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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/2/2024 Item 7a, Brennan Jocelyn Brennan < To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Item 7a Attachments:Item 7a Fees SLOCAOR .pdf This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. Please see the letter attached regarding item 7a. Thank you. Sincerely, Jocelyn Brennan cell/text (805) 748-7630 Jocelyn@thehrmcorp.com 1 Page 1 of 1 July 1, 2025 Re Item 7a Dear Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council, On behalf of the SLO Coastal Association of REALTORS® I am writing to express our concerns regarding the recently proposed increases in impact and development fees. While we understand the necessity of these fees in supporting city infrastructure and services, the signiflcant hikes are poised to make building homes more expensive. Consequently, this will escalate housing prices, making them even less attainable for many individuals and families in our community. San Luis Obispo is a highly desirable place to live, and it is crucial that we do everything possible to keep development costs low and encourage the construction of more housing. The recent proposal to increase the fee for a tier one appeal in the "Planni ng Fee" section from $1,992.50 to $8,610.86 is particularly alarming. As is the Affordable Housing MOU fee changing from $1090.24 to $3,343.97. Such increases not only place a heavier flnancial burden on developers but also stifies the potential for new housing projects that our community desperately needs. To ensure that fees are both fair and refiective of actual costs, we recommend implementing a system for keeping timecards or other records to accurately track the true costs associated with planning and development services. This data will provide a clearer picture of the resources required for these services and help justify any fee adjustments. We also support the alternative phased increases (exhibit E). We urge the City Council to reconsider the proposed fee increases that are over 200% and explore alternatives that would support housing development without imposing prohibitive costs. By doing so, we can work together to maintain the desirability and affordability of living in San Luis Obispo. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We look forward to collaborating with you to flnd solutions that beneflt our entire community. Sincerely, Jocelyn Brennan, Government Affairs Director SLO Coastal Association of REALTORS®