Last week, the City Council hosted an extensive Study Session regarding the 2021-2029 Housing Element Update. During this public session, the Community Development Department provided details about the reasons compliance is needed and why there is urgency to have an approved Housing Element. The Planning Commission will have a public hearing on the Housing Element at a special public meeting on Wednesday, November 16 at 6pm in Council Chambers and the City Council will have a public hearing on Tuesday, November 29 at 6pm in Council Chambers.
The City Council reviewed several alternate options for the 2021-2029 Housing Element to address concerns raised by residents – primarily from the Edwards Hill and Seagate neighborhoods. The alternate options utilize the properties already identified in the sites inventory including:
- Remove the Residential High Density (RH 30 units per acre) overlay from the Edwards Hill area (SP7)
- Reducing the density of the area north of Garfield Avenue within SP9 from Affordable Housing Overlay (70 units per acre) to RH30 (south of the Seagate neighborhood)
- Increase the residential density at the Frontier property at the southwest corner of Slater Avenue and Gothard Street from 25 units per acre to Affordable Housing Overlay (70 units per acre)
The City Council also discussed a potential program to explore development of the City Hall property for future residential development.
The City Council Study Session included an opportunity for the public to comment on the Housing Element. The entire public session was live streamed and can be viewed online.
