Citizens Planning Association has participated in the public process regarding planning and housing for more than 63 years. We recently hosted City Planner Allison deBusk at our monthly Speakers Series. Ms. deBusk included information about the AUD process during her presentation. We appreciated her encouragement to participate in today’s discussion.
CPA board members have read the progress report and would like to make the following brief comments:
We support the idea that any new housing created must create workforce and low income housing.
As members of the Allied Neighborhood Association, CPA strongly supports the comments submitted by Ms. Turley. We agree that 90 year affordability covenants and similar covenants are needed to protect and preserve any newly created ‘affordable’ units. The term ‘affordable’ does need clear definition.
We also have many concerns about the negative impacts of State Mandates and the current Housing Element update due to lack of transparency in the process and the attempts by the State to take over ‘planning’ in our communities. We hope the AUD process will continue to follow SB city guidelines, not poorly conceived State mandates.
CPA also supports the letter by the League of Women Voters. The AUD program must be laser-focused on creating lower income and workforce housing. There needs to be close consideration of the AUD program as the Housing Element update is finalized.
CPA supports the use of story poles for projects in the City. We have previously commented that in the spirit of transparency and to increase public involvement in the planning process, story poles should be mandatory for all projects.
Lastly, CPA is concerned that the existing AUD mapping puts the highest-density area in the most historic part of the downtown, and we feel that is a big mistake. CPA considers the historic areas as our city’s most precious resource and we feel any development must be especially sensitive to the historic and cultural significance in its design and building requirements such as adequate off street parking. The Pueblo Viejo Guidelines should drive any projects in this area. Perhaps future mapping can spread out AUD projects in less sensitive areas.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. CPA appreciates staff’s efforts in creating this progress report and giving the public some opportunity to particpate in the process.
Marell Brooks
President
Citizens Planning Association