During the reporting period, Santa Paula only built 15 percent of its upper-income housing target. The city’s own target for housing creation was adopted by the City Council in 2002 for the period covering 1998 to 2005. The City Council Housing Creation goal includes 50 extremely low-income, 200 very-low income, 250 low-income, 312 moderate and 725 upper-income homes.Kapuscik told the Council that it is hoped that the “Housing in the Millennium” report will “raise awareness of the gaps in housing and over time shed light on best practices” through providing an “equitable mix of housing.”Mayor Rick Cook noted that he had been involved in the early release of the RHNA numbers that “overburdened Santa Paula” with very-low and low-income housing requirements, while “Other cities had almost zero” requirements to build same. “They wouldn’t take into consideration what we already have.”Even cities that have done “very little” often claim they are creating more very-low and low-income housing, noted Bangser, who thanked the Council for its support of current CEDC and other very-low and low-income developments. “We see Santa Paula as one of the gems in our portfolio,” Bangser said.
CEDC report shows SP ahead in building low-income housing
April 14, 2006
Santa Paula City Council
Santa Paula has shouldered more than required when it comes to building very-low and low-income housing, according to the “Housing in the Millennium” report by Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation presented to the City Council at the April 3 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula has shouldered more than required when it comes to building very-low and low-income housing, according to the “Housing in the Millennium” report by Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation presented to the City Council at the April 3 meeting. CEDC Community Building/Neighborhood Revitalization Director Jill Bangser and CEDC Board Director Gerald Kapuscik explained the study, conducted between 1990 and 2000.When post-2000 development is factored in, Santa Paula exceeds the very-low and low-income housing creation goals set by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), while several areas of Ventura County – notably Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Camarillo - have all but ignored building anything but upper-income housing.Throughout the decade in Ventura County, the RHNA target for very-low and low-income housing units fell far short of completion goals, with only 36.2 percent of very-low housing and 38.0 percent of low-income housing completed. Upper-income housing countywide in the same period exceeded the goal by a whopping 128.0 percent.
