Much of the Eastside of Santa Cruz is zoned RL, 20-27 units per acre which is twice as much area as west of the San Lorenzo River. Be aware, buildings will become higher, wider and denser with the use of the Density Bonus by developers, up to 35 units per acre. The Density Bonus builds will be built in the RL neighborhoods, not the R1-5 neighborhoods (10 units per acre, 1/3 less density than RL)
Buildings are planned at 3 times more than in R1-5 Does this seem fair to you that the zoning does not include west of the San Lorenzo? The Measure H tax will be on home/land owners tax bills for 35 years, yet only RL neighborhoods will have to live with the density and parking issues as a result of Measure H combined with the Density Bonus. And this building from H will only be part of all of the large, units that will be in RL zoned areas.
A yes vote on H will make it worse for those living in the RL but not for R1-5. Here is measure H https://ballotpedia.org/Santa_Cruz_County,_California,_Measure_H,_Housing_Bonds_(November_2018)
This would be an undemocratic way to execute a plan. All property owners will pay, but only RL neighborhoods sacrifice their quality of life by taking more of their "fair share" of intensive development for neighborhoods due to the zoning. Does some of this remind you of the corridor plan the current city council proposed? We must speak up.
Does your council candidate care about this extreme difference in the level of intensive development on the Eastside of Santa Cruz?
Write an email and find out and if they are elected let's hold them to what they tell us.
If the candidate lives in R1-5 areas of the city, will the candidate see this inequality? Can you write them and ask them if they will re-zone part of the west side if they are elected or will they re-zone parts of the east side? Think this through before voting on Measure H. If you wish to email someone about this you may email:
BAC@branciforteactioncommittee.org
Here are the candidates for Santa Cruz City Council to write to express your concerns for more equitable zoning in Santa Cruz.
Keep writing, your views matter. This is our town. Show you care. Take Action. Thank you.
Philip Crawford
Justin Cummings
Paige Concannon
David Lane
Greg Larson
Cynthia Hawthorne
Richelle Noroyan
Donna Meyers
Ashley Scontriano
Drew Glover