HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2020-023 N.C.S. 02/03/2020Resolution No. 2020-023 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL APPROVING
USE OF AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO SATISFY INCLUSIONARY
HOUSING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CITY'S PREVIOUS HOUSING
ELEMENT PROGRAM 4.3 FOR THE SID COMMONS PROJECT
WHEREAS, J. Cyril Johnson Investment Corp. ("Applicant") submitted an application
to the City of Petaluma for the Sid Commons apartment project, including Rezoning applications
and an Environmental Impact Report to accommodate residential development at APN 019-010-
006 and 009, located at the northern terminus of Graylawn Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the project application was deemed complete prior to January 1, 2019, and
is therefore not subject to the City's current onsite inclusionary housing requirement as outlined
in IZO Section 3.040 and Housing Element Program 4.3, but rather is subject to the previous
Housing Element Program 4.3; and
WHEREAS, the previous inclusionary housing requirement as specified at Housing
Element Program 4.3, required either dedication of 15% of the units on-site for use as affordable
housing, payment of an in -lieu fee to the City's Housing Fund (at the previous rate), or use of an
alternative method to meet the intent of the inclusionary requirement subject to approval by the
City Council; and
WHEREAS, during the 2018 City Council hearing on the Sid Commons Apartment
DEIR, in response to City Council's expressed desire for on-site affordable housing rather than
payment of the allowable in -lieu fee to the City's Housing Fund, the applicant stated their
intention that the Project provide affordable housing on-site; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has since specified their intended inclusionary housing
proposal as follows:
10% of the total on-site units shall be restricted to rents affordable to families earning
up to the 80% AMI level (low income)
the units shall remain inclusionary for 55 years, and
the unit mix shall mirror that of the overall project and be distributed thorough the
site; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on February 3, 2020
that included consideration of this proposal to accept provision of 10% onsite inclusionary
housing at the low-income level as satisfying affordable housing requirements under the previous
inclusionary housing program, at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be
heard; and
WHEREAS, at said hearing, the City Council considered the staff report dated February
3, 2020, analyzing the request for use of an alternative method to meet the intent of the
inclusionaty requirement; and
Resolution No. 2020-023 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, public notice of the City Council hearing was published in the Petaluma
Argus -Courier and mailed to residents and occupants within 1,000 feet of the Project site in
compliance with state and local law; and
WHEREAS, at a duly noticed hearing on February 3, 2020, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2020-021 N.C.S., certifying an Environmental Impact Report for the Sid
Commons Apartment project, in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA);
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PETALUMA AS FOLLOWS:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
2. Based on its review of the entire record herein, the City Council makes the following
findings:
a. It is the desire of the City Council that Inclusionary Housing units be constructed
throughout the City consistent with the goals, policies, and programs of the City's
Housing Element.
b. As the Sid Commons project application was deemed complete prior to January 1,
2019, it is not subject to the City's current onsite inclusionary housing
requirement as outlined in IZO Section 3.040 and Housing Element Program 4.3,
but to the previous inclusionary housing requirement outlined in former Housing
Element Program 4.3.
c. The project is compliant with the applicable, former Housing Element Program
4.3 in the City's General Plan 2025, 2015-2023 Housing Element (prior to its
amendment on November 19, 2018), which contains the key points of the City's
inclusionary policy: the requirement that residential projects of five or more units
dedicate 15% of the units on-site for use as affordable housing, make an in -lieu
payment to the City's Housing Fund (at the previous rate), or use of an alternative
method to meet the intent of the inclusionary requirement subject to approval by
the City Council.
d. The project proposes an alternative method to meet the intent of the inclusionary
requirement by providing 10% of the project units as affordable to low-income
families.
e. The City's Housing Division estimates that applicable in -lieu fees for the Project
based on square footage of the proposed units would contribute roughly $680,000
to the City's Housing Fund (180 units averaging 960 square feet at the former rate
of $3,773 for a unit of that size), which equates to the average construction cost of
1.2 residential units.
f The proposed alternative method would result in construction 18 10% units (10%)
affordable to families in the low-income range (up to 80% AMI).
g. These units will assist the City in meeting its California Department of Housing
and Community Development specified Regional Housing Needs Allocation
Resolution No. 2020-023 N.C.S. Page 2
(RHNA) numbers. Petaluma's Regional Housing Need Allocation for the 2015-
2023 cycle indicates need for 103 low-income units available at 51% to 80% of
average median income.
h. Construction of 18 affordable units is more desirable than receiving payment into
the City's Housing Fund.
3. Based on its review of the entire record herein, including the February 3, 2020 City
Council staff report, all supporting, referenced, and incorporated documents, and all
comments received, the City Council hereby approves the Sid Commons Apartment
project's alternative method proposal as preferred over payment into the City's
Housing Fund. The City Council hereby authorizes that each of the inclusionary
housing units to be constructed on site (10% of the total number of Project units) be
made affordable to low-income households for a period of at least 55 years, and that
the unit mix shall mirror that of the overall project and be distributed thorough the
site.
4. The applicant commits to provision of 10% onsite inclusionary units at the low-
income level and for a term of 55 years to satisfy the inclusionary housing
requirement for the Sid Commons Apartment Project.
This resolution will be of no force and effect unless and until the Ordinance
upholding the appeal filed by the applicant, overturning the Planning Commission's
denial, and amending the Implementing Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance 2720 N.C.S.
takes effect, and upon Ordinance 2720 N.C.S. taking effect, this resolution will take
effect without further action of the City Council.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 31d day of February
2020, by the following vote:
AYES:
Healy; Kearney; King; McDonnell; Miller
NOES:
Mayor Barrett; Vice Mayor Fischer
ABSENT:
None
ABSTAIN:
None
l
ATTEST:
City Clerk
to
Mayor
Resolution No. 2020-023 N.C.S. Page 3