Scotts Valley hosted a virtual public workshop May 30 to discuss the draft Housing Element that was released May 19, but the meeting yielded few comments and was cut off after less than an hour—before all comments could be aired verbally.
The all-important residential development planning document is being developed by contractor Kimley-Horn. It’s required to plan for the construction of at least 1,220 homes, including 417 for people of above moderate income, 154 of moderate income, 257 of low income and 392 of very low income.
In fact, the current plan has built-in development opportunities for 78% more homes than required—2,173 total units, including 164% more above moderate units than required (1,099 in total), 9% more moderate units than required (168), and 40% more low and very low units than required (906 split between the two categories).
Jun Kim, a Kimley-Horn rep, noted all sites may not develop as they are anticipating.
Ines Galmiche, also of Kimley-Horn, said they tried to promote a balanced mix of housing types and price points, but declined to go too in-depth about the actual draft Housing Element.
“We would be here all night if we went through every single program in the plan,” she said.
She highlighted new municipal components they suggest bringing to life, such as removing development constraints, developing a required Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing program and making way for agricultural and employee housing.
“There’s also a program to update the City’s definition of family,” she said.
Galmiche used this as an example of some of the changes locals can expect.
“This City shall amend its definition of ‘Family’ to remove limitations to the number of unrelated persons and differentiation between related and unrelated individuals living together, as prohibited by the California Constitution,” the slide read.
She explained this would come into being, by the end of 2024, by adopting a zoning ordinance amendment through the planning department and would be paid for using General Fund money.
Galmiche referred people with opinions on the draft to an online form—found on the City’s website—they’re using to collect feedback.
“We urge you to submit them through the form,” she said. “This way we can collect everything in one place.”
She responded to an online question about how comments will be handled, saying they will be incorporated into a future draft for consideration by officials, and answered a Zoom speaker who wondered if their assumptions about affordable housing production were realistic (she said they were, noting the City has control over one of the main projects featured in the Housing Element).
There were only two other commenters who spoke before the meeting got cut off 48 minutes after it was scheduled to start.
One, who said he was a property owner on Scotts Valley Drive, argued easing up the commercial requirement (from 50 to 70%) wasn’t enough.
“I just really don’t think this can be successful unless we bring the commercial component much smaller,” he said. “The numbers are just too large. Under this 70% rule, I would not be able to go forward on any development on my property.”
Housing advocate Kalisha Webster asked about implementation programs for special needs individuals.
Galmiche said their sections on housing for low-income people and on emergency shelters are the relevant parts of the draft that address this topic. However, the meeting ended before another comment could be addressed.
