During the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident Kevin Gomez urged the Planning and Housing Commission to recommend that the City Council study a mixed-use, community land-trust alternative for the North Mall redevelopment, which Gomez said currently contemplates a hotel and 300 rental units.

Gomez said the land-trust model would allow ground-floor retail rents to subsidize building maintenance so residents could buy units with mortgages of about $1,500 a month. "The rent from those shops goes directly to pay for the building's maintenance," Gomez said, and added that the model could enable teachers and nurses to "build equity here instead of just paying rent." He also argued the land-trust approach would prioritize housing local workers and reduce the imported commuter traffic a hotel or rental complex might bring.

Gomez asked the commission to ask city council to study the land-trust model before the city signs a final development agreement, noting that selling the surplus land would be permanent while a land trust could retain public influence through a board structure mixing council, residents and stakeholders.

Chair Alexander thanked Mr. Gomez for his comments. Commissioners did not take action during the public-comment period (the chair reminded the public the commission cannot discuss or act on items raised during this segment), but the proposal presents an alternative the council could consider in future discretionary review.