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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
January 23, 2004 Planners must redo Pittsburg zoning ordinance Subheading By Danielle SamaniegoSTAFF WRITER PITTSBURG - City planners were told this week to go back to the drawing board and provide a comprehensive zoning ordinance that addresses affordable housing. During its Tuesday meeting, council members unanimously approved a temporary 45-day ordinance that allows developers to move forward on projects without having to go through multiple, arduous application processes. The idea is to have a zoning ordinance in place now that's consistent with the general plan while the city finalizes a new ordinance update scheduled for completion in 2006. When the ordinance expires, it could be extended for another 22 months and 15 days. What council members didn't agree on was the portion of the ordinance pertaining to inclusionary zoning requirements for affordable housing. It would have required developers with residential developments that haven't received necessary city approvals yet to include affordable housing in their plans. Inclusionary zoning would basically provide affordable housing in market-rate developments essentially to avoid segregated, low-income neighborhoods. "If we continue to allow developments to occur without inclusionary zoning, it's going to limit our ability to meet those demands in the future," Melissa Ayres, Pittsburg's planning manager, told the council. Several developers and representatives spoke against the inclusionary portion of the ordinance, noting that it was too vague and open for interpretation. Councilwoman Yvonne Beals agreed. "We are very dedicated to looking into inclusionary housing, but the problem I have with this is it's not clear," Beals said. "We need to come up with a comprehensive plan that clearly states what's going on." The staff report failed to highlight similar ordinances used in other Contra Costa cities that are working, among other things. Regardless, the council thanked staff for their efforts and said they considered this a great start in the right direction. "I think now we have the attention of the development community, and I think you understand that the council is interested in bringing inclusionary housing to Pittsburg," Councilman Michael Kee said. "The question is, how do we do it?" Affordable housing advocate Evelyn Stivers of the Greenbelt Alliance also shared her appreciation. "I'm really encouraged by the interim zoning ordinance, as it addresses some substantial issues," she said. "We're looking forward to a long-term plan." Council members are expected to be briefed on the city staff's progress Feb. 2. In other council actions Tuesday, council members voted 5-0 to allocate $120,000 to the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway improvement project. Underground utility conflicts pushed the project's costs up from $2.2 million to $2.3 million. The project, which began last year, is 80 percent complete. The two-lane road is a major east-west connector that runs parallel to Highway 4 and is often used as an alternative commuter route between Pittsburg and Antioch. The project, funded by a federal grant, is to make improvements to the
safety and operational benefits of the roadway. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ### |
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