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Arcata

Impacts of the State Density Bonus Law, described by Artificial Intelligence

Reading time:  3 minutes -- This is an AI-generated essay about the impacts of the State Density Bonus Law. It's here partly for our education and partly for our smiles. Yet as an overall view, it's not bad.
Affordable Housing

To the Council/Commission: A high-density building, the State Density Bonus Housing Law, and reducing regulatory costs

Three new articles: A high-density building, the State Density Bonus Housing Law, and reducing regulatory costs. The State Density Bonus Housing Law and how it affects us here in Arcata is the single most important issue facing the Planning Commission with regard to the success of the Gateway Plan.
Gateway Plan

State Density Bonus Housing Law — How it affects us here in Arcata

Reading time 12 minutes -- "Project proponents will be driven by the Density Bonus provisions. And our design standards and Community Benefits programs are unlikely to be implemented due to waivers and concessions." So said David Loya. We need to look at just how the State Density Bonus Law will affect the Gateway Area Plan, and what decisions can be made so we get housing built in the form that we want.
Affordable Housing

State Density Bonus Laws / Inclusionary Zoning / Community Benefits — David Loya presentation

“And our design standards and Community Benefits programs are unlikely to be implemented due to waivers and concessions.” --- Arcata's Director of Community Development David Loya has provided this video presentation of the various affordable housing programs. 15-1/2 minutes, July 28, 2023. VIDEO and full TRANSCRIPTION.
Affordable Housing

Density Bonus Laws explained — David Loya to the Planning Commission

Community Development Director David Loya provided a concise explanation of California's myriad Density Bonus housing laws in the March 2023 Planning Commission staff reports. It is included it here so it can be referred to at any time.

350 Humboldt — August 17, 2023 — Reduce greenhouse gases, build with density, and have more low-income housing

Multi-story buildings can free up open space for creeks and public parks that will add to the area’s livability. De-emphasizing parking also frees up space and encourages reliance on public transportation. Other details in the Community Benefits package would deliver greenhouse gas reductions. These reductions are of primary importance to 350 Humboldt. However, affordable housing is also extremely important.
City Planning

“Housing Units” and “Housing Density” – Why these are terrible ways to measure housing success

To regard a three-bedroom apartment in the same way — as one “housing unit” — and equal to a studio apartment is just engineering-thinking. Instead, count the bedrooms. Count the number of people — adults and children — who might be living there. Homes are for people. Let’s not forget that.
Gateway Plan

Density and Feasibility – Selected Articles

A selection of articles on Density, Cost, Feasibility, and more.
Affordable Housing

Inclusionary Zoning, objective design standards approved in Santa Cruz

Read time: 7 minutes. Skim: 2 minutes. -- We can look at how Santa Cruz has dealt with some of the same issues we face here in Arcata. Santa Cruz already had an existing 20% inclusionary requirement. New proposal: Projects with a 25% inclusionary requirement get a 30% density bonus. Projects with a 30% inclusionary requirement get a 50% density bonus. Other issues: Public hearings for new larger construction.

Nancy Pelletier — August 22, 2023 — The L Street Linear path is a community treasure

If we want to build equity into the Gateway Plan, the percentage for inclusionary zoning (for affordable units) is much too low at 3% to 5%. I can't get behind the GAP Plan at all if it's just going to be mostly market rate housing. That's a plan for gentrification, not equity. I do understand about Density Bonus Law, and the pressure from the State. However, we don't need a gentrification plan (i.e. the GAP) to start building affordable housing that fits in with the character of our town.

Fred Weis – August 9, 2023 – Notes from the August 8 Planning Commission meeting

Written to the Planning Commissioners following the August 8, 2023, meeting. In the David Loya video on the Density Bonus laws, he states “And our design standards and Community Benefits programs are unlikely to be implemented due to waivers and concessions.”
Affordable Housing

The Gateway Community Benefits program — Details of the “points” proposal

The Gateway Community Benefits Program is simple in concept. In order to construct a building higher than three stories -- and have it go through the streamlined "ministerial review" process -- a developer has to provide something for the community.  But the existing State Density Bonus laws may entirely subvert our Community Benefits program and render it meaningless.

