Planning commission continues review of proposed local density bonus ordinance to Oct. 6 after consultant presentation

At its Aug. 4 meeting, the Millbrae Planning Commission heard a presentation from consultants Harris & Associates on a proposed local density bonus ordinance intended to supplement California’s state density bonus law and then voted 5-0 to continue the item to Oct. 6 to allow additional review.

The ordinance would allow the city to grant additional density bonuses — above those available under state law — for projects in the Millbrae Station area and downtown/El Camino Real boundary in exchange for dedicating units at specified affordability levels. Roscoe Mata, planning manager for the City of Millbrae, introduced the item and said the proposal grows from a city council strategic initiative to prioritize very-low-income housing and encourage downtown redevelopment.

Zaire Marin, project manager for Harris & Associates, summarized how density bonus works and what the city’s supplemental incentives would look like in examples. Marin said density bonus lets a developer build more market-rate units on a site in exchange for including income-restricted units; the extra market-rate units can help offset the lower revenue from affordable units.

Hida Mosesman of Harris & Associates described the proposed…