would increase the growth cap from 1 percent to 3 percent and exempt infill development and affordable housing.
The revised ordinance will also be examined for its environmental impact and is subject to final council approval. Since the initial restrictions were passed by San Juan Bautista voters, the new ordinance would need their approval as well.
McClintock said the new ordinance would likely appear on the February 2008 ballot.
However, duBois said he can’t wait around to see if the restrictions are loosened, because delays could put the Muckelemi Street site at risk.
The proposed Artisan’s Plaza includes 10 live-work condominiums, a bed and breakfast inn, an art gallery, a regional visitor center and between 20 and 25 units of senior “co-housing,” which allows residents to participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood.
San Juan Bautista resident Donna Holmes said the project has her support.
“San Juan Bautista has an opportunity that rarely comes along,” Holmes said.
If the special election happens, duBois said he will cover all of the city’s costs.
Cara Vonk, a member of the city’s Historic Resources Board, said she’s also in favor of the development. But she argued that the growth control ordinance isn’t the problem, since it allows voters to approve larger projects.
Earlier in the meeting, Vonk expressed opposition to changing the growth ordinance. The exemption for infill growth means that development can proceed virtually unchecked, she said.
“The sky’s the limit,” Vonk said. “I just find this proposal to be very, very disappointing.”
However, McClintock said the existing city ordinance is actually illegal under state law because it’s so restrictive that the city can’t provide housing for low-income residents, seniors and others.
McClintock said ongoing efforts to implement strict development guidelines are a better way to avoid cookie-cutter development.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
