Local News in Brief : Affordable Housing Pact

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has agreed by a 3-2 vote to enter into an agreement that calls for “affordable housing” as part of a 49-unit ocean-view town home development at Hawthorne Boulevard and Palos Verdes Drive West.

In accordance with state law, the housing element of the city’s General Plan calls for providing homes to people with a wide range of incomes. Low-cost housing is scarce on the affluent Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The city’s agreement with Villa Capri Subdivision calls for 10 units that will be sold for $135,000 each. The other units will be priced from $300,000 to $400,000.

The agreement states that Rancho Palos Verdes residents have first priority for the units, then residents of Los Angeles County.

Villa Capri is expected to be ready for occupancy next December, said Benjamin Ortega, associate city planner.

Councilmen Mel Hughes and John McTaggart voted against the measure. McTaggart, who has opposed the affordable-housing program from the beginning, said he believes that requiring a builder to provide low-cost housing is unconstitutional.