The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About6/8/2022 Item 5a, Glazebrook Wilbanks, Megan From:Healthy Communities <healthycommunitiesslo@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, June 6, 2022 To:Advisory Bodies Subject:Item 5.a Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Comments Attachments:image008.png; Inclusionary Housing Ordinance HCWG Letter.pdf This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. To Whom it May Concern, I am writing on behalf of the Healthy Communities Work Group, an advisory group focused on improving health through community design. We provide research and evidence-based recommendations from a health perspective on proposed land use projects, ordinance and general plan amendments, and special projects. HCWG has reviewed the Draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Our letter of written comments is attached to this email. Please consider our responses concerning Item 5.a Repeal and Replace the City of SLO's municipal code chapter 17.138 (Inclusionary Housing Requirements) to update regulations for consistency with the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. Please reach out if you have any questions. Sophie Glazebrook Health Education Specialist Member of the Healthy Communities Working Group: Bringing health to the forefront of community design The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location. 1 COALITION PARTNERS: Bike SLO County Cal Poly State University Caltrans City of San Luis Obispo Community Action Partnership of SLO County First 5 San Luis Obispo County Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. People’s Self-Help Housing Rideshare – Safe Routes to School Smart Share Housing Solutions SLO Council of Governments SLO County Departments: Air Pollution Control District Board of Supervisors Health Commission Public Health Environmental Health SLO County YIMBY SLO Legal Assistance Foundation RESOURCES: Data Dashboard, SLO Health Counts Healthy Communities Webpage Community Health Improvement Plan The Healthy Communities Work Group aims to improve the health and wellness of all current and future San Luis Obispo County residents through collaboration, education, and policy guidance as it relates to the built environment. Date: 6/8/2022 To: City Council Planning Commission From: The Healthy Communities Work Group RE: Item 5.a Inclusionary Housing Ordinance To Whom it May Concern, The Healthy Communities Work Group is a collaboration between public health officials, local planning and transportation officials, community-based organizations, academia, and community members, working to improve health through community design. We provide research and evidence-based recommendations from a health perspective on proposed land use projects, ordinance and general plan amendments, and special projects. HCWG supports the intention of the City of San Luis Obispo’s Draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, as inclusionary housing is aligned with HCWG’s mission of providing equitable access to housing for all residents. HWCG commends the adjusted ordinance requirements, which is desired to result in the addition of low-income and workforce housing options for residents living in San Luis Obispo County. Increasing the production of affordable housing units will also address the City of San Luis Obispo’s 2021- 2023 goal of housing.1 Lack of housing availability and affordability negatively impacts physical and mental health. In Quarter 1 of 2018, the Housing Opportunity Index published by the National Association of Homebuilders and Wells Fargo ranked San Luis Obispo County as the sixth least affordable housing market in the nation.2 54.4% of renters living in San Luis Obispo County spend 30% or more of household income on rent, which is in the second worst quartile of all California counties.3 Access to affordable housing will enable eligible low- income and moderate-income households to have more income for food and medical care, which can contribute to improving health outcomes. HCWG, however, has concerns about whether the proposed ordinance update will achieve the intended results. High inclusionary housing fees and mandatory low-income units may render new developments infeasible, as it can be cost prohibitive for builders. HCWG has several recommendations to reduce the negative impact of stifling future housing development. Health and Housing experts advise developing an inclusionary housing incentive policy that includes density bonuses, financial support to nonprofit housing developers, and fee waivers to increase likelihood of quality housing at a range of affordability levels.4 HCWG also recommends a future study be conducted to monitor the actual impact of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The Healthy Communities Work Group aims to improve the health and wellness of all current and future San Luis Obispo County residents through collaboration, education, and policy guidance as it relates to the built environment. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. In Gratitude, Kealoha Ghiglia, REHS Chair, Healthy Communities Work Group 1. City of San Luis Obispo. (2021). City of San Luis Obispo 2021-22 Adopted Budget 2021-23 Financial Plan. 2. National Association of Homebuilders & Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index. (2018) 3. American Community Survey. Data Collected 2012-2016. SLO Health Counts 4. Change Lab Solutions (2015). Under One Roof: Model Healthy Housing Policies for Comprehensive Plans.