1 From: Goleta, CA <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2022 8:56 AM
To: Stuart Kasdin <[email protected]>
Subject: Overcrowding
Message submitted from the <Goleta, CA> website.
Site Visitor Name: Jim
Site Visitor Email: [email protected]
I’ve been watching in horror as the state and city push an unsustainable housing agenda. The more you build the more people from out of town/state will move here (have you seen the weather map for the rest of the country?) you are ruining our way of life!! You can’t just keep building, we have to change this idea that you can have everything you want, we have created a society of soft, entitled people that believe we owe them, continually building is UNSUSTAINABLE!! Please read the science that clearly shows we are running out of water, I left the area for 10 years while I worked my ass off to be able to return, I didn’t blame anyone, I put my big boy pants on and went to work. Let Lompoc and Santa Maria grow, they want it! There is a reason people from LA come here for the weekend…. They want out of the crowds, don’t turn SB into LA
1 From: Jennifer McGovern <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 6:36 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: Anne Wells
Subject: Re: Support letter for City of Goleta Housing Element Attachments: HTF Support of Goleta Housing Element.pdf
Dear City Clerk:
Please see the attached letter from the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County in support of the City of Goleta’s Ho
using Element.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Jennifer
Jennifer McGovern
Presiden
t and CEO
Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County
P. O. Box 60909
Santa Barbara, CA 93160-0909
(805) 685-1949
www.sbhousingtrust.org
Housing Trust Fund Of Santa Barbara County P.O. Box 60909, Santa Barbara, CA 93160-0909 (805) 685-1949 January 10, 2023 Paul McDougall, Senior Program Manager Division of Housing Policy Development Department of Housing and Community Development 2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95833 RE: City of Goleta Housing Element Dear Mr. McDougall: The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County (HTF) is a non-profit financing initiative whose mission is to expand affordable housing opportunities for low-to-middle income residents and workers of Santa Barbara County, California. Since HTF began our operations in 2005, we have raised $13 million in private and public capital to support our Revolving Loan Fund for affordable housing production and a countrywide Workforce Homebuyer Program. We provide low-cost loans to community housing sponsors to facilitate affordable housing development and homebuyer assistance to help local employees purchase a home in the community. Over the past year, HTF has been following the City of Goleta’s Housing Element update process. From the beginning of the Housing Element update we’ve appreciated the City’s proactive efforts to reach out to solicit ideas from our company and others working in the housing field in Santa Barbara County. HTF particularly appreciates the City’s efforts in supporting our prototype 3-D printed home project. HTF identified a site in the City of Goleta to serve as the site of the first 3-D printed affordable home in Santa Barbara County. The City of Goleta has been supportive of this project in several ways. These include coordination with the City’s Planning and Environmental Review Director and Building Official to ensure the viability of the project and the support of the City’s Mayor on the Santa Barbara Association of Governments Board to recommend to the State a REAP 2.0 grant of $375,000 to help facilitate the project. HTF looks forward to working with the City of Goleta on this project and others over the next eight years. The City of Goleta has made it clear in their Housing Element that collaboration with other agencies and organizations will be a focal point of their efforts to support affordable housing in the community. These efforts are clearly delineated in Program HE 5.2 (Community and Regional Collaboration). We also appreciate the inclusion of Program HE 2.4(b), where the City will proactively seek to connect housing developers to non-profit organizations to facilitate Board of Directors: Sylvia Barnard Michael Bennett Sheryl Flores Roger L. Horton Kristen Miller Cody Sargeant Luis Villegas Jessica Wishan 2 affordable housing development. These are the very groups that our agency actively supports with our affordable housing loan programs. Therefore, the City’s participation will enhance and strengthen public-private partnership efforts to create more affordable housing in the community. HTF looks forward to serving as a community partner with the City of Goleta over the next eight years to help implement the goals of their Housing Element to expand affordable housing opportunities in the City of Goleta. HTF supports the City’s adoption of the Housing Element 2023-2031 on January 17, 2023. Sincerely, Jennifer McGovern President/CEO Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County Cc: Tristan Lanza, HCD ([email protected]) Anne Wells, City of Goleta ([email protected])
Sent Via Email to [email protected]
January 13, 2023
Paul McDougall, Senior Program Manager
Division of Housing Policy Development
Department of Housing and Community Development
2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95833
RE: City of Goleta Housing Element
Dear Mr. McDougall:
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (Habitat Santa Barbara), I would like to take this opportunity to support many of the important programs and initiatives outlined in the City of Goleta’s “Revised Draft Goleta General Plan/Land Use Plan: Housing Element 2023 to 2031.”
