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The full article about the September 25 open house meeting, including photos and a synopsis of the meeting, here.

Jump directly to the comments

The Gateway Open House meeting that took place on September 25, 2023, was succesful in many ways. Despite being held with just 2-1/2 weeks’ notice and on a date that ignored a major religious holiday — and on a weekday late-afternoon, meaning that it was largely inaccessible to community members with regular jobs and people with a child or children — there was a good turnout. Over the 4 PM to 6 PM time of the two-hour drop-in meeting, an estimated 50-60 people attended.  A large “thank you” to the Community Development Department staff for putting this meeting together.

Let’s have more meetings

The Arcata Community Development Department has been criticized for their disregard of having a meeting where the concerns of the public might be openly heard. At one of the community-led meeting that take place once a month at the Arcata Playhouse an Arcata citizen posed the question: “Why doesn’t the City have these meetings?”

We strongly encourage the City to hold more of these open house meetings on a regular — monthly — continuous basis. And additional open house meetings where people can engage in group-wide open discussion. Yes, it is considerable work to arrange for a meeting like this — we understand that. But the benefit to the community is enormous.

What the meeting was

• An opportunity to meet with other members of the community and discuss among ourselves a variety of concerns and issues about the Gateway Area Plan and the various housing issues we face here in Arcata, and more.
• The opportunity to personally meet with Community Development Director David Loya and other members of the Community Development staff, to ask specific questions — and, hopefully, get some realistic answers.
• To learn more about the current status and the inner workings of the Gateway Area Plan.
• To provide some feedback — in the form of written comments and green sticky-dot “voting” — on some of the current issues.

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The written comments

There are three sections. Certain comments may appear in more than one section. This was typed from the original hand-written comments — there may be typographical errors.

• Feedback on the Gateway Area Plan
• Housing Stories
• Feedback on the Open House event
• The original hand-written comments

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1. Feedback on the Gateway Area Plan

• Setbacks should still be 5 ft – 10 preferred
  Step back after 2-3 stories

• Owner properties / NOT just apartments

• Set rent control for low income (46% increase in 2 yrs is crazy)

• The planning process has been top down.  You don’t listen to the concerns of the people.  We don’t want building over 40’.  First listen to your Fire District and climate change professionals. 

• Enhance L Street Linear Park.

• Let’s make it something we can be proud of.

• 1 parking place per unit.

• Send out a form asking all who live in Arcata what the Gateway [should] look like.

• Set up a task force of Comm[unity] members to talk about Gateway issues

   

