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a flexible approach to negotiating how residential projects may meet their affordable housing <br />requirement. In addition to affordable units being provided on-site (such as in the higher density <br />"Vines" and "Andares" developments), affordable housing fee payments and land dedication <br />have also been accepted. A copy of the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance is included for reference <br />as Attachment 2. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Most Below Market Rate (BMR) ownership homes have been duets, townhomes, multi -family or <br />smaller, detached single-family units of approximately 1,200 sf. There are no larger single-family <br />BMR homes in the City's inventory and staff and the City Council have traditionally not pursued <br />that type due to the significant gap between the market sales price of the homes and sales prices <br />which are affordable for low and moderate income households. For example, using the current <br />median list price per square foot for homes in Pleasanton of $561, a 2,500 sf single family home <br />would be priced at approximately $1.4 million. The mortgage that a low income household of <br />four could afford (at 80% of Area Median Income) would be approximately $270,000. The <br />significant subsidy gap creates a "windfall" perception for individual homeowners, does not <br />maximize affordable housing goals which may serve more residents through other housing <br />development opportunities and programs, and is economically infeasible. Historically, <br />developments with larger single family units such as the Lund Ranch and the Village at Valley <br />Trails projects, have provided fee payments in lieu of providing units on site. These fee <br />payments have been an important funding source for affordable housing goals at other sites, <br />including Kottinger Gardens Phases 1 & 2, and in funding programs which support the variety of <br />Housing Element goals. <br />As the Commission is aware, the City Council approved an update to the City's Lower Income <br />Housing fee in September 18, 2018. As part of that approval, the City Council acknowledged <br />that a small number of projects were "in process" and had been conceived and proposed prior <br />to the consideration of the new fee. Council chose to exempt these projects from the new fee <br />and directed staff to pursue payment of the fees that could be justified by the Economic and <br />Planning Systems Nexus Based Affordable Housing Fee Analysis report completed 2013. The <br />Spotorno Ranch Project was one of these projects specifically identified for this exemption. <br />Staff met with the Applicant and discussed how the Development will comply with the <br />requirements of the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance ("IZO"). In recognition of the significant need <br />for resources to advance the City's affordable housing goals in the future, the Applicant has <br />proposed to pay the current Lower Income Housing Fee and to make an affordable housing <br />contribution to the City that when combined with the LIHF would be equal to the maximum lower <br />income housing fee, adjusted by unit size, which was recommended in the 2013 Nexus Study. <br />The 2013 report, which was discussed with the Commission, recommended that single-family <br />homes pay fees on a sliding scale based on a home's square footage. That fee scale is reflected <br />in the Affordable Housing Agreement. <br />Additionally, the Applicant is proposing to construct Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on at least <br />twenty percent (20%) of the lots scattered throughout the Development. In applying and <br />calculating this requirement, any decimal fraction less than or equal to 0.50 may be disregarded, <br />and any decimal fraction greater than 0.50 shall be construed as one Accessory Dwelling Unit. <br />Page-3- <br />