Protect 7th Ave & Brommer: Demand Responsible Development & Coastal Protection
2,260 signatures and growing! Help us protect our neighborhood, coastal resources & public safety.
We support affordable housing, but we oppose the current scale and design of the proposed development at 7th Ave & Brommer St in Live Oak, Santa Cruz County.
Community HousingWorks is proposing an initial 100-unit, four-story apartment development reaching approximately 58 feet in height, with only 66 on-site parking spaces. The County has confirmed that the developer anticipates up to 200 affordable housing units in two phases within 3.5 acres.
Our neighborhood is already experiencing significant traffic congestion, limited parking, deteriorating sidewalks & infrastructure challenges. Adding this level of development without adequately addressing these issues raises serious concerns for existing residents, future residents & visitors to the Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches.
Our Major Concerns
Emergency Evacuation & Public Safety
Santa Cruz County's Emergency Operations Plan identifies 7th Avenue as part of its flood and tsunami evacuation strategy and 7th Ave & Brommer St as a potential emergency traffic-control point.
Central Fire District has also listed 901 7th Avenue, the Upper Harbor parking lot, as a tsunami evacuation site.
Although the Fire Marshal approved the development's emergency access plan, that approval does not establish that a corridor-wide evacuation analysis has been completed.
We are asking the County to demonstrate how existing residents, Harbor visitors & potentially hundreds of additional residents can safely evacuate during emergencies, including flooding, tsunami warnings and road closures.
Preservation of the Coast Live Oak Grove & Wildlife Habitat
The developer's arborist report evaluated 63 trees, with 38 proposed for preservation and 25 for removal.
However, the proposed recreational and playground areas may overlap the root systems of the preserved coast live oaks. Construction, soil compaction, fencing, lighting & ongoing recreational activity could compromise the trees' long-term survival and the wildlife habitat they provide.
We are requesting meaningful preservation of the oak grove, including protection of root systems, wildlife access and the surrounding natural environment.
Traffic, Parking, Sidewalks & Public Transportation
The first phase proposes 100 apartments with only 66 on-site parking spaces.
7th Avenue already experiences significant congestion, particularly with Harbor, beach & neighborhood traffic. Existing sidewalks need repair, bicycle connections require safety improvements, and surrounding street parking is limited.
We are requesting a comprehensive assessment of transportation and infrastructure needs, including Santa Cruz METRO service capacity, pedestrian safety, bicycle access, parking demand and improvements necessary to support both phases.
Stormwater, Drainage & Infrastructure
The proposed development raises questions about grading, retaining walls, changes to natural drainage and stormwater runoff toward neighboring properties.
We are requesting complete engineering documentation demonstrating that the development will not adversely affect neighboring properties or overburden existing infrastructure.
Coastal Act Compliance & Development Design
The California Coastal Commission requires housing on this Coastal Priority Site to occupy the smallest feasible footprint, not exceeding 3.5 contiguous acres.
We are asking the County and developer to examine alternative building orientations that could reduce impacts on existing homes, preserve the oak grove & improve open space.
We also want a feasibility assessment of a secondary access connection to Brommer Street to determine whether traffic could be distributed more effectively and emergency circulation improved.
Federal Environmental Review & Funding Accountability
The project has been awarded $46.6 million through California's federally funded Disaster Recovery Multifamily Housing Program.
This funding carries federal environmental review requirements. We are requesting confirmation that the Environmental Assessment appropriately considers the full anticipated development, related phases, shared infrastructure, coastal resources & potential cumulative impacts.
What We Are Asking For
We are calling on Santa Cruz County, Community HousingWorks & the California Coastal Commission to:
- Demonstrate compliance with applicable federal environmental review requirements, Coastal Act protections & the certified Local Coastal Program.
- Evaluate corridor-wide emergency evacuation conditions, including the designated routes and emergency functions at 7th Avenue & Brommer.
- Protect the preserved coast live oak grove, its root systems & wildlife habitat.
- Evaluate alternative building orientations, appropriate setbacks and feasible access improvements.
- Address traffic, parking, sidewalks, bicycle safety, public transit & infrastructure needs before occupancy.
- Provide complete stormwater, drainage and engineering documentation, including anticipated impacts from both phases.
- Ensure meaningful transparency, public participation & accountability throughout the approval process.
Important Public Hearing
Friday, November 6, 2026, at 9 AM or thereafter
Santa Cruz County Building
701 Ocean Street, Room 525
Santa Cruz, CA
Application 261178 / Building Permit B-265458
We encourage residents to attend, submit written comments and clearly express their position on the current development proposal.
Help Us Protect Our Community
More than 2,260 community members have already signed this petition.
We are also raising funds to obtain legal counsel experienced in coastal land-use law, environmental review & development approvals.
Support our legal fund:
https://gofund.me/e79545c01
We are not asking the County to abandon affordable housing. We are asking for responsible development that respects the surrounding neighborhood, protects coastal resources, addresses public safety & provides the infrastructure necessary for existing and future residents.
Affordable housing and responsible coastal planning should go hand in hand.
Please sign, share & help us make sure our community's concerns are addressed before this development moves forward.