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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-11-30-82-Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 30, 1982 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., November 30, 1982, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor James T. Quinn presiding. PRESENT: ABSENT: Council Members: James T. Quinn Robert G. Cormack Theodore H. Jackman Randall R. Barb Bob Davila Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Planning Commissioners: Barbara Hayden Frank Beckner Bob Verderber Robert Brazelton Joseph Sarabia Chairman Vice -Chairman ALSO PRESENT: William F. Martin, City Manager'. Pro Tem Carl K..Newton, Assistant City Attorney Dudley Lang, Assistant City Manager Francis E. Carter, City Planner'. Ron Yoshiki, Assistant City Planner Gary Myrick, Associate Planner Michael Wagner, Consultant Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Mr. Carter commented on the Moratorium prohibiting construction of R-2 and R-3 rental units in the City, which he said expires February 10, 1983. He said the purpose of the moratorium was to enable staff to prepare a report on the status of owner/rental units in the City. The 1980 census report shows 81,213 population, of which 31,518 were renters. The percentage of single-family dwelling units has decreased from a peak of 76 percent in 1963 to 53 percent in 1980. There has been an increase in apartments from 15 percent in 1963 to 46 percent of the entire hous- ing stock in 1980. Mr. Carter then referred to data from the Multi -family Moratorium Report, including the Housing Element Background Report prepared in March, 1977, and renter -owner trends. He also referred to a chart on owner and renter -occupied units for the City, plus a chart on differences and percentages of units from 1960 to 1980 and future potential (1990 General Plan). Also included was a chart of building permit trends from 1957 to 1982 (July). Mr. Carter reviewed the conclusions and recommendations contained in the moratorium report (pages 12 and 13) and added that in reality, if a person is rent- ing and the owner chooses to convert to a condominium, the renter would then pay substantially more per month than if a rental fee was paid. He indicated a summary of the report is that if all properties were developed to their potential, the City would have approximately 51 percent rental units and 49 percent single family units. Councilman Jackman raised a question regarding, parcels owned by Caltrans in the I-105 Freeway corridor that are now eligible for low cost housing, which can or must be sold and could be written down to a zero dollar amount. -- Mr. Wagner said Caltrans does have a housing replenishment program and has been working with developers putting together projects and actually buying some existing developments to assist in writing the prices down to an affordable range. Councilman Jackman said at least 225 parcels in the I-105 Freeway corridor are eligible for replacement in Downey. The people were not necessarily displaced from Downey, and they would be allowed to purchase those properties at whatever they could afford. Mayor Quinn explained the purpose of the joint ,meeting is to review the basis for the moratorium, noting Councilman Cormack requested a report regarding dwellings in Downey. The moratorium ends February 10, 1983, at which time the Council must decide on a program for future dwelling plans in the City. Councilman Cormack's main concern is to keep agoodly portion of Downey as R1-5,000 or larger, in an effort to maintain a high degree of beauty in the City. Council Minutes 11/30/32 (adj.) -1- loo Mr. Brazelton said his recollection of the reason for the staff meeting was the Planning Commission had previously reviewed pages 12 and 13 of the Multi -Family Report and questions arose as to what is the philosophy of the Council as to its desire for curtailing multiple residential development. Councilman Jackman responded that the philosphy of a majority of the Council was it would like to maintain as much owner -occupied residences in the City as possible. The philosophy is "people who own their homes take care of their homes." Councilman Davila emphasized condominiums should be constructed large enough to enable a family to live in a normal manner. Councilman Barb believes there are ways within the law, wherein some properties can be made available to be developed as R-3 as they have been zoned in the past. He thinks there are many other properties where development has not started in a block or an area or neighborhood where it can be zoned down to a point where resi- dences can still be built. Mr. Carter said requirements for R-3 could be amended in the Municipal Code to be the same as that of a PUD development. Properties could be exempted from the requirement by variance. Councilman Barb suggested a new zoning title should be created for those pro- perties specified as having condominium requirements for R-3 construction. He does not think it is right to tell an investor who has purchased property surrounded by multi -family dwellings that he must construct a R1-10,000 unit on his property. Mr. Carter said the Downey Municipal Code received "a major overhaul" in 1978. Prior to 1978, the development of apartment units was slow. He pointed out current code regulations enable construction of better units, not the same as those constructed ten or fifteen years ago. Nowadays, the density factor has a major bearing on the design of multiple dwelling developments. He said R-3 requirements may still be made more strict if desired. The City should keep in mind that dwell- ings should be provided for all income groups. Councilman Cormack said if the City of Downey elects to be a more exclusive residential neighborhood, they have every right to be. He thinks all new apartments should have water and gas cut-offs for the individual apartments. This would simplify later changeovers', to condominiums. Discussion followed regarding