July16, 2024
SalinasPlanningCommission200LincolnAveSalinas, CA93901
Subject: Support for ProposedCentral AreaSpecificPlanTentativeMap2021-001 Dear SalinasPlanningCommissioners:
MontereyBayEconomicPartnership(MBEP) writesinsupport of theproposedCentralAreaSpecificPlan. MBEPconsistsof public, privateandcivicentitieslocatedthroughout Monterey, SanBenitoandSantaCruzcountieswithamissiontoimprovetheeconomichealthandqualityof lifethroughinitiativesinhousing, broadband,economicdevelopment/jobs.
TheNorthof BorondaFutureGrowthArea(FGA) isamonumental opportunityindeterminingfuturehousingoutcomesfor theCityof Salinas. InDecember 2019,MBEPengaged, supported, andissuedrecommendationsfor thethen-proposedWestAreaSpecificPlan. InAugust 2020, MBEPbeganengagingontheCASP, workingthroughour internal endorsement processandcloselywithCityStaff, toarriveat ourrecommendationsissuedat thetimeof approval inNovember 2020. TheCASPproposesamaximumof 3,911homesandisanticipatedtohouseupto14,353residentsat buildout. Weareexcitedtosupport StoneBridgeandtheCityinmovingthisimportant development forward. The1,674newhomesproposedfor thisfirst majorphaseof residential development arecriticallyimportant for our regional workforce.
Whilewesupport StoneBridge’sefforts, wealsosupportedthecoalitionof localaffordablehousingadvocatesinNovember 2020callingfor astronger commitment toaffordablehousinginthebuildout of theCASP. Thecoalitionof advocatesreachedanagreement withStoneBridgetoensurethat theinclusionaryfor salehomesarebuiltconcurrentlywithmarket ratehomesat a1:6ratio(1affordablehomefor every6market rate). StoneBridgerepresentativesalsoagreedtoworkcloselywithadvocatestonotifythemof upcominghomereleasessothat potential local homebuyerscouldbereferredfor purchaseat that time. TheseprovisionsshouldbeincludedintheAffordableHousingPlanapprovedbythePlanningCommission.
Thank you for your leadership in providing more housing. Pleasecontact MattHuerta, Director of HousingandCommunityDevelopment, [email protected], formoreinformation.
Sincerely,
Tahra Goraya, MA, MPAPresident & CEO
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