Santa Cruz YIMBY Newsletter
June 2017
What Santa Cruz YIMBY has been up to
Advocating for Habitat for Humanity
On May 16th, the Santa Cruz County Board of supervisors unanimously approved giving a plot of land to Habitat for Humanity to build as many as 13 affordable homes. Habitat for Humanity still needs to go through the process of obtaining building permits, so expect to hear more on this project in the future. Read more about the project here.
Advocating for Corridor Rezoning Project
Santa Cruz YIMBY was the Featured story in the Good Times newspaper. A reporter noticed Santa Cruz YIMBY founder Evan Siroky at a planning commission meeting on the corridor rezoning project. While this publicity is good, the NIMBYism was thick in the meeting. Evan and another pro-development speaker got laughed at by the audience for advocating for more housing development.
Advocating for the Water Street Affordable Housing Project
We advocated for the approval by the City of Santa Cruz planning commission of a 41 unit 100% affordable housing development on Water Street. This development will have 8 units reserved for people with developmental disabilities and 33 units available through Section 8. This project was unanimously approved by the planning commission on June 1st, but still needs approval from the city council.
On the agenda for Summer
City of Santa Cruz Housing Study Session
Tuesday, June 27th is a big day for Santa Cruz Housing Advocacy. At 2:30pm the city will decide whether or not to approve the Water Street Apartments that was just unanimously passed the planning commission earlier this month. Then at 7pm there will be a housing study session.
City of Santa Cruz Rezoning
Meetings will continue throughout the summer on the corridor rezoning project. There is also the downtown recovery plan which would upzone part of downtown Santa Cruz. We’ll keep you updated on meetings on this project as well.
City of Scotts Valley General Plan
The City of Scotts Valley is reviewing their general plan. The first meeting of many will be June 26th at Scotts Valley City Hall. Go to their website and take a survey to tell them to build more housing!
State Senator Scott Weiner to speak at Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
State Senator Scott Wiener, 11th District San Francisco will be the special at the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce luncheon on June 30th. The Chamber will be kicking off the “Year of Housing” — positive discussion about our concerns and seeking solutions to address the systemic housing problems facing California and coastal regions of our state.
YIMBYTown Conference
On July 13–16 2017, the annual YIMBY conference will take place in Oakland, CA. Meet and great with other YIMBYs from throughout the country and as we discuss strategies to better advocate for housing. Registration is still open!
State-level Advocacy
- AB 71 — would disallow mortgage interest deductions on 2nd homes and use the saved money to build affordable housing.
Status: still awaiting enough votes. - SB 35 — streamlines the permitting of new housing construction.
Status: passed out of Senate! - SB 167 — would impose penalties on cities that do not approve affordable housing projects that comply with local zoning codes.
Status: passed out of Senate and Assembly!
