City Council Approves Affordable Housing Minimums for Mixed Use Developments

At the city council meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, the often-revisited mandate to add affordable housing requirements to developments won approval.

Council member Albert Vera, Jr. made the motion to approve the ordinance as it was presented, “I think we could be a model for other communities [on affordable housing],”  and was seconded my council member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin. 

The ordinance, which requires 15% of units in new mixed development be set as affordable housing, is a municipal reflection supporting state law, AB 1505, That rule states that California “requires as a condition of the development of residential rental units that more than 15% of the total number of units rented in the development be affordable to, and occupied by, households at 80% or less of the area median income.”

Vice Mayor Daniel Lee, suggested increasing the requirement to 20%, but the council stayed with 15%. 

There is also a requirement of an annual review to make sure that projects will be built to the standards approved. Council member Goran Eriksson offered that he was very pleased with that as a check on the process. 

The council approved the ordinance with five ayes. 

Judith Martin-Straw

The Actors' Gang

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