CCMIN 03162021 - Laserfiche WebLink

the inevitable increase in demand. She noted some significant proposals are coming through the State legislature to help support affordable housing production through subsidies and incentives and advised the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) has been formed to help be a resource to meet the forthcoming challenges. In response to Councilmember Arkin's inquiry, Associate Planner Hagen confirmed there will be near- continuous opportunities for the community to express concerns through the City's website, surveys, social media, City Council meetings, email blasts, and other vehicles. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Director Clark anticipates email outreach to commercial property owners along with phone calls soliciting interest in redeveloping their properties into housing. She explained there is already a strategic relationship in place with most large commercial owners such as James Paxson in Hacienda. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Director Clark explained mobile home parks are some of the more protective classes on a state level for being some of the community's most affordable housing units. She advised encouraging more mobile home parks could be a discussion point in the Housing Element creation process. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Director Clark explained it is a common planning principle to concentrate density where there is access to things like transit and shopping. She stated there can be opportunities to create neighborhoods through denser housing, but typically density is focused on areas where you have the most access to things like transit and shopping. In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Director Clark explained that housing for seniors is a specific category the City is required to plan for in the Housing Element. She clarified HCD is looking for housing in all sectors and not just seniors. Mayor Brown opened public comment. Becky Dennis expressed concerns over the State's numbers on what sorts of housing should be built, especially the mandated above moderate-income units. She noted the allocations will put the City in conflict to meet the State's climate goals. Additionally, she does not wish to see the South Bay's predicament of jobs with not enough housing and expressed hopes the City can seek legal refuge. She expressed support for going directly to commercial properties and suggested adding to the Affordable Housing Fund through collected fees. Mayor Brown closed public comment. Councilmember Narum advised she was a part of the 2012 Task Force which was given 12 months by the courts to get 74 acres identified and rezoned for the Housing Element. She termed it a good process but stated it took 12 months to identify sites for 2,400 units whereas now the City is looking at 6,000. She called to get the 18-month process going to maximize time to work with the community and come up with creative solutions. She advised that even if the units have been double counted, 3,000 units are still 20% more than the last cycle. She noted there is a silver lining in being able to build housing to better attract certain types of people to the community like young teachers, seniors, or another Sunflower Hill-style project. Councilmember Narum expressed support for the proposed robust public participation plan and believes it is critical. She hopes the future BART parking lot at Hacienda can count towards the new RHNA number. She noted in 2012 there were property owners who expressed their disinterest in being rezoned alongside those who requested to be rezoned. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 15 March 16. 2021