The San Juan Bautista City Council on Aug. 18 will consider amending its Municipal Code regarding single family residential lots to encourage the development of affordable housing.
The city’s planning commission is recommending at the council change the municipal code to reflect a new approach to housing development in the R-1 single family district. There will be a public hearing concerning the proposed amendment at Tuesday’s 6 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 311 Second St.
The planning commission over the last six months has analyzed, reviewed and considered various alternate ways to encourage development of affordable housing within the city. According to a city staff report, “Our inclusionary housing regulations provide a structured and fixed percentage of affordable units that often does not produce results.” The commission considered changing the development standards that would “allow the private real estate marketplace, with the proper tools and mechanisms, to be more efficient and cost-effective in the construction of housing with emphasis on encouraging smaller units on smaller lots.”
The idea is that the code amendment “would indirectly encourage lower housing costs by reducing the size of the homes and lot,” the staff report says. A zoning district for single family residential development with provisions for variable lot sizes would “provide the ability to encourage design diversity, variation in building sized to meet entry-level and first-time home buyers.”
Staff reports and the full text of the proposed development standards will be available for public review at City Hall prior to the meeting. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and may address the City Council on the issues during the public hearing.
Written comments may be hand-delivered or mailed to City hall or e-mailed, not later than 1 p.m. on Aug. 17.
If approved, the amendment to the Municipal Code will become effective 30 days after approval by the city council.