In 2000, the people of the City of Healdsburg, hereinafter called “the City,” found and declared as follows:
A. The recent rapid increase in residential growth is dramatically changing our small town character and negatively impacting our quality of life.
B. Growth management, in the form of annual allocations of residential building permits as provided in HMC 17.24.020, will ensure a more responsible growth rate and help maintain open space surrounding the City.
C. Rapid residential growth is a matter of continuing concern to the people of the City because it could tax the City’s ability to provide adequate public facilities to meet the requirements of that growth. (Ord. 970, 2000.)
Since then, several measures have passed expanding the amount of growth allowed in the City yet the concerns expressed in 2000 still remain. Our current ordinances have no restrictions on the number of low and affordable income units. We currently have hundreds of housing units in the pipeline that will be suitable for residents wherever they might fall in the income spectrum. There are also currently residences for sale and rent in Healdsburg. In addition, Windsor is building hundreds of residences ten minutes from Healdsburg. .
Under Measure O, the City Council is asking voters to remove all voter imposed limits to the number of multifamily dwellings within parts of Healdsburg. This would give City government .the power to approve an unlimited number of units. The City is already considering policy measures to increase zoning to up to 65 units/acre and considering subsidizing the purchase of properties to the tune of millions of dollars. Despite misleading ballot language, there is nothing in the changes to the law have anything to do with middle class housing or underutilized lots.
Here is the text:
B. Multi-family dwellings, within the geographic areas described and shown below, are exempted from the limitations established in HMC 17.24.020.
1. Healdsburg Avenue North Corridor (North Street to Grove Street)
2. Central Healdsburg Avenue Plan (CHAP)
3. South Entry Area
