HAC Minutes-2008-01-31
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
OF THE
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
JANUARY 31, 2008
Commission Attendance
Present: Joanne Marquez, Laura Freese, Gene Ratcliffe, Mary Ann Groover
(arrived at 6:14 p.m.)
Absent: Marie Buckner (excused)
Staff Present: Lynnette Lehmann, Senior Management Analyst
Steven A. Apple, Planning Director
Grant Taylor, Assistant Planning Director
A. CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Freese called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
and introduced Mr. William Bonney from the audience, the newly appointed
Housing Advisory Committee member as of February 1, 2008.
B. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
C. MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007 – The minutes of November 28, 2008 were
approved unanimously.
D. OLD BUSINESS
Continued Consideration of General Plan Amendment (GPA) 06-01, Rezone
(RZ) 06-01, Architectural Control (AC) 05-01, Tentative Tract Map (TTM) 17250,
Villa Montana, a request for approval of planning applications to allow the
development of a 163-unit multi-family, apartment complex on an existing 9.7
gross acre parcel located on the north side of Vista Montana about 370 feet west
of La Pata Avenue (Applicant: Whispering Hills, LLC; Dennis Gage)(Case
Manager: William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Planner)-Staff recommended that the
item be continued to the next meeting on February 27, 2008 at 6 p.m. because
the applicant had failed to submit the draft pro-forma in time to allow review by
the City prior to the packet distribution.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
January 31, 2008
Page - 2 -
Member Ratcliffe made a motion to continue the General Plan Amendment
(GPA) 06-01, Rezone (RZ) 06-01, Architectural Control (AC) 05-01, Tentative
Tract Map (TTM) 17250 for Villa Montana to their next meeting on February 27,
2008 at 6 p.m. The motion was seconded by Member Marquez, and carried 4-0.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of Draft 2008 Housing Element Update (Case Manager:
Lynnette Lehmann, Senior Management Analyst) – Ms. Lehmann
provided a summary of the state requirement to update the City’s Housing
Element and discussed the schedule for review of the rough draft
document.
Ms. Lehmann introduced the City’s consultant, Mr. Mike McLaughlin of
SourcePoint. He stated the rough draft of the Housing Element must meet
specific state requirements while also taking into consideration the City’s
unique character. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that the City must identify its
progress in meeting the goals and objectives set forth in the current
Housing Element from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2008. The new
Housing Element will cover the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30,
2014 and must be approved by the City Council. The State of California
Department of Housing and Community Development will determine if the
new Housing Element complies with state law.
Mr. McLaughlin discussed various state-mandated provisions included in
the various chapters and noted that the 2000 Census information had
been updated to account for anticipated trends. It was also pointed out
that the newly adopted Southern California Association of Government’s
Regional Housing Needs Assessment numbers have been included in the
document as required by state law. These numbers identify the number of
new residential units by income category to be constructed during the time
period.
Mr. McLaughlin identified the proposed review process for the Housing
Element and noted that, upon City Council authorization to submit the
document to the state, the state has 90 days to review and comment on
whether the document meets state regulations.
Chairperson Freese opened the floor for public input and comments.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
January 31, 2008
Page - 3 -
Ms. Yvonne Tschaikowsky addressed the Committee and encouraged
revitalization of the downtown commercial centers, protection of the
community’s character, continuation of the mobile home park rent control,
emergency rent relief, first-time home buyer assistance, and rental
assistance programs. Ms. Tschaikowsky expressed concern that the
document indicates the City will never be built out if the City must continue
providing new housing construction, resulting in increased intensification
of land use, high density development, and impacts on schools and
infrastructure. She further raised a question about regulating care
facilities.
Mr. McLaughlin explained that he would clarify the language to indicate
that changes within the City, such as redesign of commercial property for
residential use, would protect the character of the City while providing for
new residential construction. Mr. Apple further clarified that the City was
including opportunities for mixed use and secondary dwelling units in
commercial areas rather than proposing zone changes. Care facilities of
six or fewer persons cannot be regulated per state law and that this
cannot be addressed in the housing element.