• I worry the State Density Bonus (SDB) development option is too attractive in comparison to the GAP draft and its Community Benefits program.
  Find what makes the SDB attractive and change the GAP draft.
• Be Creative
• Parking minimums — Raise in GAP.
• Ownership Incentives — Give more – somehow.
• Thank God for Kimberly White! (The only voice of reason).
• The Mayor and Planning Commission’s unhinged cries of “we’re in a housing crisis!
  Build at any cost!!!” does NOTHING to address affordable housing. In fact, these
  belligerent bellows are akin to gaslighting and fear-mongering.
• The GAP is a gentrification project. It will not create new housing for full-time Arcata residents. Folk like myself who live in poverty, will NOT be able to afford living in these new units. This is a development project aimed at out of town interests. This is not about density, infill or building heights. We DO NOT HAVE the resources and infrastructure to take on this project. We need to be considering smart, logical, sustainable choices that will better our community’s future. The GAP is not smart, logical, or sustainable. It is a train wreck in action.
• We need rent control and an enrollment cap (most of the fear-mongering is a result of
  the University’s unwillingness to be a healthy member of the community).
  The “housing crisis” is being driven by the university.
• NO to the GAP unless we have the infrastructure to manage it.
  NO to gentrification.
  NO to greedy developers and David Loya’s wet dream legacy project.
• And again thank you Kimberley White — the only Council member who has Arcata’s best
  interests in mind.
• Eliminate K&L couplet from draft.
  * I was hoping the form base code would have/incorporate reference to linear park.
• Limit buildings to 5 stories w/ 20 foot setback near residences.
  Limit building heights to 4 stories max in town & in Gateway.
• Limit speed limit to 25 max in town & in Gateway.
  Make more bicycle lanes & more bike friendly.
• 20% low income housing for new apartments.
  Development based on real wastewater capacity & infrastructure.
• Enforcement of speed limits. Let the police give speeding tickets.
• Where is the electric vehicle charging?
• In addition to wanting more housing, the State also wants the public to adopt electrical
  vehicles. These cannot be parked just anywhere — they need charging stations that are
  reasonably close to the dwelling especially if PG&E wants you to charge at night when
  the rates are low. These two goals seem contradictory.
• 4 story limit.
• Protect current houses’ right to sunlight with setbacks and setbacks.
• PC [Planning Commission] review of projects — The fence at the data center and the Dutch Bros’ drive-thru do not provide confidence in the ministerial process.
• I would like to know more specifics on infrastructure/improvements
  * Wastewater capacity increase
  * Fire safety – equipment/staffing
  * Will public transportation be improved/in place – for the public.
• Blogs proposed show 4 units to 1 parking place.
• Limit buildings to 3 story or less
• All infrastructure improvements should be in place before structural development
• I keep seeing Silicon Valley in these plans, which must be one of the butt-ugliest places
  in the world and is definitely not affordable.
• How about incentives for co-operative housing projects? With shared home
  ownership.
• Maybe Arcata should secede from California.
• Please define “affordable” — It seems that affordable to regular working people is not
  something that the plan is promoting adequately.
• 4 story max
• I think there may be other ways to provide housing than have been discussed. The co-op gave you dignity the way having a landlord does not. Could this be encouraged in
  any way through the planning process?
• The City + the community needs a pro forma so we know the costs. What is the cost
  to develop a block? Land, construction + soft costs. (Who would be capable of doing
  this?)
• What is the cost if lots are smaller? (Base this on size of Plaza lots) Who would be able
  to develop these?
• What would rents be if not subsidized in both above?
• If someone could build a condo, what would a condo cost? What would “additional
  building fees” be?
• The Community Benefit Program should give much more emphasis to workforce
  affordable housing and home ownership.
• Safe, sane, affordable. All three are important!
• Density must be healthy for people who live there. Housing is more than a building. It
