It is more important than ever for you to write the Santa Cruz City Council now that we know Santa Cruz City Council will review the 831 Water St. proposed SB35 project. Your letters become vitally important to request a lower density project that does not use the downhill slant as entrance into the project.
We need 1500 emails sent to citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com and Nathan Nguyen Transportation Manager nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com Tell them the importance of a traffic study performed at 7:45 am, 3:00 pm, and 5:00 pm on weekdays.
Here are more points you can write in your emails:
1. The driveway entrance is located in a very dangerous location for bicycle riders, pedestrians, and the backup of cars onto a busy street.
2.. Santa Cruz has met all of their RHNA requirement except for 168 units. Nearby towns have not come close to meeting their requirements in any category. See: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/09/03/state-aims-to-triple-housing-production-in-santa-cruz-monterey-counties/
3. The zoning calls for 140 Units on less than an acre. It is zoned for 55 units per acre.
4. Height of the building is too high for a hilltop.
5. Dangerous water intrusion to area
6. Affordable housing which is for very low income is what is needed. This project does not meet the city of Santa Cruz RHNA needs.
7. Safety concerns for bike riders, pedestrians, and backup of cars getting into the project.
8. This development currently has the affordable units segregated from the market-rate units in a separate building. The state requirement for SB 35 developments is to have affordable units distributed throughout the development. Santa Cruz City requires the affordable units to be dispersed throughout the development (Inclusionary Ordinance & Density Bonus Ordinance).
9. Truly affordable housing is a very good idea but not at the expense of the health and safety of many in our community.
10. Affordable housing with grants to help developers to defray costs is needed not market-rate small 340 to 420 sq feet small units.
Some letters have been received by the city council and Nathan Nguyen. We need many, many more letters written on Sept. 11. Write now.
Here are the emails to use.
Write: citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com
and nnguyen@cityofsantacruz.com
Thank you for caring about Santa Cruz.