Mr. Jim Vance, 32802 Valle Road, addressed the Committee and
expressed concern with how the City is assisting the lower income
households. He noted the need for laws to protect these households and
questioned whether there are any model cities that have done a good job
meeting their affordable housing requirements.
Mr. McLaughlin indicated that the City of San Marcos has done a good job
in providing affordable housing and has, in fact, constructed more than
their required number of affordable units. However, it was noted that
housing for lower and moderate income households is a social crisis
because people cannot afford to live here.
Ms. Rosanne Kercel of the Kennedy Commission expressed support for
the City’s serious efforts thus far to address the need for affordable
housing. Ms. Kercel discussed the affordable units in Talega in San
Clemente stating that people have old ideas about low-income housing
that are simply not true any longer. She also supported home care
facilities in the community.
Mr. Richard Winfrey, 32802 Valle Road, stated he was the president of the
Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park, and that the units in the park are
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
January 31, 2008
Page - 4 -
affordable and at risk of being lost due to the proposed mobile home park
closure.
Mr. Apple clarified that the mobile home park units are not considered
“affordable units” because they are not deed restricted.
There being no further public input, Chairperson Freese closed the floor
for public comments. The Committee provided the following comments on
the draft Housing Element update:
• The Committee supported mixed-use commercial/residential
development to provide transit-oriented housing close to downtown
businesses that employ service workers. Mixed-use development
would reduce traffic because service workers could walk to their
jobs.
• The Talega affordable housing units in San Clemente are not
distinguishable from the market rate units.
• Zone changes may be required to provide family affordable
housing and that would be appropriate.
• Use of designated open space land for affordable housing is not
appropriate.
• Using granny flats for affordable housing was supported. The City
may want to look into pre-approved architectural designs for
granny flats to encourage people to construct secondary dwelling
units.
• Creative solutions for affordable housing units should be
investigated to maintain the charm of San Juan Capistrano.
• Work force affordable housing can be very attractive. Some of the
work force housing in Santa Barbara has ocean views and the
Habitat for Humanity homes are beautiful.
• Housing in-lieu fees must be increased.
• Affordable housing units need to be included within new
developments rather than paying in-lieu fees.
• May want to consider assisted living affordable housing units.
• The land inventory includes potential affordable housing sites that
demonstrate there is sufficient land to construct the City’s Regional
Housing Needs Assessment requirements. Some of the sites on
the inventory may not necessarily be available.
Housing Advisory Committee Minutes
January 31, 2008
Page - 5 -
Member Marquez made a motion to forward consideration of the draft
Housing Element update document to the Planning Commission for
comments. The motion was seconded by Member Ratcliffe, and passed
4-0.
2. Housing Program Status Report (Case Manager: Lynnette Lehmann,
Senior Management Analyst) – Ms. Lehmann gave an oral report on the
status of the various housing programs and projects as identified in the
staff report.
Mr. Jim Vance spoke regarding the 2007 HOME grant award and inquired
about whether the funds would be eligible to assist mobile home owners in
the Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park.
Ms. Sally Garibaldi, 32802 Valle Road, Space 34, addressed the
Committee. She discussed the proposed mobile home park closure
impacts on real estate sales in the park. In addition, she indicated she
was denied a housing rehabilitation loan for her leaky roof in 2004 and
wondered if any of the new grant funds were available to assist people in
Capistrano Terrace Mobile Home Park.
Staff indicated that the City would review her previous request for
assistance to determine why she had been denied a housing rehabilitation
loan. Ms. Lehmann requested that Mr. Garibaldi contact the City to place
her name on the City’s waiting list.
F. COMMITTEE/STAFF COMMENTS – None.
G. ADJOURNMENT – The Housing Advisory Committee adjourned the meeting at
7:45 p.m. to February 27, 2008 at 6 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Douglas Dumhart, Secretary
APPROVED: _______________