To: Mayor Randy Rouse and City Council Members
Re: Agenda Item 12; Proposed Disposition and Development Agreement between the City of Santa Barbara and Alliance Bernstein for the Redevelopment at Paseo Nuevo
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:
Citizens Planning Association has made public comment about the Paseo Nuevo proposals at the prior public hearings, most recently at the Planning Commission meeting (See attached). We expressed concerns about compatibility, the need for more affordable units, and the issues with giving the developer city land. Both the Historic Landmark Commission and the PC found many problems with this pending agreement and we urge you to strongly consider their input.
CPA appreciates the efforts of City Manager Kelly McAdoo and her staff. Ms. McAdoo took the time to participate in the CPA Speakers Series several months ago to discuss this proposal. Some of our members also heard her speak at a SBCAN presentation. Although outreach efforts have been made, we still have so many questions.
For today’s hearing, CPA would like to make the following points:
Ceding the land to the developer seems to be a giveaway without value or guarantees in return.
This DDA would violate the current policy that all city leases are to be up to 90 years. What you do today might impact leases throughout the city, to include the waterfront and the airport.
This project as presented does not include enough affordable units. At 10% it does not even make up for the population the total project would bring in, so the city would be a net loser.
As presented, there is no guarantee that additional affordable units would ever be built. (Lot 2). CPA believes finding a suitable site adjacent to the complex would be more financially beneficial than what is being proposed.
In terms of financing, the City made an assumption that the entire maximum line of credit ($120 million) was used, with no proof or even questioning this assumption. We sense that the developers might have less than half that amount. We need more transparency to answer the public’s questions about adequate financing.
CPA looks forward to the revitalization of this property but hopes the City will focus on including much more affordable housing in the project. This is the perfect location to create the kind of workforce housing needed to keep Santa Barbara a vibrant community.
We hope that the public’s questions can be answered today. Perhaps it would be better to not make a decision today when there are so many unanswered questions. CPA supports a project that will bring more affordable housing to the downtown corridor and which will be more compatible with the current height limits called for in our City Charter
Marell Brooks, President
Citizens Planning Association