Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/2008 - Joint Study Session - City Council - Planning Commission SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION February 12, 2008 The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California met in a Special Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission, on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room 1A of City Hall, 77, Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor. I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Bever II. ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Mayor Eric R. Bever Mayor Pro Tern Allan R. Mansoor Council Member Linda W. Dixon Council Member Katrina Foley Council Member Wendy Leece Council Members Absent: None Commissioners Present: Chair Donn Hall Vice Chair James Fisler Commissioner Sam Clark Commissioner Eleanor Egan Commissioner James Righeimer Commissioners Absent: None. Officials Present: City Manager Allan Roeder Assistant City Manager Thomas Hatch City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow Development Services Director Donald Lamm Senior Planner Claire Flynn Management Analyst Hildegard Veturis City Clerk Julie Folcik II. PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Jean Forbath, Chair of the Costa Mesa Housing Coalition, felt there were some miscalculations in the report when identifying the underutilized sites needed for low and the very low income. She encouraged the City to work with the developer for the Fairview Development Center in identifying 102 units for very low and 102 units for low-income. She expressed concern relative to the updated Housing Element passing legal requirement. 2. Kathy Esfahani, member of the Costa Mesa Housing Coalition, and board member of the Public Law Center, was disappointed that the housing element did not deliver the numbers nor a proactive approach to new housing units for the low and very low income levels. She felt that an in-lieu-of fee for the inclusionary housing should be imposed on developers who do not provide for the affordable housing; reporting that of 2173 residential currently proposed or under construction that eight are for affordable housing. 3. Dianne Russell, Member of the Costa Mesa Housing Coalition, and the Kennedy Commission, commented on the number of large families in Costa Mesa and the lack of large affordable rental units and the potential for overcrowding. Suggested looking at motels for small family rentals. 4. Ann Boussard, Member of the Child Care Connections, and of the Kennedy Commission, felt that along with affordable housing that adequate and affordable childcare also needs to be provided, and suggested that development be required to have one unit dedicated to the use for providing child care by a licensed provider. 5. Martin Millard, Costa Mesa, pointed out that there was nothing in the report regarding the removing of the barrack and "slum-style" apartments; commenting it was an attractive site for criminals. He felt that the City needs to take a proactive approach to improve the city in the way of crime and housing. 6. Scott Gayner, Western Community Housing, a non profit affordable housing company, offered their services to be a part of the solution in Costa Mesa. 7. Caesar (Last Name in audible), member of the Kennedy. Commission, expressed concern that the draft report focused on two sites to meet the City's need for affordable housing and suggested direct programs that would address specific sites to accommodate the affordable housing requirement 8. Linda Tang, member of the Kennedy Commission, a recent college graduate commented that the housing element is an opportunity to develop policies and housing that would ultimately create affordable accommodation for students and new graduates like herself. 9. William O'Connell, Colette's Children's Home, presented some statistics on the homeless that the Home serviced in Costa Mesa in the past year, he commented on the need for affordable housing. IV. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65588 (e) (1) - Discuss Draft City of Costa Mesa Housing Element. Development Services Director Donald Lamm, explained the housing element and announced the beginning of the required 60-day review and the timeline for the review and submittal of the City's final housing element to the State. Claire Flynn, Senior Planner, commented on the order events following the review of draft Housing Element. Management Analyst Hildegard Veturis gave a review of the public outreach that had taken place in the preparation of the draft Housing Element. Veronica Tam, Veronica Tam and Associates, consultant in the preparation of the City's Housing Element, explained the state requirement in the updating of the Housing Element every five years, touched on the components such as citizen participation, housing needs assessment of the demographic needs of the community, identification of the constraints in meeting the needs, identification of the resources and opportunities, goals and policies. She presented a summary of the draft housing element providing statistics and the status of meeting those goals of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. With the Development Services Director and the Senior Planner, Ms. Tam responded to the City Council and the Planning Commissioners' questions regarding the plan for compliance, non-compliance penalties, underutilized sites, conversion of density versus Floor Area Ratio (FAR), ideas for additional senior housing, motel conversions, the general housing market; parking issues, housing credits, Single Room Occupancy (SRO's), economic factors, and incentives such as in-lieu-of fees. There was no action taken on the item. V. CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS There were no comments presented. VI. ADJOURNMENT: The Mayor declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The next Regular Meeting will be held February 19, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. Eric R. Bever, Mayor ATTEST: Julie olcik, City - lerk