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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 4, 2004

Council to vote on housing law soon

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PITTSBURG - Residents could see an affordable housing law take effect as early as next year, after the council voted to move the ordinance to its final steps on Monday.

It will come before the council Nov. 15 for a possible final vote.

"The council is serious about this. Serious about affordable housing. I only hope that it lasts past Tuesday," Councilwoman Nancy Parent said, referring to Tuesday's election. Monday's vote was unanimous.

The ordinance would apply to any developments of five or more units and would require at least 15 percent be set aside for affordable housing.

David Reid of the East Bay Greenbelt Alliance, a non-profit that promotes livable communities, gave city staff suggestions.

"I congratulate you. The ordinance would improve the quality of life, but it could be made more effective," Reid said.

Reid said the ordinance should require more low and very-low income units and less moderate income units.

According to the U.S. Census, nearly half of Pittsburg's households fall into the low or very-low category.

The city would offer incentives to developers for providing affordable units, such as smaller lot sizes, fewer bathrooms and off-street parking requirement reductions. Developers can fulfill their affordable housing requirements with alternatives such as building some units at another site, paying in-lieu fees and dedicating land for affordable units. Exceptions could be made at the City Council's discretion.

Lower-income housing units in market-rate areas would avoid solely low-income neighborhoods.

Teresa Karr of the California Apartment Association said affordable housing ordinances are a form of rent control.

"We're not against affordable housing. We're not proponents of inclusionary ordinances because we don't think it produces enough. I think Pittsburg has a lot of affordable housing," she said.

Pittsburg hired David Paul Rosen and Associates to complete a study on the ordinance. The consulting firm has done similar work in Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The median price of a home in Pittsburg last year was $320,000, which nearly half of Pittsburg's households can't afford.

Twenty-four percent of renter and buyer household in Pittsburg earning less than $35,000 are "severely burdened by housing costs" and pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing, David Rosen has said.

The council also voted to approve an amendment to the city's housing element to bring it in line with state law. Cities are required to adopt housing elements in their general plans as a guideline for long-range development.

Reach Danielle McNamara at 925-779-7174 or dmcnamara@cctimes.com.

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