CC MIN 02082022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Councilmember Balch clarified 150 units is his intent and he is trying to reach it with staffs guidance about needing to have a range to meet HCD standards. He advised he is open to a friendly amendment but explained they need to have a range to hit the targeted midpoint. Councilmember Arkin clarified she would like to see 150 units be the top end of the range. Director Clark stated a range of 8 to 14 units per acre would yield 142 at the top end but would also have a lower assumed capacity. Councilmember Balch advised he would like to see if they have the votes without the amendment for the 8 to 20 units per acre range. Mayor Brown agreed 200 units seems like a large number but advised it does not mean the city Council is approving it. She expressed her belief the traffic study will show First Street is highly impacted making it difficult to build 200 units. She noted this site is harder to work on and so many other sites will be easier. She encouraged the Councilmembers to work hard towards a compromise. Councilmember Balch reported he does not mind trying to get 150 as a target but clarified he is working within the framework staff is requesting the City Council adhere to. He noted if they reduce the density too much it may work against PUSD's goals for the site. He explained if the density is too low it may not achieve the goal of producing workforce housing for teachers. Mayor Brown advised it is a large site at 10.7 acres so she foresees having units of a variety of sizes. Councilmember Balch agreed but left himself unsure of where it leaves the City Council. Councilmember Narum expressed confusion regarding the commercial component. She expressed concerns noting all commercial spaces added near the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in the last housing cycle which have remained empty for years. She advised she is open to allowing commercial uses but would not like to mandate it due to the potential for slow leasing. Councilmember Balch advised his motion did not include a commercial element, noting the commercial vacancies on Main Street. Councilmember Narum inquired if Councilmember Balch is open to an option for commercial usage even just for a small neighborhood store. Mayor Brown advised she does not want a 7-Eleven in this space. In response to Mayor Brown, Director Clark clarified sites listed with a specific number and not a range are those where the City has a developer's proposal or where the site is not conducive to a range. She advised it would be better, especially for reuse sites, to have a range. She noted the City regularly allows for mixed density across a site so long as the aggregate density does not exceed the maximum. She advised this could allow for a combination of denser workforce-oriented units alongside single- family houses or townhouses on the site. Councilmember Arkin suggested changing the density range to 8 to 16 units. Director Clark reported this would make the capacity assumption 122 units. In response to Councilmember Balch, Director Clark confirmed they can state there is an allowance for blended densities on the site. Councilmember Balch agreed to amend his motion to make the density range 8 to 16 units. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 27 February 8, 2022