HomeMy WebLinkAbout06_28-29_2017 PC Correspondence - Avila Ranch (Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County)
Project managed by the Economic Vitality Corporation
http://www.sloevc.org/BDC
ECONOMIC STRATEGY PROJECT
Building Design & Construction Cluster
Serving all of San Luis Obispo County
June 27, 2017
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Attn: City of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission
Commissioner Kim Bisheff
Commissioner Scott Mann
Commissioner Ronald Malak
Commissioner Nicolas Osterbur
Commissioner John Fowler, Vice-Chair
Commissioner Charles Stevenson, Chair
Re: Support Housing and Innovative Practices in the City of San Luis Obispo
Dear Chairman Stevenson and Commissioners:
On behalf of the Building Design and Construction Cluster of the Economic Vitality Corporation’s Economic
Strategy Project, we support innovative approaches to affordable housing for the San Luis Obispo County
workforce. We recognize that the need for additional workforce housing is complex and cannot quickly
be solved, but if we consider the needs and wants of the local workforce, both in design and functionality,
we believe the region can best serve its residents.
In 2009, the Economic Strategy Project was created in partnership with County and business leaders, out
of which six major clusters of industry were identified as major contributors to the community, including
the Building Design and Construction Cluster. The cluster, comprised of a group of industry leaders,
recognized the need for increased housing options in the local community, and in 2013 commissioned a
housing study, finding that nearly one-third of the local workforce expected to leave the region because
of the high cost of housing. Cluster members thus determined that the County has a major workforce-
housing problem and set housing as its top priority.
This year, the City of San Luis Obispo also recognized the workforce-housing problem and identified
housing as a major city goal for 2017-2019 after hearing direct testimony from hundreds of community
members during various public meetings and workshops. We understand that residents desire affordable
housing (i.e., smaller units, smaller lot sizes) in close proximity to work. Such requests invite developers
to be creative as they attempt to cater to the local workforce by lowering costs and bringing work force
housing online.
Project managed by the Economic Vitality Corporation
http://www.sloevc.org/BDC
City of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission
June 26, 2017
Page 2 of 2
Currently, there are a couple of large-scale project proposals that respond to the city’s urgent housing
needs and offer innovative solutions for a challenging market. These projects followed the same approach
as the City of San Luis Obispo: holding community meetings and asking the question, “What does San Luis
Obispo want in workforce housing?” We support the following housing solutions:
1. Owner-Occupancy Restrictions: With the inclusion of an occupancy clause, it will disincentive
vacation rentals or investment properties.
2. Preference and Priority to the San Luis Obispo Workforce: First-sale priority will go to those
persons who work in the City of San Luis Obispo, which will be especially important for mitigating
traffic on HWY-101 and equalizing the jobs/housing imbalance in the City of San Luis Obispo. It is
said that the city doubles daily as commuters come to the City for work and leave for home,
putting nearly 30,000 cars on the road every day.
3. Down Payment Assistance Program: One of the biggest impediments to purchasing a home for
first-time homebuyers is securing the funds for a down payment. Having a revolving loan program
to help those who earn a workforce-housing wage (120%-160% of area median income) with their
down payments will go a long way toward helping local first-time homebuyer’s work and live in
the City of San Luis Obispo.
We respectfully ask that you consider the severity of the housing challenge we face here on the Central
Coast and the impact it has on employers’ ability to attract and retain talent, traffic and families. We then
ask that the City of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission consider how creative projects could add value
to the community at large.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Leonard Grant Brad Brechwald
Principal Architect, RRM Design Group CEO, Wallace Group
Chair, Building Design & Construction Vice-Chair, Building Design & Construction
cc: EVC Board of Directors
Building Design & Construction Cluster, Economic Vitality Corporation
Katie Lichtig, City of San Luis Obispo
Lee Johnson, City of San Luis Obispo