Wendy Ring – June 16, 2023 – Inclusionary Zoning

*** If we can't be leaders in this space, at least let's not be laggers. *** I do support the plan's requirement for a percentage of affordable units. This should not simply be an optional "community benefit" to be rewarded with additional building height because California's Density Bonus Law already does that. ornia's Needs: The average percentage of affordable units required in city and county ordinances is 15%, compared with 3% in the current plan.
Letters & Public Input

Planning Commissioner Judith Mayer – B – November 14, 2022

"One presentation to the Planning Commission (I think Ben Noble's) proposed three different possibilities for varying types of planning commission or staff determinations of whether a project would qualify for additional density bonuses, streamlined/ministerial approval, etc. --- I believe it's very important for the Commission have those discussions before taking any definitive vote on recommendations for a "community benefits" program that would qualify a GAP project for relaxed standards, or for ministerial / streamlined approval."
City Planning

Suggestions for May 29, 2024: Gateway Area Plan, Gateway Code, General Plan, and EIR

To the City Council for the 1st public hearing at the Council on the General Plan, Gateway Area Plan, Gateway Code, and Program Environmental Impact Report. --- "As you must be aware, the Council is in a difficult situation here. You are being asked to approve a set of documents that are incomplete." With 5 very important topics suggested for review, and 5 other lesser but still very significant topics.
Affordable Housing

Gateway Plan and General Plan Updates – Newsletter – May 27, 2024

THIS NEWSLATTER WAS SENT OUT ON MONDAY, MAY 27, 2024. The two scheduled public hearings with the Arcata City Council take place on Wednesdays -- May 29 and June 5, 2024. If needed, the public hearing meetings will be continued. The City Council will consider, take public comment on, discuss, and perhaps vote to adopt the Gateway Area Plan, the Gateway Zoning Code, the Arcata General Plan 2045, and the Final Environmental Report.
Building Height

Four-Story Buildings do not belong in the Bayview, Sunset, and Upper I & J Street Neighborhoods

The LU-9 Implementation Measure in the draft General Plan would allow 4 and 5-story buildings in the Bayview, Northtown, Upper I & J Street, and Sunset neighborhoods. A rezoning would allow "Local-serving commercial uses such as corner grocery stores and coffee shops" throughout those neighborhoods. **** LU-9 does not belong in Arcata's General Plan **** WITH IMAGES OF WHAT COULD BE BUILT.
Form-Based Code and Ministerial Review

An absolutely awful building design for L Street and the Gateway Area Plan

THIS COULD BE BUILT right next to the woonerf or linear park. A form-based code does not prevent bad design. Utilizing the current Gateway Code, here are images of what could be built along the L Street corridor linear park and woonerf. HELP! To create a jewel of a woonerf, we need to improve the Gateway Code.
City Planning

Gateway Code: What is new — and wrong — in the “May 14, 2024, Version 5” version

This “May 14, 2024” version contains changes that the Planning Commission has never seen or discussed. It contains changes where the Commission said not to change. It contains inadequate changes for things that the Commission wanted changed. It's still missing many things that the Commission brought up and did not fully resolve. It has Inclusionary Zoning wrong. And still no planning for the L Street woonerf and linear park.
Form-Based Code and Ministerial Review

Comments and Suggestions for the Gateway Code

Comments and suggestions on the draft Gateway Code. This is the form-based code that defines the look and feel of every building, street, park. and more of everything that will be built in the Gateway area. You can use this document along with the "Guides for the Council, Commission, and Community — to the Gateway Code comments and suggestions" to learn more about developers can and cannot do.
Arcata

Notice of Public Hearing — May 14 — Arcata General Plan Comprehensive Update and Gateway Code

A public hearing on a formal recommendation of the General Plan and the Gateway Area Plan will take place Tuesday, May 14, 2024. You are encouraged to attend and to send your comments and concerns to both the City of Arcata and to Arcata1.com.
April Fools' Day

First Gateway project comes to Planning Commission — Commissioners are aghast

At their first meeting of 2025, on January 11th, the Planning Commission found themselves looking at what would be the largest apartment ever to be approved by the Commission in the history of Arcata. The Houston, Texas, developer Max Buildout had set his sights on little Arcata. Six stories tall, directly on the L Street Linear Park, and with 3 Texas-size parking spaces.
Arcata & Community

What’s in the Community Benefits Program for the Gateway Area Plan?

The Community Benefits Program for Arcata's Gateway Area Plan has gone through many twists and turns and iterations. The basic idea is that if a developer wants to build at four stories and above, there must be some "community benefits" included in the project. The community benefits evolved from a list that was developed by the Community Development Staff and the Planning Commissioners -- with, in theory, input from the public.
EIR

Comments on the draft EIR from Fred Weis — What was submitted

Here's the 88-page document of comments on the draft Environmental Impact Report that was compiled and sent in by Fred Weis. With summary notes and a linked table of contents for easy viewing and to find what is of interest to you.
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