County supervisors Wednesday morning directed the planning staff
to prepare the necessary documents to suspend rules that require
developments to include 30 percent of units designated as
affordable.
County supervisors Wednesday morning directed the planning staff to prepare the necessary documents to suspend rules that require developments to include 30 percent of units designated as affordable.
Supervisors held a public hearing at the County Administration Building, where about 40 residents showed up to express support or opposition to the proposal. Planning commissioners had recommended that supervisors eliminate the 30 percent requirement due to stagnant growth levels since its inception five years ago. Supervisors were unanimous in agreement to have the staff move ahead on suspension of the mandate.
Board members at an afternoon session also were set to pick up their consideration of the growth management ordinance that includes the 1 percent annual growth cap. Supervisors are considering changes to the ordinance that would align the annual growth limit in San Benito County to the state average, while developers whose projects of 100 or more units that gain approval from voters would not have their allocations included in the yearly cap figures. Results from that hearing – including debate among supervisors – was not finished before Pinnacle press time Wednesday.
With the affordable rules, or the inclusionary housing ordinance, county officials must submit a California Environmental Quality Act report to the state and gets its approval before making the change official.
Planning Director Art Henriques noted to supervisors that the elimination of the affordable requirement should not affect San Benito’s eligibility for block grants – which had been a concern expressed about the potential reform. Though the county appears ready to drop its 30 percent affordable requirement, officials also intend to offer additional incentives that could motivate developers to build affordable units.
