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Council approves first-reading aid package for 70-unit affordable housing and Head Start classroom at Uplands
Summary
On first reading Westminster authorized a development assistance agreement with Maker Housing Partners for a 70-unit affordable multifamily development and a Head Start classroom in the Uplands; the package uses fee rebates and HOME funds and passed 4-1.
Westminster City Council on March 31 passed, on first reading, a development assistance package with Maker Housing Partners to support a proposed 70-unit affordable multifamily development that would include a Head Start classroom at the Uplands site.
The council approved the agreement on a 4-1 vote (Councilor Ireland voted no). The motion authorizes the city manager to execute a development assistance agreement providing up to $555,751 in city fee and tax rebates (with specific exclusions) plus the allocation of $1,071,489 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, for a total assistance package not to exceed $1,627,240.
The motion specifies that the city will rebate 100% of permit fees, park development fees and sales and use taxes on construction materials but explicitly excludes the 0.25% open space tax portion and the 0.6% public safety tax on construction materials from any rebate. The stated purpose is to support a 70-unit affordable multifamily development and a Head Start classroom within the Uplands project area.
Councilor Hutt moved the ordinance (councilor's bill number 9) and Councilor Rosati seconded. Councilor Carmela said the item represented "precisely the type of affordable housing that our city needs more of," and thanked Maker Housing and staff for the partnership. Councilor Ireland said she would vote no, stating a policy preference for promoting homeownership and concern about taxpayer subsidies for rental housing.
The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Councilor Ireland: No; Councilor Carmela: Yes; Councilor Rosati: Yes; Councilor Hutt: Yes; Mayor Nancy McNally: Yes. Staff did not record further amendments to the agreement during the March 31 action; the ordinance passed first reading and will return for subsequent readings as required by city code.
The development assistance agreement, as described on the council floor, links the rebate and HOME allocations to the Maker Housing Partners project at Uplands; staff and the developer indicated additional project-level reviews and permits will follow through development review and building permit processes.
