The Town has at last received a response from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) regarding the recertification of the Housing Element. HCD sent a Letter of Technical Assistance the afternoon of October 16th. The letter is attached. The letter indicates that the State requires two changes in our previously approved Rezoning Implementation. The State requires:
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That there be explicit statement in our Mixed-Use zoning designation that the developments could be as much at 100% housing and at least 50% housing. This regulation is consistent with the adopted Housing Element and addressing it would be a simple amendment to the zoning text for the mixed-use district. The change would need to be considered by the Planning Commission and Town Council.
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That zoning regulations be changed to make development at the Dorothy Ford Housing Element site “by right”. This would mean that development of the 2.48 acre portion of the site with 50 very low income housing units site could be accomplished without any further land use entitlement. (However, since the site is owned by the Town, no actual development of the site could occur unless the Town Council took proactive action to sell or lease the site.)
The Town Council will be considering this issue .
