Dr. Dora Crouch said the second draft is an “improvement” over the first but there are discrepancies between housing needs and supply as well as complications due to the 1990 census figures used for the study.The “Unmet needs” of lower income housing should take precedence over all others, said Chris Espinosa.“I'm greatly concerned with the shortage of housing for workers in this community,” said Latino Town Hall Vice President Jess Victoria. “You should consider all economic,” segments of society.More details on projected home rehabilitation - up to 1200 units in five years - should be demonstrated, said Jess Ornelas, and although the city states in the DHE that a Habitat for Humanity home is completed, work has not yet begun.City living conditions have deteriorated significantly in the last four years, said Latino Town Hall President Robert Borrego, and it is difficult to tell a rising number of homeless people there is no affordable housing.The council wrangled over several issues, including tours the state HCD representatives had taken with members of city staff and a week later with Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa and Jess Ornelas. Impacts of specific language on the economic levels of housing units, further revisions to the draft document and a time table for state review were also addressed before the DHE was found adequate to send on to the HCD.
Council finds second Draft Housing Element adequate for state review
June 20, 2001
Santa Paula News
The Draft Housing Element (DHE) is on its way to the state after the City Council found the document adequate for review at a special June 6 meeting held at the Community Center.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Draft Housing Element (DHE) is on its way to the state after the City Council found the document adequate for review at a special June 6 meeting held at the Community Center.Among the audience were members of the State Department of Community Development and those who have followed the oft-times controversial DHE since it started in September with the first of a series of community workshops.Consultants from Cotton-Bridges Associates presented the second draft of the element, noting some of the changes in the document after summarizing the process and community outreach efforts.Input from a February joint Planning Commission and City Council meeting expanded the document, said Karen Warner, but “I think made it a better document. . .”Planning Director Tom Bartlett said the city has worked “extensively” with the state on the DHE, but public comment continued to be critical of the document.
