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AmCan council ups fees for home developers
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CommentResidential developers will pay a chunk more to build houses in American Canyon, in an effort to spur the construction of affordable housing in the city, the American Canyon City Council voted Tuesday.
The 4-1 vote means that developers of five or more units will pay $38,770 per unit, instead of $3,000 per unit, if they choose not to set aside 10 percent of all homes in their development for affordable housing.
The 4-1 vote means that developers of five or more units will pay $38,770 per unit, instead of $3,000 per unit, if they choose not to set aside 10 percent of all homes in their development for affordable housing.
Money from the developer fees will go to rehabilitate houses and build affordable homes, according to David Paul Rosen and Associates, a consultant hired by the city.
The council postponed a vote on a fee hike on non-residential developments after City Manager Rich Ramirez recommended that American Canyon first prepare an economic study. The study, focusing on how the city spends its tax revenues in the future, could be completed "after the first of the year," he said.
The council postponed a vote on a fee hike on non-residential developments after City Manager Rich Ramirez recommended that American Canyon first prepare an economic study. The study, focusing on how the city spends its tax revenues in the future, could be completed "after the first of the year," he said.
Councilwoman Cindy Coffey voted against hiking the developer fee 1,292 percent per residential unit, arguing the decision should be delayed until after the economic plan is done.
"Why the rush?" she said, adding that Town Center and Oat Hill, two developments in American Canyon where hundreds of new homes could be built, are five years away from being developed.
"Why the rush?" she said, adding that Town Center and Oat Hill, two developments in American Canyon where hundreds of new homes could be built, are five years away from being developed.
Mayor Cecil Shaver said he supported the new rates.
"My goal is to get the developers to build the inclusionary housing" rather than pay the fees, he said. Boosting the fees might be an incentive for developers to build low- and moderate-income housing rather than pay the fees that grant them the right not to do so.
The previous city planning director, Barry Cromartie, proposed earlier this summer charging housing fees to non-residential developments.
The city also considered hiking traffic mitigation fees paid by developers, but the City Council decided to defer that decision until the economic study is done.
In another matter, the City Council voted unanimously to rezone 11 commercial properties along Highway 29 to allow more housing on commercially-zoned land than the current city rules allow. That move is designed to help meet state housing requirements.
Under state law, the city has to have the land available to build enough housing units for all its residents but is not required to build the residential houses, condominiums and apartments.
On Wednesday, the Napa County Airport Land Use Commission, which approves land use in the airport area, unanimously gave the green light to the city's housing plan.
A 25-acre property where Richard Hess had proposed affordable housing was not included in the plan. The land lies in an area where residential houses are not allowed, according to the land use commission.
"My goal is to get the developers to build the inclusionary housing" rather than pay the fees, he said. Boosting the fees might be an incentive for developers to build low- and moderate-income housing rather than pay the fees that grant them the right not to do so.
The previous city planning director, Barry Cromartie, proposed earlier this summer charging housing fees to non-residential developments.
The city also considered hiking traffic mitigation fees paid by developers, but the City Council decided to defer that decision until the economic study is done.
In another matter, the City Council voted unanimously to rezone 11 commercial properties along Highway 29 to allow more housing on commercially-zoned land than the current city rules allow. That move is designed to help meet state housing requirements.
Under state law, the city has to have the land available to build enough housing units for all its residents but is not required to build the residential houses, condominiums and apartments.
On Wednesday, the Napa County Airport Land Use Commission, which approves land use in the airport area, unanimously gave the green light to the city's housing plan.
A 25-acre property where Richard Hess had proposed affordable housing was not included in the plan. The land lies in an area where residential houses are not allowed, according to the land use commission.
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