Habitat Santa Barbara is a local nonprofit that builds and repairs a place called home.
With the support of volunteers and donors, Habitat Santa Barbara has built 22 new low- income homes for 84 people, 50% of which are children, as well as helped rebuild and repair more than 150 low-income homes across Santa Barbara’s South County including Goleta ((https://newspress.com/home-is-healthcare/). In 2022, Habitat of Santa Barbara received $100,000 through the PLHA consortium for which Goleta is a participant, enabling us the funding to perform repairs for low income homeowners in the City of Goleta.
At the City’s request, Habitat Santa Barbara was pleased to participate in a brainstorming session about its Housing Element Plan. We’re also pleased to see the following elements incorporated in their plan because of their alignment with our mission and priorities:
● City of Goleta’s Housing Goals. We support their goals that aim to create a “balanced and diverse community” and a “variety of housing types and choices.” (p. 27).
● HE 1.2 (Housing Rehabilitation). We appreciate the City’s help in publicizing to the community the availability of housing repair programs provided by non-profits, such as Habitat Santa Barbara. (p.28)
● HE 2.4 (Facilitate Affordable Housing Development). We look forward to partnering with the City as part of their stated annual effort to reach out to non-profit developers to identify development opportunities. We are also encouraged by their desire to increase land banking opportunities. Since many non-profit housing developers struggle with fund-raising, we applaud the City’s plan to reduce fees for 100% affordable housing programs and give them processing priority in work assignments, scheduling and hearings (pp. 35-36). ● HE 2.6 (Encourage Accessory Dwelling Units). We underscore the City’s need to pursue a funding program for what we hope will be regulated, low-income ADUs because unregulated ADUs are rented at the market rate which is too expensive for our low income workforce (p.38).
● HE 2.7 (Funding for Affordable Housing.) When the City prepares a Comprehensive Affordable Housing Finance Plan by December 2024, we hope it will include as a topic the need for and strategies to obtain a permanent funding source for low income, permanent housing (p.38).
We look forward to working with the City of Goleta in the next 8 years on the implementation of their 2023-31 Housing Element plan, especially their efforts to increase the construction and rehabilitation of low-income affordable housing.
Sincerely,
Jessica de L’Arbre (Wishan)
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
Lisa Carlos
Board Member and Chair of the Education and Advocacy Committee Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County
Cc: Tristan Lanza, HCD ([email protected])
Anne Wells, City of Goleta ([email protected])
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council [email protected] (805) 705-3756 (cell) 1 November 15, 2022
RE: Policy recommendations for Housing Element Updates
Dear City and County Leaders,
Local governments have a unique and powerful role in ensuring that their communities have the child care needed by families. Adding strong, concrete child care policies in multiple elements of the General Plan will guide the development of the other aligned policies and ordinances, including zoning, further reinforcing the jurisdiction’s intent for full access to child care.
On behalf of the Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council (CCPC), the publicly appointed, state-mandated local child care planning entity for Santa Barbara County, we are writing to encourage your city/county to include policies that support the development of child care facilities in your updated Housing Element. For working families with young children, having accessible child care near their home reduces traffic and commute times, and generally improves the quality of life for these residents. Including policies that are supportive of child care in or near housing is a straightforward way for cities to contribute to creating sustainable communities where families with young children can thrive. Your city/county’s Housing Element update provides an opportunity to address the housing and child care needs of all working families, while examining the housing and child care needs of special populations, such as single-parents and female-headed households, in particular.
