HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.D 04/18/2011 Late Document 241
From: ADC Director [adc.director @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April, 18, 2011 12;22 AM
To: David Glass; councilmah.albertson @ gmail.com; teresa4petaluma @comcast.net;
mike4pet @aol.com; mthealy @sbcglobal.net; councilmemberkearney @me.com;
tiff @tiffanyrenee.com
Cc: - City Clerk
Subject: Support for Petaluma commercial workforce housing fee
Attachments: ADC letter Petaluma CC 4 -18 -11 workforce housing.doc
Please review enclosed letter from the Accountable Development Coalition
Ben Boyce
Coordinator
Accountable Development Coalition
P.O. Box 1,862
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
(707) 935 -1642 (office)
(707) 478 -9663 (cell)
adc. director(a),gm ai l . com
www.accountabledevelopmentcoalition.org
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P.O. Box 1.862
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Phone: (707) 478 -9663
Email: adc.director@gmail.com
April 18th, 2011
Petaluma City Council
11 English St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
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Mayor Glass and Petaluma City Council,
The Accountable Development Coalition has in its charter seven founding principles, one
of which is support for adequate levels of affordable housing available to every income
strata. All of our members, which include housing, environmental, labor, and land -use
organizations, share the belief that it is the role of local government to ensure that the
housing needs of a city's residents are met through intelligent public policy. It is well -
known that commercial development has a strong impact on the area's housing market,
particularly the availability of affordable housing accessible to non - managerial
employees. The commercial workforce housing fee has been adopted by other large
jurisdictionsjin the area (Sonoma County, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and
Sonoma) as a proven way to increase the stock of affordable housing.
Additionally;, local funding is essential in order for projects to meet "local share of cost"
requirements in state and federal housing funding programs. To maintain funding sources
for affordable housing in light of the strong connection between new Commercial
development and the demand for affordable housing, we strongly recommend that the
City retain the commercial jobs /housing linkage fee. This is the kind of rational regulation
and socially beneficial policy that should not be cavalierly tossed aside in the futile attempt
to attract buIsinesse,s based on a race to the bottom. The bottom will keep receding.
We need regional norms that set the bar for sustainable and socially equitable
development. Rescinding this fee will not make the jobs /housing imbalance, and the
attendant social, economic, and environmental problems, go away. It would not be sound
public policyAo allow new commercial building in the city, with its high rate of vacancies.
(40% office /13% retail/ 19% industrial) without linking a workforce housing fee.
Thank You,
Ben Boyce
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ADC Coordinator
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