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DRAFT with the developer when Commissioner Posson brought it up, but she is not willing to go any further than that. She stated that it does sound like the Commission is establishing a system and then throwing stuff on it at the last minute, and she is not willing to do that at this point. With respect to affordable housing, Commissioner Pearce expressed appreciation for those who came down to the meeting and noted that it would be within the Planning Commission's purview if the City did not have a Housing Commission, but it does, and that is that Commission's responsibility. She added that she also hears what the Housing Commission is saying with regard to the fact that it does not have any policy direction and sees that as a continuing issue as more and more of these properties come forward. She proposed sending a recommendation up to the City Council regarding the need to establish policy, whether it be for more affordable units or for deeper affordability. She indicated that the Housing Commission needs some kind of direction so its members are not just going in blind; perhaps a workshop at the Housing Commission level is necessary where all those involved can be present. She then stated that the colors are fine, including the mustard yellow. Commissioner Olson indicated that this is a great project, and the colors on the buildings are fine although he does not like mustard-yellow. With respect to solar, he noted that the cost of those panels has been dropping dramatically and probably will continue to drop; however, his view is that the Commission needs to stay on the LEED program, and the fact that the project is at 100 points right now, the developer should be complimented. He added that they can maybe get some more points, but he does not want to engineer that and say that they have to go all the way with the solar. Commissioner Olson stated that one of the problems he has relative to affordable housing is that he spent his career in finance, and he does not know how this gets financed. He added that he thinks expecting the developer to do it is not right, keeping in mind that the judge had indicated that these projects have to be economically viable, which means that the developer has to make a profit. He noted that if the City wants more affordable housing, it needs to address how it should be financed and not just telling developers that they have to do it. He stated that he thinks the Housing Commission should be spending a lot of time on how to get financing for these projects. He added that he senses there is a pull of one option versus another, such that the more units are thrown in there, the more impact there would be on the economic viability of the project. He noted that this community is a high-cost housing community and has been that way for a while. He indicated that he supports this project and recommends that it be forwarded to the City Council. Chair Blank indicated that he would re-open the public hearing to ask the developer or their representative to come forward and address Commissioner Posson's question regarding what their incentive would be to install solar panels on residential rental units five years down the road if they are not required to do so at this point. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS RE-OPENED. DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 3/27/2013 Page 19 of 22