High-quality child care is essential to families and to vibrant economic development, yet operators of potential new child care facilities face numerous barriers to opening new programs to meet community needs. While many of the challenges for child care facilities development are similar to housing, the child care sector lacks the mandates, financing resources and expertise that exist for housing developers. One of the biggest challenges is finding a location for a child care facility. Ideally, child care facilities are located in or near housing and close to family-friendly transportation options.
Co-locating child care with housing and other developments is an effective and efficient way to incentivize housing and build child care facilities.
Housing affordability also affects the child care sector. In our high-cost area, family child care providers, those who provide licensed child care in their homes, may struggle to afford their rent or mortgage. As older providers retire, new providers cannot afford to buy homes in our communities. Those who rent a house or apartment often face business instability. In addition, child care programs across Santa Barbara County are struggling to hire enough workers to serve families’ needs. Dedicating space for family child care at reasonable lease or purchase rates can ensure our communities have adequate spaces to meet the need.
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council [email protected] (805) 705-3756 (cell) 2 In examining Housing Elements from throughout California, we have noted that a number of cities and counties have included goals and policies that support the development of child care in or near housing. We have compiled sample policies in the document below in hopes that your city/county will include a number of them in your Housing Element update. Resources are available to help with that integration.
We hope you find the information helpful. If you have questions or would like further support for connecting child care and housing in your city/county, please contact me, or any of the Planning Council’s Facilities Committee members (below)
Sincerely,
Christian Patterson, Coordinator
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council
[email protected] (805) 705-3756 (cell)
SBCCCPC Facilities Committee Members:
Beth Hassenplug, First Presbyterian Children’s Center
Eileen Monahan, Child Care Consultant
Jacqui Banta, Children’s Resource and Referral
Jennifer MacDonald, Communify
Janelle Willis, Santa Barbara County Education Office
Michelle Graham, Children’s Resource and Referral
Robin Palmerston, former Child Care Center Operator
Raquel Valdez, Santa Maria Bonita Unified School District
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council [email protected] (805) 705-3756 (cell) 3 Sample Housing Element Language to Support Child Care near Housing
The following policies are grouped by level of intensity and potential impact, each building on the last.
Jurisdictions are encouraged to create a comprehensive plan for child care, and adopt as many of the following housing element policy changes as necessary to ensure a strong impact on child care access and meet the city’s child care vision.
1. Basic: identifying the linkage between housing and child care availability; and, if needed, ensuring alignment with state law in regard to Large Family Child Care Homes.
● Support family housing that addresses residents’ needs for child care, youth services, recreation opportunities and access to transit.
● Ensure that zoning code and permitting practices are consistent with state law (2019) that prohibits use permits, business licenses, or other barriers for Large Family Child Care Homes and/or child care centers.
● Maintain the quality of life within neighborhoods by maintaining an adequate level of community facilities, such as child care centers and municipal services. ● Facilitate and encourage the development of larger rental units appropriate for families with children, including the provision of supportive services such as family child care. ● Support the provision of child care services, employment training, rental assistance, and other supportive services to enable households to be self-sufficient. ● Promote sustainable communities through locating housing near employment, transportation, child care and other community services.
2. Supportive: reducing barriers in zoning, permitting processes, fees, etc.; and promoting existing housing-related resources to Family Child Care Home Providers. ● Encourage the siting and development of child care centers and family child care homes in all residential, mixed-use, and other zones where residences are permitted, for the convenience of families.
● Encourage the establishment of child care centers in appropriate locations and consider modified zoning standards and review procedures and other incentives to facilitate their development.
● Reduce permitting requirements or allow child care centers by right in some zones (and building types).
● Allow child care facilities to serve as traffic mitigation measures. ● Encourage the inclusion of space for child care in new housing developments, including affordable housing developments.
● Promote existing housing-related programs to Family Child Care Home providers and child care centers, including but not limited to: fair housing counseling, housing rehabilitation loans, renovation/repair, first-time homebuyer and down payment assistance.
