Affordable housing project approved

Barbara Diamond

City officials gave a green light Tuesday to a project that will

provide low-cost housing in a prime Downtown location for 55 years

and loaned the developer $200,000 to help build it.

The City Council voted 3-0 to approve a 27-unit,

affordable-housing project at 450 Glenneyre St. The project will

fulfill the state requirement for low-income housing.

Housing and Human Affairs Committee Chair Kent Russell gave the

project a solid recommendation.

“Our committee’s direction is to support this project to increase

affordable housing stock in town,” Russell said.

David Peck, of the Cross Cultural Council, also supported the

project, which had been doggedly promoted by the late Alice Graves.

However Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who conducted the meeting in the

absence of Mayor Wayne Baglin, voiced concerns about the effect of

the project on the neighbors quality of life and persuaded the

council to require a hotline for complaints.

Baglin and Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman did not attend the

specially scheduled 4 p.m. meeting, held so the developer could beat

the deadline to apply for tax credits. They were prohibited from

voting on the project because they own property within 500 feet of

it, legally creating a conflict of interest.

Neighbors of the project had numerous complaints, but none

questioned, or even mentioned, the city’s $200,000 loan to the

developer, which had not been discussed at committee or Planning

Commission hearings. It will be paid back over the 55-year term of

the lease at 1% interest a year. The loan will come out of the

housing-in-lieu fund, along with $60,000 for demolition of the

property, leaving a balance of $54,000 in the fund.

“The neighbors weren’t worried about the city,” said Councilman

Steven Dicterow. “They were worried about their neighborhood.”

Others agreed.

“A lot of this is NIMBY,” said neighbor Mark Pressey, referring to

the common phrase that means “not in my backyard.”

“But I don’t think a lot of people would like this project in

their backyard. It is not fair to anyone in the neighborhood,” he

continued.

Councilman Paul Freeman said NIMBY is not necessarily a bad thing.

“You should be concerned about what is built in your backyard,” he

said. “But I don’t think this project will devalue property. It looks

a lot better than what’s there now.”

A heavily landscaped Craftsman-style facade with 26,

single-occupancy rental units, one on-site manager’s unit and

underground parking for 50 vehicles was approved. Parking spaces will

be divided between the residents and the city.

The number of units per square foot of property exceeds the norm

allowed in the city and the number of parking spaces is below the

usual requirement, both approved under special circumstances

permitted as incentives for the construction of low-cost housing.

The special considerations worried Matt Engen, a 36-year resident

of the city.

“While in principal we do not oppose the concept of a very

low-cost housing project one block from our home, we do object to the

city’s density and parking variances,” Engen wrote to neighbors,

urging them to attend Tuesday’s hearing.

Some neighbors questioned how single-occupancy would be enforced.

Who will do the bed check, they asked.

“How can you regulate the number of residents?” said Toby

Schoolman. “Get married and you are out? Get pregnant and you are

out?”

The goal is to provide housing for people with very low or low

incomes, preferably those who live or work in town. Income will be

the threshold criterion. A percentage of the units will be reserved

for people with incomes at or below $7.62 an hour. The remaining

units, except for the on-site manager’s, will be reserved for people

with incomes at or below $10.17 an hour.

“We won’t know what will happen till it’s done,” said neighbor

Mark Hefferan. “My hope is that it works. If not, we have a serious

problem and I am going to be right here talking to you people (the

council).”

People interested in getting on the list should call Director of

Community Services Pat Barry at 497-0716, Ext. 6.

Councilman Steven Dicterow was a tad bitter about Tuesday’s

opposition to the project, but not because he disagreed with it.

“I am frustrated with what I heard tonight,” Dicterow said. “This

has been going on for at least the seven years that I have been on

the council. I was against low-cost housing. I was against buying

this property.”

His was the only vote against the purchase.

“Where were you?” Dicterow asked project opponents. “You can’t

wait around until the last second. You have to be involved every step

of the way.”

The Glenneyre Street property was purchased about five years ago

by the city with housing-in-lieu funds. By law, the property must be

developed as low-cost housing or the purchase price must revert to

the fund.

* BARBARA DIAMOND is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.