possible improvement points in the Building Code. Down zoning could be considered near the intersection of Foster and Woodruff Avenue on the semi -circular street known as Belcher. The lots have been developed as single units, although the zoning is R-3 (the County developed this area). Mr. Carter suggested the R-3 zoning be removed so that no lots will be sold as R-3 for apartment house construction. The existing property owners would not be adversely affected. He presented a map indicating the areas that could be down zoned without interference', to any development. Other areas might have classifica- tion overlay. Downgrading of areas would prevent the development of 335 apartments and 277 duplexes. Councilman Davila indicated this meeting is to determine whether the Council is going to continue with the moratorium. He said the Planning Commission wants to know what direction the Council desires to go with zoning. Mrs. Hayden inquired as to how involved is the City of Downey and the Federal Government relative to housing? Mr. Lang replied that such money is coming in but is limited to Block Grant Funds for community housing projects. Councilman Jackman said an exception exists with the I-105 Freeway housing plan. These are dedicated funds partially allotted to the City (funded 92% by Federal and 8% by State). The housing plan has been written. Councilman Cormack inquired if the I-105 Freeway housing program was being settled outside of Downey. Mr. Wagner explained 12 developers have submitted projects to the City that were located within Downey. The State wants to work with developers who are already constructing units. Occupants of the units would have subsidized rent. Council Minutes 11/30/82 (adj.) -2- At Councilman Barb's request, Mr. Wagner indicated he would obtain a list of the developers involved in the I-105 Freeway project. He then reviewed how staff has worked on the Meadow Park project for handicapped housing and said the State de- cided not to do the project --handicap funds were not available. Discussion followed regarding funding of the I-105 Freeway housing program. The concensus of the Council was to encourage all other corridor cities to use the replacement housing funds. Mr. Brazelton requested attention be given to page 12 of the Multi -Family Moratorium Report for a review of each item and make any further suggestions or additions to staff, who could primarily return with a possible revised report for the Commission's review and subsequent presentation to the Council. Mayor Quinn inquired if any down zoning would have to be agreeable with the involved property owners and would they have to be notified. Mr. Carter said the residents would be notified and that any down zoning would not have to be agreeable to the property owners. Councilman Jackman suggested the overlays not be taken one by one. He prefers that the Planning Commission be advised to study the whole program and to set up suggested rules or zoning that would at least make it more possible to have owner - occupied residences in the City within all the legal limits that have been established. Then, the Planning Commission would bring back its recommendations to the Council. The staff would assist and provide guidance. Councilman Cormack said the R-1 units can be better controlled than condominiums. Mayor Quinn voiced concern that people might be driven out of Downey. Councilman Barb suggested a compatible conversion program for people who own apartment buildings. Mr. Carter indicated a new zoning district could be developed and certain criteria could be established to be more restrictive than R-3 but less than a PUD and apply it to certain areas. He said staff may be able to come back with a proposed ordinance before the February loth time period. Councilman Barb also suggested at the time the Council considers extending the moratorium that it look at each unit separately to see if a problem exists. The Council could then consider this during a one -week interim. Mr. Carter explained a public hearing would be necessary to extend the mora- torium, and at the hearing the Council could make the findings that any apartment structure be reviewed by Council. Time is too limited to possibly consider a code amendment. Councilman Jackman suggested using Mr. Carter's idea of permitting those during the moratorium to bring their requests directly to the Council. Mrs. Hayden commented on the possibility of being discriminatory by allowing certain people to appear before the Council for an exception to a rule that has not yet been established. Mr. Newton stated this would be possible if the Council created a class that would qualify for the exception. Also, it is possible to establish an exception procedure which can either be reviewed by the Council or the Planning Commission and would not be considered discriminatory. The exception would allow specific review of a particular project, and the project could then be subjected to very close scrutiny as to approvals. Mayor Quinn concluded that staff and the Planning Commission know what direc- tion to follow and they will come back with a recommendation before February loth. Mr. Carter indicated he will work with the City Attorney on the hearing for extending the moratorium, as well as preparing some standards for allowing the Commission and Council to review cases caught in the middle of the moratorium. Mayor Quinn recessed the meeting to closed session from 7.50 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. to discuss litigation. The meeting resumed with all Council Members present. It was announced that in closed session, the Council authorized settlement of a City employee's Workers' Compensation case. Council Minutes 11/30/82 (adj.) -3- -1�69% The meeting was then adjourned at 8:55 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., December 7, 1982, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall. Ro ert L. Sh d, City Clerk -Treasurer T. Quinn, Mayor Council Minutes 11/30/82 (adj.) -4-