Item 10C.
Emergency IZO
Density Bonus 100% Affordable
Housing Projects
City Council
January 10, 2023
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects Staff Recommendation
• Adopt a finding that no subsequent environmental review is required • Project studied as part of Council-certified Housing Element Final EIR (CEQA Guidelines § 15162) Introduce and adopt emergency interim zoning ordinance (IZO) to extend interim zoning regulations
Allow certain 100% affordable housing projects to request waivers or reductions of development standards – in addition to other incentives required by State Density Bonus Law Council adopted the original IZO on December 13, 2022
• In effect until February 11th
• Includes restriction for Pico Neighborhood during interim period, per Council direction • Extension of this IZO recommended until May 31, 2023
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects Summary of Key Issues
IZO supports City’s longstanding commitment to affordable housing IZO is consistent with Council-adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element (October 11, 2022) Focused on planning for new housing units per CA state requirement:
City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 8,895 housing units with ~70% as affordable housing
Provides additional tools/wider range of assistance to support construction of 100% affordable housing projects within ½ mile of a major transit stop Consistent with State Density Bonus Law: Cities now have the option to allow applicants to request waivers/reductions of development standards – in addition to other required incentives
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects Relationship Between IZO and Certified Housing Element
Consistent with Council-adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element Housing Element program implementation: Council 1st Quarter 2023 Comprehensive rezoning, process streamlining, and update to City’s density bonus ordinance Commitment to implement certain programs by October 2023 Staff anticipates recommending this allowance on a permanent basis when Housing Element implementation is presented to Council
Evaluate need for permanent geographic restriction and City’s ability to limit number/type of waivers, if desired
Item 10C.
Emergency IZO
Density Bonus 100% Affordable
Housing Projects
City Council
January 10, 2023
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects Geographic area where IZO does not
apply during interim period:
• Pico Neighborhood
• Defined in Zoning Ordinance
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects What Projects Qualify for SDBL Waivers
Applies only to 100% affordable housing projects within ½ mile of major transit stop Per SDBL, these projects are automatically eligible for:
Additional three stories/33’ building height
No maximum controls on density within building envelope Up to 4 incentives/concessions from zoning code development standards IZO would allow request for waivers or reduction of development standards such as setbacks, stepbacks, parcel coverage or floor area, and open space requirements – additional building height is not permitted
Only for development standards that would physically preclude the development of the project at its permitted density (including density bonus) and with any incentives or concessions granted
Emergency IZO – Density Bonus 100% Affordable Housing Projects Summary of Key Issues
IZO provides additional tools/wider range of assistance to support construction of 100% affordable housing projects within ½ mile of a major transit stop City recognizes challenges for funding 100% affordable housing projects and approval timelines Waivers authorized by State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) in 2021 [AB 2345] Cities now have the option to allow applicants to request waivers/reductions of development standards – in addition to other incentives required by SDBL Santa Monica’s current density bonus ordinance reflects SDBL’s earlier prohibition on waivers for projects that receive no maximum controls on density [AB 1763]