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May 12, 2020
Re: Planning Commission Agenda Item 8A - Downtown Tier-3 Housing DRPs
Dear Chair Lambert and Planning Commissioners,
Santa Monica Forward strongly supports staff’s recommendation for the Planning Commission to adopt an ROI to consider recommending amending the DCP to allow Tier-3 housing projects greater than 90,000 square feet to be reviewed through a DRP. The proposed process would not change existing allowable heights or densities, and would only simplify the process of approval for desperately needed new housing.
The coronavirus has only exacerbated the housing shortage crisis. The unpredictable and expensive DA process leads developers to build less housing on sites that could be significant sources of new market rate and affordable housing. Ensuring that incentives allow for maximizing housing production is key to addressing the housing shortage crisis, supporting the production of new affordable housing, and addressing our RHNA obligations.
Sincerely,
Abby Arnold and Carl Hansen
Co-chairs, Santa Monica Forward