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City Manager Fialho said it is specific as to how to count a unit. The Initiative defines the <br /> characteristics of housing units. Staffs concern is that if an assisted living facility comes <br /> forward that has those characteristics; staff would have to count it. He confirmed the Initiative <br /> was not retroactive, so the City would not count what has already been built towards the cap, <br /> and the only concern that has been raised in the report is the proposed assisted living facilities <br /> on Staples Ranch at this time. <br /> Councilmember Sullivan said the current direction given is to count 240 units toward the cap. <br /> Assuming the project gets approved, he confirmed with City Manager Fialho that the last <br /> proposal submitted to the City would cause staff to count an additional 396 units towards the <br /> cap. <br /> Councilmember McGovern said the City has also used a definition of a housing unit in the past <br /> and in looking at the November 29, 2005 Joint City Council/Planning Commission minutes on <br /> land use, it talks about the Department of Housing and Community Development and defining a <br /> unit. She questioned whether or not assisted living affordable housing units are counted at the <br /> below market rate as part of our regional housing needs. <br /> Mr. Iserson said they can be counted and City Attorney Roush noted the City is likely to count <br /> as many units as it can toward its regional housing needs. <br /> Councilmember McGovern said even though they are not counted towards the housing cap, <br /> they are still of great value toward meeting the City's regional housing needs, especially if they <br /> are moderate or low income units. <br /> Mayor Hosterman opened public comment. <br /> Allen Roberts said the Council is interested in placing an Initiative on the ballot to compete with <br /> the one signed by 5,000 voters. The Initiative would not have any substantive effect but would <br /> be a plan to create a plan but would trump the voter-sponsored Initiative. He questioned if 18 <br /> months was realistic and that time frame would give a large enough window for developers to <br /> get their projects approved, which would allow something to be enacted to save the hillsides <br /> after they have already been wined. He felt citizens should have the chance to get a vote on the <br /> citizen's Initiative without the interference of a Council-sponsored plan. He urged the Council to <br /> either do a companion Initiative or Option 4, which is to do nothing. <br /> Lance Smith, Greenbrier Homes, applauded the Council for their decision to not adopt the <br /> Initiative but to place it before the voters. He asked the Council to follow staff recommendation 2 <br /> of the report to place a measure on the ballot that reaffirms the ridgeline protections in the <br /> General Plan and additionally, to establish a simple and clear hillside pllan. He discussed <br /> benefits Greenbriar Homes provided the City through various developments, discussed projects <br /> that do not threaten hillsides or ridge tops and are threatened by the Initiative, discussed issues <br /> of the Initiative and questioned what it would protect, noting its vague and confusing language <br /> which he believed would result in litigation. <br /> Julie Rasnick said if people want to protect the hillsides they will vote for the Initiative signed by <br /> over 5,000 voters and anything else put on the ballot will risk the hillsides and ridgelines. <br /> Carolyn Newton said in the 1996 General Plan, there are clear references for the need to <br /> protect hillsides, said the citizen's Initiative has environmental protections through leaving land <br /> in its natural state and inevitably developers will threaten to sue the City and try to convince the <br /> Special Meeting Minutes 9 June 26, 2008 <br />