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council [email protected] (805) 705-3756 (cell) 4 3. Proactive: engaging developers to build space for child care; providing land/financing. ● Provide incentives for developers to provide child care facilities or services as part of new residential, commercial, and industrial developments, including but not limited to: density bonuses, increases in floor area ratios, parking reduction, community benefits credit, traffic impact fee exemption, expedited entitlements, or modifications to zoning regulations. ● Assess the demand for child care created by new housing developments. ● Work proactively with all housing developers to incorporate, where feasible, child care that serves families of all incomes and children of all ages. ● Include child care facility space as a priority or required component in Request for Proposals (RFPs) for city land and Notices of Funding Available (NOFA) for affordable housing developments.
● Support inclusion of specially designed and located housing units, in multi-family projects, for licensed Family Child Care Home providers.
Concerns Regarding Agenda Item C.1 23-007 Housing Element 2023-2031 Adoption. Page - 1
DAVID GAUGHEN
7456 Evergreen Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Telephone: (805) 985 – 7229
Email: [email protected]
January 17, 2023
To: The Mayor and Council Members
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
Subj: Concerns Regarding Agenda Item “C .1 23-007 Housing Element 2023-2031 Adoption,” meeting date January 17, 2023
Ref. (1) Goleta Water District St andards and Specifications for the Construction of Water Facilities, June 2020 (273 pages).
(2) Economic Development Strategic Plan S ituation Assessment, meeting date: December 20, 2022 (163 pages).
(3) Planning Commission Agenda Item “B.1 22-543 Continued Review of Heritage Ridge 332 Residential Apartment Project,” meeting date November 14, 2022.
Dear Madam Mayor and Council Members:
Per Reference 2, page 30, City of Goleta residents have voiced their concerns regarding new development within the City (*see screen shot below). In short, residents believe, in advance of any new residential and/or commercial development, the City requires: 1) Additional water resources, 2) Additional energy resources and/or better energy management with prioritization amongst the business sector, and 3) Additional infrastructure maintenance including rejuvenation of city streets. Furthermore, affordable high speed internet is also a concern and with recommendations of vertical residential building this concept will significantly decrease the signal strengths of the newly installed Small Cell Wireless Facilities (SCWF) located throughout the city. Plus, vertical residential building will most certainly decrease the aesthetic qualities of our City.
Briefly, my primary concern, including the shared opinion of multiple neighbors, is the new water demand and resulting effect on the Goleta Water District’s (GWD) resources especially since as of last month we were currently experiencing a State wide drought (i.e., California’s Second Water Conservation Regulation went into effect on June 10, 2022). This same concern was submitted regarding the Heritage Ridge project (i.e., Ref. 3) including my submitted Attachment regarding Reference 1, in particular Part II “Water Service Applications” which details: Application Processing During Prohibition of New Water Connections, Affordable Housing Projects, Allocation of Historic Water Credit or Entitlement, etc.,
Nevertheless, letter “f” on page 278 states, “f. The City will work with the Goleta Water District to seek sufficient additional water resources to support the development of new housing in the City commensurate with regional needs. Specific City actions will include annual consultation with District staff and administrative support in applying for grant funding if available.” However, shouldn’t this determination be conducted well in advance of adopting this Housing Element. If the GWD determines that they do Not have sufficient additional water resources to support the proposed development, then the adoption of this Housing Element could be considered presumptuous and premature.
Concerns Regarding Agenda Item C.1 23-007 Housing Element 2023-2031 Adoption. Page - 2 As such, how can the City even consider entertaining new residential development, let alone a 2023 – 2031 residential development plan, when, to the best of my knowledge, there has been no discussion regarding the investment and planning for the development of: 1) New storm water/rainwater reservoirs, 2) New storm water/rainwater capture facilities, 3) New desalination plants and other water related technologies, 4) New sources of power/energy, and 5) Adequate maintenance of all aspects of the infrastructure surrounding our current residential population.
RECOMMENATION
Please develop a funded plan that provides the anticipated water and energy demands for the proposed Housing Element 2023-2031 residential development, in advance of voting to adopt. Therefore, under the heading of ALTERNATIVES, please choose not to adopt the Housing Element 2023-2031 (If not adopted and submitted for HCD certification review, the City would not be able to complete the Housing Element update project and the City would risk violating State law). Please request an extension to avoid the risk of violating State law and/or determine the penalty for such a violation.
*Screen Shot of Reference 2, page 30.
Respectfully,
David Gaughen