Cambria board grants 36‑month extension for Cambria Pines affordable housing

The Cambria Community Services District board voted unanimously on Jan. 8 to grant a 36‑month extension of the district’s water intent‑to‑serve letter so People’s Self Help Housing (PSHH) can finalize financing for the Cambria Pines affordable housing project on Schoolhouse Lane.

PSHH project lead Juliana Gallardo Wilkie told the board the development is a 33‑unit multifamily project with on‑site amenities and preserves about 2.83 acres of open space. She said the county has issued building permits that expire in November 2027 and that the project’s remaining financing hinge is securing federal tax credits. “We applied to the state’s NOFA funds and were awarded a substantial grant in September,” Gallardo Wilkie said, adding that the award of a roughly $7,000,000 HCD grant makes their upcoming tax‑credit application much more competitive.

Directors pressed staff and PSHH for details about costs, timelines and who would be eligible for units. PSHH representatives clarified the unit mix — 4 one‑bedrooms, 19 two‑bedrooms and 10 three‑bedrooms — and said tenant rents will be set according to state AMI guidelines; Catherine Aguilar, PSHH’s director of multifamily housing development, said one‑bedroom rents could start as low as $539 at 30% AMI in comparable projects. Board members and public commenters debated project cost and alternatives; PSHH revised an earlier figure and said the total development cost is about $28,000,000 and that prevailing‑wage and holding costs have driven increases.

Staff described the district’s approach to connections: PSHH will not be required to pay capacity fees or receive a connection permit until construction funding is in hand and the applicant is ready to break ground; staff said an earlier estimate of about $700,000 in capacity fees would be collected before monthly billing begins. After discussion, Vice President Dean moved the board grant a three‑year (36‑month) extension and the motion carried on a roll‑call vote: Director Gray, Director Scott, Director Thomas, Vice President Dean and President Farmer all voted aye.

The extension keeps the developer’s “intent to serve” in force while PSHH pursues tax credits and federal/state funding. The board noted that approval of the extension does not obligate the district to permit construction work until permits and infrastructure (including water‑main extension) are in place. The board directed staff to coordinate timing for a connection permit when the project is ready to proceed.