  is a space where people must cooperatively live. Management ON SITE must be
  mandatory. Too close to the sidewalk or too high up affect comfort and privacy and
  ISOLATION is a big thing. The future must be thriveable!
• I support dense, walkable communities. Affordable housing, use of public transit.
• Please honor the massing policies of GA9P and 9Q that scale future infill around
  existing housing and neighborhoods.
• Along the Gateway Corridor please combine active and non-active frontages to
  enhance the L Street Linear Park.
• Also incorporate the combined siting, setbacks, setbacks.
• I believe sufficient housing can be achieved through Gateway and around the entire
  City of Arcata.
• Please incorporate all the post Gateway release engagements input into the final
  decision making process — weighting it equally with Committee and Commission
  recommendations proportionally.
• Max height of building should be 4 stories as the rest of Arcata
• Setbacks + setbacks from property lines on all sides next to existing homes or
  apartments or businesses. Setbacks 20’ — Stepbacks start at 3 [stories].
• Eliminate all references to the K/L Couplet & write codes to reflect the L St. Linear
  park’s development within draft.
• Still need a community led task force. This is all been top down approach.
• 20% minimum affordability for all developments of apartments.
• We need to focus on Affordable Housing options as a City!
• Wastewater treatment plant capacity should be considered before a large push for new
  development. Levels of development are determined by infrastructure accommodations.
• Community Garden 2 points for garden less than 500’. What is the minimum square
  feet?
• Most people at this event do not understand the form based code & community
  benefits concept.
• These will all be obsolete with State’s Bonus Density laws.
• What I appreciate of the Gateway Plan: Assists in achieving these community goals:
  * Build at densities that facilitates affordable housing
  * Allow densities that can support expanding public transit
  * Allow building heights to conserve land
  * Champion development that is not car-centric
  * Enhancing art, cultural resonance, Tribal land, (knowledge art, honor, acknowledge) &
  greenscape.
• I like minimum of 1 [parkig] space per unit.
• (How to keep density & eliminate solar shading w/ 3 story building max. Just densify
  units to 700-800 sq ft) — Limit all heights to Fire District recommendations (40’ I think) but make up for lost density by increasing unit density in 3-story buildings to 500-700 sq ft (2br/1 ba). Problem solved – Achieves density with sane & safe building heights.  Fire safe, No solar shading, Dense housing – Achieved.
• I support housing increase for that reason (equity, reduce homelessness, etc) & for
  climate reasons above all. I strongly support Gateway & form based code & emphasis
  on reducing car dependence.
• Please support bike & ped infrastructure & mixed use neighborhoods.
• How about good night time street lighting so I can feel safe walking in Creamery area
  alone at night?
• I support mixed housing stock in terms of size of units & economic — mixed is good.
• You can’t meet all needs & provide housing for everyone but an increase in housing stock “trickles down.” Lack of general housing was shown in recent huge homelessness study to be biggest cause of homelessness.
• Build more housing, get us out of our cars more are the most important goals.
• I want to see the Gateway area up zoned & more housing built. And as an urbanist, I am in favor of the proposed max building heights and form-based code.
• The Community Benefit setback illustration shows a 5 story building with a 25% setback on the top floor.  This looks good to me. If 5 story setbacks aren’t 25% on top floor this would seem misleading.
• We do not have adequate infrastructure & services to accommodate this level of growth ie wastewater mgt, fire, medical/dental, veterinary & sea level rise.
• Not allowing for adequate parking will be a disaster. You are designing the roads for cars, but claiming it will be a walk/bike community. For health compromised, and/or elderly, babies, even people who enjoy our outdoors — rivers, beaches, skiing — these people want & need cars, especially with our weather. It’s a nice daydream, but not feasible. The elderly, very young and disabled will not be able to enjoy downtown shopping, events, etc.

