HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/5/2024 Item 8a, Foote
Michael Foote <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Agenda Item 8a - Housing needs and opportunities
Attachments:City of SLO Housing Study Session - Public Comment 3-5-24.pdf
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Hello,
Please see attached letter for public comment on tonight’s agenda item 8a.
Thank you,
Michael Foote
Michael Foote
Director of Economic Development
& Community Affairs | REACH
P: 8 05-801-8517 E: mfoote @reachcentralcoast.org
reachcentralcoast.org
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1
Subject:Housing Needs and Opportunities Study Session
Mayor Stewart and City Council:
I am writing to offer REACH’s support for agenda Item 8a HOUSING NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES STUDY SESSION.
By way of background,REACH is a nonprofit,economic impact organization with a mission to increase economic
prosperity on the Central Coast –serving San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties –through big thinking,bold
action and regional collaboration.Across all of our community based work there is no larger point to achieving this
vision than the accessibility and affordability of housing.
Last July the REACH and SLOCOG team presented the framework of SLOCOG’s Regional Housing and Infrastructure
Plan (now referred to as the HERF)to this Council.This plan was designed to help unlock barriers to developing an
adequate supply of housing and resilient infrastructure to support the economic prosperity of the entire county.
This project included multiple elements:a county wide mapping of housing efficient areas connected to proposed
infrastructure projects,a infrastructure funding feasibility study,and the affordable-by-design (ABD)study
(mentioned in the staff report).
Since this framework was adopted by the County and SLOCOG in 2023,the City of San Luis Obispo has undertaken
multiple efforts to implement best practices,recently being recognized by the State of California as a prohousing
community.Today’s study session is another important next step for the city’s approach to housing policy.We
applaud the city staff for a thorough report that recognizes the gamut of housing types needed,and the
importance of both rentals and ownership for the city's workforce.As outlined in the HERF’s ADB study,
ECONorthwest identified a range of potential policy measures jurisdictions could consider to support development
of more attainable housing options.Many of these recommendations are in alignment with the staffs report and
we urge the city to focus on the the following categories:
●Expansion of ministerial review qualifications
●Continued Streamlining of Processes
●Fee’s based on square footage to incentivize density
●Review of Density Limits &Parking Requirements
●Zoning to allow mixed-use development on commercially zoned land
●Zoning Vacant Land for Multifamily Housing
Ambitious housing plans coupled with continued collaboration between the city and other regional agencies and
employers is essential to support the economic prosperity for our community.We look forward to our continued
collaboration on this crucial issue.
Sincerely,
Michael Foote
Director of Economic Development
&Community Affairs
REACH