Housing authority urges simple, predictable local pathway to attract developers

Rob Frederick's, executive director and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, opened public comment in favor of the Pathways to Yes initiative but cautioned the Better Buildings program will fail if it does not provide a clearer, quicker alternative to the state density bonus law. "For the Better Buildings program to succeed it must offer developers a pathway that is easier, faster and more predictable than the state bonus density law," he told council and commissioners.

Frederick's said the pilot should not add negotiation burdens or extra procedural hoops that make the local path less attractive. He advocated firm timelines, better interdepartmental coordination, consolidated comments and a solutions-oriented culture that should become standard citywide, not only in the downtown pilot. He also asked the city to retain a PRT-style early coordinated review to prevent costly problems later and urged the ordinance drafters to address how the pilot will produce very-low and low-income housing rather than only moderate-income units.