• This plan has been poorly executed and does not meet the needs of our small town.

• Retirees, people working from home or night time shifts will be exposed to unlivable construction noises and pollution (air, sound).

• The plan is unfair to someone who worked their whole life to retire in their quiet Arcata home and be subject to the torture of ongoing construction for the next 20-25 years.

• I think that I enjoy the housing options are great here.

• Increasing options for the community is vital to ensuring both families and students can continue to enjoy living in this beautiful city. I urge the City and community to follow through with the Gateway Project, as it is the only realistic option to deal with the city’s housing problem.
• I hope the Gateway project will provide affordable housing with high living standards for students and recent graduates of the University who are getting on their feet! We need low income housing!!!
• Allow the unsheltered to have housing. Housing is a human right.

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2. Housing Stories

1. I am a working artist who could not afford to live in the same house after 14 years once renovations were made in the house.  We need more affordable housing for artist, who make their community better and then, cannot afford to live in it.
2. My partner and I were able to buy a house in Arcata in 2019, but only due to dumb luck.  There’s no way we could afford any house in Arcata today, just 4 years later.
3. I began my housing journey in 2014 as a student living on campus, 2014-2019.  I have seen and heard all the horror housing stories from my friends.  I chose to live on campus to avoid issues such as incomplete housing, mold, problem landlords & safety.  I’ve a full time job in IT & live with my partner.  Housing is expensive & does not allow for us to even begin thinking of buying a home.  We rent at $1,100/month & would find it difficult if we ever had to rent individually.
4. I believe Arcata must combat the housing crisis to allow for community to grow and support the future of Humboldt County.
5. Moved here in 2016 for school.  Lived on campus for my first year.  After applying for housing for the 2017-18 school year and being rejected I was nearly homeless.  I was able to move into a home with some classmates, but one of them was living in an art studio (detached) outside which was certainly not up to code. There was a rift in the friendship & someone was very emotionally manipulative.  Due to the tough rental market I was unable to leave, and my schooling suffered.  I had to retake a class that I failed due to the emotional turmoil of this situation.  This house also had mold that would grow in my closets.  It was usually manageable with cleaning & dehumidifiers, but the room was too small to keep my clothing anywhere else.  there was at least one occasion where I wore moldy clothing.  After this year, I was able to move out with one of my previous roommates, and I still live in the same place 5 years later, and my current landlords are lovely!  They actually lowered our rent during the pandemic, and have kept it at the lower price.  This has allowed me and my current partner to set down roots and actually save up for the future; a luxury which not many of our peers are able to do.  My housing story is mild when compared to those I have heard. I feel fortunate to have lucked out, but also angered by the rental market in general.
6. I am a tenant and I’m tired of giving my money to my landlord!  What can be done to ensure ownership in Arcata?
7. I have lived in housing co-ops owned by the co-op (Austin, TX)
   I think there may be other ways to provide housing than have been discussed.  The co-op gave you dignity the way having a landlord does not.  Could this be encouraged in any way through the planning process?
8. My housing story is I didn’t qualify for a loan to buy a house at 30 in 1992 in Humboldt County.  I had an architectural degree and 3 years of working experience.  I grew up in Arcata and bought a house in Eureka with a down payment from my mom.  I was lucky.  Anyway, Humboldt Co. housing affordability is not a new problem.
9. I am a 34 yr old married father of two children renting a two bedroom in downtown Arcata.  My income is inconsistent as I am a self-employed freelance film-maker so qualifying for a $500k house is impossible at the moment.  Your dream is to be a part of Arcata’s future but without affordable housing creation this is unsustainable for us in the long term.  My home city of NYC has led many highly successful affordable home buying programs that were critical in creating legacy neighborhoods of invested families.  We need this now before it is too late and there is no avenue for younger families to buy into this community.  Wealthy old folk and college students doesn’t build vibrancy — invested mid-career entrepreneurs and creative folks do.
10. I own a rental in Arcata and am interested in adding more housing to the community.
11. I became unhoused at 18 when my dad kicked me out for my sexual and gender identity. I came to Cal Poly Humboldt as a homeless student and lived on campus so that I would be housed.  After that, I bounced from home to home during [illegible] being sheltered by friends.  In 2021 I was able to find a rental that would accept me due to my lack of cosigner and low income. Now, I live in Arcata in an attic as a housing alternative due to rental issues in the city. I have held 2-3 jobs for years to make ends meet while being a student.
12. I have lived in Arcata since 2016 and am currently attending Cal Poly Humboldt. The only reason I have been able to afford living in Arcata has been the government subsidized housing. Increasing options for the community is vital to ensuring both families and students can continue to enjoy living in this beautiful city. I urge the City and community to follow through with the Gateway Project, as it is the only realistic option to deal with the city’s housing problem.
13. Arcata property owner and landlord, residential & commercial.
14. It was difficult to find a rental home here in Arcata, especially having a dog to home. It took 2 solid months of house hunting to get into a long term rental in proximity to town.
15. When I first came to Humboldt, I moved in with a man I was dating.  As a full-time student, the only work I could find flexible enough for my schedule was a barista, a low-paying service job. Even working 35 hours a week on top of school, I couldn’t afford any more than the $450 I was paying since it was split with a partner.

    This relationship became emotionally & physically abusive 6 months in. Due to the financial dependence & desperately wanting to finish school, I stayed in this abusive relationship as I could not afford other housing for three more years.

    After graduating in May 2022, I began looking for a professional job & housing. Since I still haven’t secured employment, the first several months of looking for a rental was essentially pointless. After finally starting work in August, my house search became more aggressive, easily applying to or inquiring about 50 properties. Lacking a rich relative to cosign, I was simply being out competed. I also have an ESA, which I disclosed but I still feel like was being counted against me.

    Finally, on October of 2022, I found a private MIL that was willing to rent to me. Now, I am paying $1400 to live in a tiny cabin in Trinidad. Spending $400 in gas to commute to work in Arcata. Last winter I was without power for 38 days not consecutively, leading to thousands in spoiled food & other expenses. I have been looking for a rental in Arcata & despite having a great job, I can’t find anything. Even at $1400 this is essentially half my pay. I love Arcata, I love Humboldt & want to be able to live here for the rest of my life. The Gateway Project would make it possible for me to thrive here.

