March 31st, 2025
Council Meeting, April 1st, 2025, Public Oral
Dear Mayor Vaus and Poway City Council Members, City Manager Chris Hazeltine and Director of Development Services Julie Procopio.
In the Housing Element (approved 3/18/25 Council Meeting), many Poway Rd parcels are identified as having been rezoned to a density high enough to build hundreds of low and very low and moderate housing units that are assigned to Poway as their share of housing (RHNA) in the current (6th) housing cycle. Poway's recent RHNA update show that over 600 units affordable to low and very low-income families remain to be permitted.
These affordable units are needed by many who desire to live within the city of their employment.
According to Poway's housing element, one constraint in meeting the RHNA affordable housing objectives, is a lack of funds. Other cities in San Diego County are requiring developers to build affordable units as part of their project or to pay "in lieu" fees if they opt out of building affordable units. Poway also has an inclusionary housing ordinance, that requires a developer to build affordable units or to pay an "in lieu" fee to opt out. Below is a comparison of Poway's in lieu fees with other cities in lieu fees. or
In lieu fees for local jurisdictions are reported in two ways:
1. Per-square foot of building and range from $8 to $27.22 per square foot in Chula Vista and Solana Beach, respectively. Other municipalities charge; $25 (City of San Diego), $15 (San Marcos), $20 (Oceanside), and $24.08 (Encinitas).
2. Per-unit ranging from $500 to $27,350 in Poway and Del Mar, respectively. Other municipalities charge $7,000 (Coronado), $10,000 to $15,000 (Vista-potential charge).
Calculation of in lieu fees based on these numbers shows that Poway's are the lowest and that we are missing an opportunity to generate funds for affordable housing. Clearly, cities with much higher in lieu fees are not having any issues attracting development.
We now request that you consider raising the in lieu fees to the extent that they are comparable to cities of a similar size and, ideally, not be so low that they provide developers an incentive not to build inclusionary housing.
Thank you for your attention and we look forward to a favorable response.
Sincerely,
Nick Carruthers, Chris Cruse, Alison Park, Jana Johnson, Torrey Powers, and Eric Weller 2 of2 April 1, 2025, Public Comment