Arcata City Planning Commission recommends council adopt density bonus update and readopt inclusionary zoning

The Arcata City Planning Commission voted 5–2 on Jan. 28 to recommend that the City Council adopt Ordinance 1575, an amendment to the city's land-use code that updates density bonus provisions to comply with state law and readopts an inclusionary zoning requirement.

Community Development Director David Loya told the commission the primary goal of the ordinance is to bring the density bonus chapter into compliance with state law and to reintroduce an inclusionary zoning requirement that the council previously discussed with the commission. "Currently, it's written that it would trigger at 30 units, a development of 30 units or more," Loya said, describing how the local requirement would be applied.

Supporters at the meeting argued the local inclusionary requirement would disperse affordable housing through the community and protect existing residents. Jo Ann McGarry, a resident who said she depends on a city rental subsidy, urged commissioners to keep inclusionary zoning in place: "Inclusionary zoning sounds great," McGarry said, adding that affordable housing should also be "safe and sane," not only inexpensive.

Opponents warned the local mandate could discourage developers and reduce housing production. "I think we should tell the city council just ditch the inclusionary zoning temporarily," Commissioner Peter said, arguing that many developers would instead choose the state density bonus or opt to do neither if the local requirement remained.

Commissioners split the difference in debate. Several members said the commission set relatively low inclusionary rates during prior deliberations and that the requirement could be adjusted later if it proved to hinder development. Staff referenced a recent Valley West Apartments project as an example of a development over the 30-unit threshold; the exact unit count was not specified in the discussion.

A motion to adopt the resolution as written passed on a show-of-hands vote, recorded by the chair as 5 in favor and 2 opposed. One commissioner named Abby was recorded voting in favor; the meeting record did not capture full roll-call votes by name for every member. The commission's recommendation now goes to the City Council for final action.

The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment. The City Council will next consider Ordinance 1575 and can modify, adopt or reject the commission's recommendation.