HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/23/1979City Council.Minutes
April 23, 1979
Page 2
CITY STAFF
Present: Lee Walton, Administrative Officer; J.H. Fitzpatrick, City- Clerk;
George Thacher, City Attorney; Henry_Engen, Director of Community
Development
OTHERS
Present: Steve Nelson, Chairman of the Housing Authority; Ruth Wirshup,
Housing Authority Member; Rich Chubon, Executive Secretary of
the Housing Authority
Councilman Ron Dunin asked that the City Council consider adding an item at
the end of the agenda to take some action to start the rezoning of an amendment
to the General Plan of that.portion of the west side of Higuera.Street- between
Johnson and Pepper Street from R -2 to R -2 to allow for soroiity application.
The matter, with the consent of the Council, was continued to the end of the
meeting.
1. Steve Nelson, Housing Authority Chairman, stated that the Housing Authority
was proposing to annex property located on South Higuera Street for the purpose
of providing a site for the construction of low -rent housing. The site consisted
of 1.7 acres on which the Housing Authority proposed to build 15 townhouses, low -...,.
rent housing units, 10 two - bedroom and 5 three - bedroom units. The Authority's
efforts to construct this ; - housing was subject.to.both time_and cost constraints.
The Housing Authority was especially concerned about spending considerable public
time and money without feed -back from the city coricerning the acceptability of
the proposal. Therefore, on behalf of the Housing Authority, they were asking
the Council to indicate if this.proposal might be acceptable to the Authority.
The 1.7 acres lied on Higuera Street bounded on the north by the Montessori
School and on the left by Unit II of Los Verdes Park Tract. He continued that
the design features would be Mediterranean Architecture; townhouse style, with
individual yards, and children's recreational facilities. It would be oriented
inward to encourage a sense of privacy. The incomes for the residents would
range from $5,000 to $11,000. Most of the people would be employed with jobs
in San Luis Obispo and the ethnic mix would be predominately white. The
advantages of this particular location would be the readily available public
transportation. There was'no other assisted housing in the area and it's outside
the area of minority concentration. After brief discussion;' it was the.unanimous
consent of the City Council that the Housing Authority proceed with their proposal
as the City Council would support the use of this land for public purposes.
2. The.City Council then began their consideration for the adoption of the
Housing Element of the General Plan following the close of the public hearings.
Henry Engen, Community Development Director, reviewed the Housing Element dis-
cussion guide prepared by the planning staff for Council discussion following
the close of the Council hearings in February, 1979. It was decided that the
City Council would review each of the 18 sections of the Housing Element presented
at the public hearings.
On motion of Councilman Jorgensen, seconded by Councilwoman Billig, the City
Council accepted the amended overall statement for Part II, Goals, Policies and
Priorities. Motion carried, all ayes.
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
1) Volume of Construction
On motion of Councilman Jorgensen,.seconded by Councilwoman Billig,- the City
Council accepted the amended policy as follows: "The City iaill attempt to
sustain a steady rate of construction averaging approximately 300 units per
year during the 1980's. This level of construction will meet the demands of
projected household growth resulting from both local household formation and
immigration. It will result in a 1990 population of about 42,000. The city
will encourage this rate of housing development through capital spending and
specific plan phasing provisions." Motion carried unanimously.
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2) Least Cost Hous
On motion of Councilman Jorgensen,. seconded
Council..accepted the program from Ehe_ draft.
ordinance requiring a pertain fraction of d,
ments to be least cost. They would be sold
costs plus a fixed annual percentage return
would live in them."
City Council Minutes
April 23, 1979
Page 3
by Councilwoman Billig, the City
element as follows: "Adopt an
aellings in new for -sale. develop -
at a price reflecting development
of investment to households which
Councilman Dunin stated he was opposed to the term "least- cost ". He would
rather use the "word "affordable ".
Motion carried, Councilman Dunin voting no.
3)--.Rent Inflation .
On motion of Councilman Jorgensen, seconded by Councilwoman Billig, to direct
the policy to be as follows: . "Achieve a balance in supply of and ,demand for
rental housing more favorable to the tenant." (Establish a procedure through
arbitration in which rent . increases may be examined in public hearings at which
justifying cost information may be presented.)
