SANTA PAULA : Affordable Units Added to Project

The Santa Paula City Council has approved the request of an Ojai developer to add four affordable apartments to a 15-unit apartment project, six months after the council rejected his bid for a larger project.

At the same time, the council rejected developer David Allen’s bid to allow apartments occupied by lower-income tenants to remain earmarked as affordable if their incomes rise above the qualifying limit.

Four of the units in the Plaza Apartments on South Garcia Street will be reserved for low-income tenants for a 10-year period. Rents will range from $745 a month for a two-bedroom unit to $1,000 a month for a market-rate four-bedroom unit.

In February, the council narrowly rejected Allen’s request to increase the zoning of the Garcia Street lot to build up to 21 two-bedroom units, with one-fourth of them set aside for 30 years as affordable units. Several council members said the project could result in crowding.

In response to the council’s rejection, Allen changed the project to include seven units with three and four bedrooms each.

Mayor Margaret Ely said after Tuesday’s vote that the new project, which includes a playground, recreation building, pool and secured garages, would be an improvement.

“I’m hoping it will be an asset and give some of our residents quality housing that is also affordable,” Ely said.