HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2004MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2004 - 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members John Ewan, Christine Mulholland, Allen K. Settle,
Vice Mayor Ken Schwartz and Mayor Dave Romero
City Staff:
Present: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer; Jonathan Lowell, City
Attorney; Lee Price, City Clerk; Wendy George, Assistant City
Administrative Officer; John Mandeville, Community Development
Director; and Jeff Hook, Associate Planner
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Romero mentioned a communication received from a member of the public (Richard
Schmidt, copy on file in the Office of the City Clerk) alleging that because the Mayor is a board
member of the SLO Property Owners Association he may have a conflict of interest that
should prevent him from taking action on the Housing Element Update. Mayor Romero
clarified that while he once was on the board he resigned when he was elected mayor. CityL
Attorney Lowell confirmed that the Mayor's resignation makes the issue moot, but explained
that even if the Mayor was still serving on the board, there would not be a conflict of interest.
PUBLIC HEARING
DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
Community Development Director Mandeville provided the introduction. Associate Planner
Hook presented an overview of the key issues and quantified objectives. Deputy Director
Community Development Draze described the environmental determination and State
Housing and Community Development review process.
Planning Commission Chairperson Osborne and Planning Commission Member
Christianson described the extensive public hearing process to -date that included eight
meetings, significant written public comment and lots of oral testimony and provided
background about Planning Commission recommendations, as set forth in the staff report.
Housing Element Update Task Force Chair Dalton summarized the task force's
recommendations and spoke in support of the Planning Commission's recommendations
(see also written correspondence submitted and on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Brief Council questions followed.
Mayor Romero opened the public hearing.
City Council Meeting Page 2
Tuesday, January 27, 2004, 7:00 p.m.
Phil Gray resident of Arroyo Grande (owner of property in the Orcutt Road expansion area),
expressed concern about the recommendations set forth in Table 2 (proposed adjustment
factor for the inclusionary housing requirement). David Gray of San Luis Obispo shared a
proposal for an altemative formula as outlined in a written communication from Phil Gray,
which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
Jerry Rioux, Executive Director of the SLO County Housing Trust Fund, provided supportive
comments and encouraged the Council to allow for as many choices as possible to gain more
affordable housing, including smaller units, higher densities, mixed use developments,
cluster developments and secondary units. He also asked that the Council consider a stricter
inclusionary housing ordinance that would require commercial development to pay its way for
providing workforce housing and that would also provide incentives to encourage private
partnerships.
Steve Barasch, San Luis Obispo resident (member of the Housing Task Force), spoke in favor
of new strategies recommended in the Draft Housing Element, in particular #1, 2 and 8 as
outlined on page 3 of the Council Agenda Report.
Andrew Carter, San Luis Obispo (member of the Housing Task Force), voiced concern that the
Task Force recommendation regarding inclusionary housing requirements wasn't included in
the final recommendations and urged the Council to spread out the cost of affordable housing
to the whole community.
Tom Swem, San Luis Obispo (member of the Housing Task Force), expressed concern about
recommendations relative to the "no net loss" policy because of the potential impact to the
downtown commercial core. He urged the Council to consider the quality of the conversions
that have taken place already and suggested language that provide incentives rather than 1
mandates.
Paul Brown, San Luis Obispo, pointed out that there is a limited amount of land left for the
development of housing and encouraged the Council to be creative.
Mary Beth Schroeder, San Luis Obispo, urged the Council to ensure the preservation of R -1
zones and open space.
Joan Lynch, San Luis Obispo, expressed concerns about Sections 6.3.6, 7.1, 7.2.5 and 8.2.4.
She endorsed the idea of encouraging Cal Poly and Cuesta College to provide more on-
campus student housing.
Monica Kin -, San Luis Obispo (representing Association of Realtors in San Luis Obispo) read
a letter into the record indicating strong opposition to the adoption of a "no net loss" policy
(letter on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Brett Cross, San Luis Obispo, disagreed with the previous speaker adding that without
protection, the City will lose the character of the downtown. He also commented that no one
is defining incentives. Additionally, he asked for clarification about Table 2.
The public hearing was continued to January 29, 2004.
The Mayor called a break at 9:32 p.m. At 9:47 p.m. the meeting resumed.
In response to Council inquiries, Community Development Director Mandeville reported ,
that the initial study concluded that the adoption of an amended Housing Element would
create no significant impacts on the environment. City Attorney Lowell added that reliance
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City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 27, 2004, 7:00 p.m.
Page 3
in the initial study and negative declaration upon the final EIR for the 1994 Land
Use/Circulation Element Updates is permissible under the CEQA guidelines and appropriate
in this instance.
Council began the task of reviewing Chapter 3, page by page. Suggestions were made to
modify various sections.
A majority of the Council agreed to amend the following:
Sections 1.2.3 Goal 3.1
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.4
2.2.4
2.3.5
2.3.6
2.3.7
3.2.5
3.3.5
A majority of the Council agreed to:
Add 3.2.7, as suggested by Residents for Quality Neighborhoods.
Strike Section 2.3.11
Combine into one policy statement Sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3
Council also agreed to skip over 2.3.1 and asked staff to return with examples of
applications of Table 2A: Inclusionary Housing Requirement Adjustment Factor.
The item was continued to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2004.
There being no further business to come before the City Council,
the meeting at 11:05 p.m. to Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 7;9p p,
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 2/17/2004
LP: jo
adjourned
:il Chamber,
City Clerk