Motion carried, all ayes.
4) Housing Cost Inflation
On motion of Councilwoman Billig, seconded by Councilman Jorgensen, the
following program was approved:
A. "Reduce improvement requirements for new developments by'such actions as
eliminates or'modify street lighting requirements, modify street width
requirements where such streets will,serve.only a few houses, to the
minimum needed for fire and police protection. Modify the requirements
f or...sidewalks. in.. new. developments, modify the construction standards for
sidewalks not crossed by vehicles and other similar improvement require -
ments.which do not directly affect the health, safety and general welfare
of the community."
B. "Change zoning regulations to eliminate requirements which increase con-
struction costs, but do not address the health, safety, or general welfare
aspects of the community. An example is the requirement for covered park-
ing,,.which applies only to the R -1 zone."
C. .. "Modify subdivision design (lot size and dimension) standards to reduce
development costs."
D. "Allow construction materials and methods and building code modifications
which:_ 1) provide:�for.performance standards; or. 2) specify all materials
and methods which meet accepted performance standards."
Programs A "improvement requirements ", and C "subdivision standards" staff work
began 1977, Planning Commission hearings to begin July, 1979, changes to be
.effective April, 1980.. .
Program B "zoning ordinance" staff work began 1978, Planning Commission hearings
to begin July, 1979, changes to be effective January, 1980.
Program D is a continuing program.
5) Cost of Delay
On motion-,of' - Councilman Jorgensen, seconded-by Councilwoman Billig, the following
programs.were adopted:.
A. "Consolidate all actions relating to a given project on single Council of
Commission agenda when possible. Specifically, integrate the utilities
capacity (604) hearings with other project approvals.with changes to
Ordinance 604 to be effective by January, 1980."
B. "Revise local ordinances and policies to streamline the development review
process and eliminate redundant procedures."
City Council Minutes
April 23, 1979
Page 4
C. "Consolidate boards, commissions and staff procedures in order to stream-
line administration and processing."
D. "As allowed,by State and City environmental impact guidelines, single
environmental impact reports should be used when essentially similar
projects are under construction, either at the same time or at a later
date."
Motion carried, all ayes.
6) Competition for Land
On motion of Councilman Jorgensen, seconded by Councilwoman Billig, adopt
the following programs:
A. "Action on zoning applications should be consistent with this policy."
B. "The impact of proposed General Plan Amendments on the availability of
housing should be evaluated by the Planning Commission and City Council."
C. "The Planning Commission will reevaluate and make recommendations for
general plan amendments concerning areas that are vacant or occupied by
residential uses, which might be changed from nonresidential to residential
designations. Time frame: some currently pending; list to be completed
and considered by the Planning Commission prior to initiating.plan amend-
ments for January, 1980."
Motion carried.
Further consideration of the Housing Element of the General Plan continued
to the Study Session of Monday, May 7, 1979 at 12:10.p.m.
X. The extra item was considered at this time.
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Henry Engen presented a time frame for amending the General Plan to allow R -3 '
zoning on Higuera Street between Pepper and Johnson Avenue. He indicated that
there was some sentiment'to expedite considerations of this matter owing to
the sororities apparent misunderstanding of the process and the public discussions
thus far. If they were to apply for a plan amendment, it would be September
before it could be considered. However, if-.the 'City-.Council initiated consid-
eration of the change, it could be considered by.the Planning Commission on
May 9. If they approved, it would go to the City Council on June 5, with the
final passage effective on July 4, 1979. The Zoning Ordinance could be before
the Planning Commission on June 27, 1979. The first hearing before the City
Council on July 17, 1979 with the ordinance finally adopted on August 7, 1979,
and effective on September 9, 1979. This presupposes everything moves along
without any hitches or mistakes.
On motion of Councilman Dunin, seconded by Councilman -Bond, that the City
Council initiate an amendment to the General Plan Land Use Designation to
medium high density - multiple use-on both sides of Higuera Street between
Johnson Avenue and Pepper Street. Motion carried, all Ayes.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Cooper
adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 1979.
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Approved by the City Council on 6/5/79
itzpatrick, City Clerk