HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/22/2023 Item 4a, Amini
From:David Amini <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Planning Commission 2/22/2023 Item 4a. Comments
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Hi,
I am a resident of the Downtown Planning Area. I am speaking in support of the Flexible Density Ordinance. The
Downtown Core will benefit immensely from more housing under this Ordinance. I have some comments for the PC
regarding specific elements of the Ordinance that are worth revisiting.
Thank you!
B. Applicability and Location
The City should consider extending the location of the Ordinance to a larger area, such as the Downtown Planning Area
as a whole. As the draft is written, properties that would fall under this location mainly consist of already existing
buildings, of which only a few are slated for redevelopment. The Downtown Planning Area has many more underutilized
or vacant properties that would greatly benefit from higher density and smaller unit sizes as permitted by this
Ordinance.
C.2. Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Exemption
The City has deemed units subject to this Ordinance, which are less than 600 square feet, as "affordable by design".
However, it is unlikely that small unit sizes alone will truly create housing affordability. When considering that hotel
rooms closer to 300 square feet at Hotel Cerro and Hotel SLO rent for $500 and up per night, and the few Downtown
Core studio apartments rent for greater than $2000 per month, it is a bit audacious to assume that smaller unit sizes will
automatically be affordable to rent in this inflated market. The City should preserve the inclusionary housing element
requirement in this Ordinance to provide a bare minimum amount of housing that is affordable to Downtown service
industry workers. Downtown Core developers already benefit from charging sky-high retail rents higher than anywhere
else in the City. New developments under the Ordinance will not be made financially infeasible if developers are
required to provide 1-2 housing units out of 50 at below market rate rents.
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