Council approves 298‑unit SB 35 affordable housing project density bonus and one waiver

Council approved a density bonus agreement and one waiver for a 298‑unit affordable housing project located at the northwest corner of Cook Street and Frank Sinatra Drive after staff described the application as a Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) streamlined project that met objective design standards.

Carlos Flores, Development Services, told the council the proposal is a 3–4 story, 100% affordable multifamily development configured to take advantage of state density bonus provisions. "When a project has 100% of its units available for lower‑income households and is within a very low vehicle travel area, they get different standards as well as density bonus," Flores said. The proponent proposed 39 units per acre against a base density of 17 units per acre and requested a single waiver from the city's controlled building pad elevation requirement; Flores explained the project was submitted before the city changed certain subdivision standards and that state law constrains local discretion to deny such projects absent clear health or safety conflicts.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about the project's relative size (several noted it would be the largest single affordable development by units in one location) and whether the project design would consider resident needs. Mayor Harnick emphasized attention to landscaping and livability for future residents: "These are our neighbors, and we want to make sure they are living in a welcome and warm home environment." Another councilmember noted the city could not deny the project if it met objective standards and state criteria.

After discussion, a motion to approve the density bonus agreement and the requested waiver carried on a 5‑0 vote. The project will move to subsequent permitting steps and, if built to the timelines discussed, would count toward the city's RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) allocations.