HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/21/2018 Item 17, Igel
Christian, Kevin
From:Vanessa Igel <vanessa.igel@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, August
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Zoning Suggestions from SLO U40
Dear Mayor Harmon and Honorable Members of the Council,
I am writing on behalf of the SLO U40 Steering Committee with three recommendations to the zoning
regulations for your consideration.
While the lack of affordable housing is one of the most daunting challenges facing the under-40 demographic,
this pervasive problem affects almost all residents of our city. In San Luis Obispo, 64% of all units are renter-
occupied, accounting for approximately 30,000 people (American Community Survey). Over half of these
renters cannot afford the cost of their housing according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. The
situation is not much better for those looking to buy a home. When average wages and median-home price is
considered, the San Luis Obispo County housing market is the sixth most unaffordable in the nation as noted
by financial experts at Magnify Money.
We ask that you consider acting in ways that will:
1. Support high-density building standards and increased building height, when appropriate, to create a
stable of workforce housing;
2. Incentivize or require developers to include higher proportions of low-income households in order to
facilitate more diverse and integrated residential living; and,
3. Encourage mixed-use, pedestrian and bicycle-friendly communities to simultaneously reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and support healthier lifestyles.
The City’s prerogative to plan and zone is one of the most important and consequential responsibilities held by
our local government. Zoning decisions affect far more than how much commercial, office, retail, residential, or
industrial space is available; it affects who lives and works in our community, the strength of our economy, and
the integrity of our environment.
This is a place where we would like to be able to afford to live. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
SLO U40 Steering Committee
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