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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

May 18, 2002

COALITION URGES DEVELOPMENT FEES FOR HOUSING

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A coalition of housing advocates and environmentalists announced Friday its support for imposing new fees on commercial development to help pay for affordable housing programs countywide.

Members of the Sierra Club and Greenbelt Alliance joined the Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group, the Faith Based Coalition and the Service Employees Union Local 707, among others, in urging cities and the county supervisors to approve fees of up to $3.59 per square foot on new commercial, retail and industrial developments.

A study estimated that such fees could raise $35.5 million over five years for construction of 1,200 affordable-housing units.

Although a majority of the Santa Rosa City Council said last month that they support the concept of the new fees, no other jurisdiction in the county has made the same statement.

Still, advocates for the housing fee say there is growing support for the idea.

"We are very optimistic,'' said Jessica Parsley of the Greenbelt Alliance. "Implementation of this fee by each Sonoma County jurisdiction and hopefully all of Sonoma County is an important step that would help contribute to solving the severe housing crisis we find ourselves in.''

The idea with the fee is to impose more responsibility on new or growing employers -- who are creating the jobs that attract newcomers to the county -- to provide more affordable housing.

The coalition of environmentalists and housing advocates was established two years ago when members of both groups found themselves on opposite sides of the Rural Heritage Initiative. The measure, which was defeated at the polls in 2000, would have restricted growth in rural areas -- including affordable housing construction.

Because county environmentalists and housing advocates share many other political goals, the two groups have since forged an alliance to work on common interests.

Although it's a powerful coalition, it is not clear what impact the group will have on the outcome of the housing fee debate.

"You've always got to consider the political support for something, but there are a number of other considerations with this plan, too,'' said Sonoma County Supervisor Mike Reilly. "I'm open to looking at it. I think that as employers come into the county, bringing especially lower-paying jobs, they share a certain responsibility for housing their workers."

Santa Rosa Mayor Mike Martini said the current debate on the issue is only beginning.

"There's still a lot to talk about with this proposal,'' Martini said. "I expect that this will be a hot topic of debate throughout the summer.''

Supervisor Paul Kelley said he has already made up his mind and he opposes the plan. "I think it's unfriendly to business,'' he said. "Just look at the announcement last week from Reliance Trucking, who is moving to Modesto because of the labor costs here, and people keep talking about livable wages and commercial linage fees. I think we have to be careful.''

You can reach Staff Writer Tom Chorneau at 521-5214 or tchorneau@pressdemocrat.com .

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