Supervisors this week are hoping to get a step closer to
resolving two of the most controversial and long-discussed laws on
the books when they hold discussions on the growth management
ordinance and the rules requiring that 30 percent of homes in
developments are designated as affordable.
Supervisors this week are hoping to get a step closer to resolving two of the most controversial and long-discussed laws on the books when they hold discussions on the growth management ordinance and the rules requiring that 30 percent of homes in developments are designated as affordable.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors has set a special meeting and public hearing for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St., to pick up talks and potentially set in motion resolutions relating to the two growth ordinances.
The main component of the update to the affordable housing law is a recommendation from the board’s planning commission to drop the requirement that 30 percent of units in developments are designated as low income. There had been some discussion about finding a middle-ground figure, but that appears less likely at this point as supervisors consider relinquishing the mandate altogether.
The growth management ordinance – which features the 1 percent annual cap – faces a set of potential changes. Some include exempting major developments with voter approval from that 1 percent cap and aligning the yearly maximum with the state’s growth rate, as opposed to a flat, largely inflexible number.
“I think we’re pretty clear as far as the changes we’d like to see,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho, the board chairman. “It’s just a matter of implementing it.”
The consideration over the growth and affordable housing rules – referred to as the inclusionary housing ordinance – has become a concern in particular in light of severely lacking development in county limits since the laws were enacted several years back.
Other provisions in the inclusionary ordinance would remain to maintain administration locally of affordable housing efforts – such as applying for federal grants and working with the city’s housing officials to create the most appropriate, fair balance here, Art Henriques, the county’s head planning official, has said. The county by state law also must provide structured incentives for builders who choose to include a certain percentage of affordable units in their projects.
Regarding the growth management ordinance, planners are recommending that the current 1 percent cap – which actually decreases under that amount if the state growth rate follows suit – be adjusted to line up with California growth trends. Projects of 100 or more units under the current law have to go before voters and then are further restricted by the annual limitation. He pointed out that the change would exempt the builders from the annual cap once their projects get OK’d by voters.
For an update on the hearings, see www.freelancenews.com or this week’s edition of the Pinnacle.
MEETING PREVIEW
WHO: SBC Board of Supervisors
WHAT: Hearings over growth rules
WHEN: 9 a.m. Wednesday
WHERE: County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St.
