SAN CLEMENTE : Council Votes More Lower-Cost Housing

Concerned about the availability of low-cost housing in this affluent beach town, the City Council has increased the proportion of low-cost homes developers must provide as part of new projects.

The city’s housing plan now requires that 20% the of all developments larger than five units be set aside for low-cost housing and that the housing remain in the possession of low-income families for 20 years. The previous standard required 15% of new projects to be low-cost units and remain so for 10 years.

Developers have the option of paying a fee to the city in lieu of building low-cost homes. The fee would go into a fund for building low-cost housing.

As part of the plan, the council also created a committee to monitor developers’ compliance with the housing requirements. The committee, called the Housing Authority, will also oversee the resale of low-cost homes to make sure they remain in the hands of low-income people.

The council has not yet determined the size of the committee or who will serve on it.

State law requires that every city have provisions for low-cost housing and that the standards be revised every five years.