16. Bought a house in Arcata in 19. Rented before that. It’s hard to find housing all over.
    Why is this only asking about housing.
17. I own home in central Arcata – bought 1982 for $60,000! I feel very lucky to have a great home & want that opportunity for others.
18. I watch employees unable to find housing they can afford in Arcata. Artists are driven out of Arcata because they cannot afford/find housing.
19. I currently live in place that is not up to code or licensed for housing. There is no insulation. I live there because it is so hard to find affordable housing in Arcata and my rent is cheap. I can’t afford real housing in Arcata. I hope the Gateway project will provide affordable housing with high living standards for students and recent graduates of the University who are getting on their feet! We need low income housing!!!
20. I feel very fortunate to have found a little ADU walking distance from my office that I can afford. My income is well over median for our County but there is still very little I can afford. I am a manager at a research center, my partner is an env. engineer for the State. Even with our combined incomes, there’s almost nothing on the market we could afford to buy. We love it here, but are currently looking at opportunities elsewhere — it’s feeling like it’s impossible to really build a life here b/c of the housing situation.
21. I am a local business owner with a large local network and public reach. I have been looking for housing just a 1-bedroom or studio apartment and I hav not had any luck finding something for 2 months. I can’t imagine the experience of someone new to town with no network, career, or connections. I am actually considering moving to another city with more opportunity and more affordable housing. The rent here is comparable to larger metro areas while not providing any of the amenities that a city does.
22. I have found all my housing in Humboldt through Craigslist. Every place I have lived — I have shared with others who spend most of our income on rent. A lot of us are queer, poor, disabled. The houses we have rented all have mold. Our health is at risk. Speaking up to a landlord is risky because we could be evicted for mentioning mold. (Not legal but it happens.) Most of us are one paycheck away from being houseless. Allow the unsheltered to have housing. Housing is a human right.
23. I moved to Eureka to live closer to work, but enjoy hanging out in Arcata. If I could find an apartment or studio for ~$1,000 near downtown Arcata I’d love to live here, but those units are so few and far between.
24. We need more housing. I know so many people paying more than $1,500 for a small 2-bd apt. They don’t have enough money for medical care.
25. I have found myself fortunate to have found a house to split for the last few years with my roommates. But a 3 bedroom for $2,200 is only affordable with 4-5 people. We’ve had 5 people in a house for awhile and it’s been helpful. Still that price is pretty low compared to most other units around. Most places want 1st, last, and deposit while each rental requires another app fee. Landlords have not renewed leases so that they can raise the rent on the next tenant while putting in zero work on the building. There is a lack of accountability and regulations on the owners/rental owners.
26. I became a homeowner b/c I qualified for a low income housing assistance (first time homebuyer) Arcata had.

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3. Feedback on the Open House event

• Thank you for this opportunity today. I hope there will be more in-person opportunities
  for open houses especially on the weekend so more people can attend.
• I liked being able to vote today.
• This was a very confusing exercise. It was hard to know/understand the poster info.
• Most people at this event do not understand the form based code & community
  benefits concept.
• The Community Benefit setback illustration shows a 5 story building with a 25% setback on the top floor.  This looks good to me. If 5 story setbacks aren’t 25% on top floor this would seem misleading.
• Some options on the posters were ambiguous. For example, there were options to
  select that included certain statutes or previous plans, but did not say exactly what
  those plans were without more information. There could have been more exhibits
  included on the side of those posters.
• We need a place for green dot to indicate what parking level we would prefer to have
  for development.
• It would be super helpful to include a poster which explains the points system being
  used throughout this presentation.
• Also – curious of newly proposed traffic redirection plans since the L St linear park has
  succeeded in defeating the previously proposed one way plan? Didn’t see this
  addressed.
• Thanks for all your hard work & vision and weathering intense community anxiety about
  change. Your outreach has been excellent.
• Thank you for the work you do! 

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The original hand-written comments
submitted at the meeting