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one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, such that 45 one-bedroom units, 24 iwo-bedroom <br />units, and one three-bedroom unit would be reserved for lower-income households. <br />The affordable units would be located randomly throughout the complex so as not to <br />cluster the units. <br />HOUSING COMMISSION ACTION AND FEE WAIVER <br />At its September 20, 2007, meeting, the Housing Commission reviewed and <br />recommended approval of an Affordable Housing Agreement (Agreement) with <br />Windstar, which included 53 affordable units (15 percent), with 26 of the units rented at <br />rates affordable to very-low-income households (50 percent of the annual median <br />income for Alameda County) and 27 of the units rented at rates affordable to low- <br />income households (80 percent of the annual median income). <br />Windstar later requested an amendment to the Agreement to increase project <br />affordability and to amend the unit income mix. The request was made in part, to <br />facilitate Windstar's financing plan to pursue tax credits and tax-exempt bonds for the <br />project. The amended Agreement changed the project's affordability so that 20 percent <br />of the units (70 units) will be rented at rates affordable to very-low-income households <br />(50 percent of the annual median income). <br />In recognition of the financial impact of these additional affordable units, the amended <br />Agreement waives the City's in-lieu park dedication fees for 62 of the affordable units. <br />This waiver has a value of approximately $500,000. To assure these funds are <br />available for future park uses, staff is recommending the Lower Income Housing Fund <br />be used to "backfill" the fee payment. While the City has recently been reluctant to use <br />the Lower Income Housing Fund for the payment of private development fee waivers, <br />staff believes the uniqueness of obtaining this significant amount of very-low-income <br />units warrants this action. In addition, the City is agreeing to participate in tax credit and <br />tax exempt bond financing to support the affordability. This participation will not include <br />financial contributions or liability from the City. <br />The Housing Commission reviewed the amended agreement on March 20, 2008, and <br />unanimously recommended approval of the Agreement and fee waiver. Please see the <br />attached Housing Commission staff report and Agreement for additional details. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION <br />The Planning Commission held a public hearing on April, 23, 2008, to review the subject <br />applications. Detailed information on this meeting is provided by the attached excerpts <br />of the Planning Commission minutes. No public spoke at the hearing. The Commission <br />approved the application on a 4-1 vote (Commissioner Fox dissenting) subject to staffs <br />recommended conditions with a modification to the list of commercial uses to make <br />take-out establishments permitted uses. <br />Commissioner Fox indicated that she voted no because she had wanted to mandate <br />that a grocery store occupy the retail space and had wanted to narrow the list of <br />commercial uses to high-traffic uses that would serve the residents and reduce traffic <br />Page 6 of 9 <br />