Public hearing on fee waiver and deferral policies for affordable housing developments.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Santa Cruz City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after the hour of 10:00 AM in the Council Chambers City Hall, 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Additional information on how to participate in the meeting will be provided on the agenda found at https://www.santacruzca.gov/Government/City-Council/Council-Meetings. The meeting may be viewed remotely, using any of the following sources: Online at City of Santa Cruz at: https://www.santacruzca.gov/Government/City-Council/Council-Meetings Online at Watch Community Television of Santa Cruz County at https://communitytv.org/watch/ Comcast Channel 25 Fee Waiver Ordinance Amendments, Fee Deferral Policy, and Fee Waiver Policy Project Number: FP26-0003 Assessor's Parcel Number: N/A - Citywide Proposal to amend Municipal Code Chapter 24.16 Affordable Housing Provisions: Section 24.16.035 Incentives for Compliance with Inclusionary Housing Requirements, Section 24.16.300 Units Eligible for Fee Waivers, and Section 24.16.310 Procedure for Waiver of Fees. The proposed municipal code amendment would replace existing language related to fee waivers with language specifying that the City will offer specified fee deferrals for 100% affordable housing developments. Proposal to adopt an accompanying fee deferral policy specifying fees eligible for deferral and terms of fee deferral for 100% affordable housing developments. Proposal to adopt a policy to allow the waiver of specified development review fees for entities proposing specified projects on City-owned land or improvements to City-owned buildings. The fee waiver ordinance amendments went before the Planning Commission on February 5, 2026, and the Commission voted to recommend the proposed ordinance amendments to the City Council 40 (three absent). Environmental Review: Exempt from CEQA as the proposed amendments and policies are not a "project" under CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(2), (4) and 15061(b)(3). Applicant: City of Santa Cruz Location: Citywide Temporary Housing Amendments Project Number: FP26-0002 Assessor's Parcel Numbers: 008-162-01, 008-162-11, 008-162-12, 008-162-13, 008-162-18, 008-162-19, 008-171-24, 008-171-25, 008-171-31, and 008-171-33 Consider Ordinances to Amend the Zoning Map and to Amend Municipal Code?Chapter 24.10 Land Use Districts, Chapter 24.12 Part 17 Emergency Shelters, and Chapter 24.22 Definitions, in order to Create a New Overlay District to Implement Uses and Development Standards for Temporary and Affordable Housing to Align the Coral Street Area with the Coral Street Visioning Report, to Align Temporary Housing Standards with State Law Requirements, and Other Minor Changes. In Addition, Consider an Update to the City Council Industrial Land Use Preservation Policy to Clarify Allowance of 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects in Specified Overlay Districts. Amendments to Chapter 24.10 Part 16 are Part of the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Implementation Plan and Require Approval by the California Coastal Commission Prior to Taking Effect Inside the Coastal Zone. Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval with Amendment to Maximum Building Height. Environmental Review: Exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.085 as Rezonings the Implement the Schedule of Actions Contained in an Approved Housing Element and Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section?15061(b)(3) as It Can be Seen with Certainty That the Project Will Not Have Any Significant Environmental Impacts. Applicant: City of Santa Cruz Location: City Council District 5 City of Santa Cruz | Community Development Department www.santacruzca.gov/pcd 809 Center Street, Room 101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Phone Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Counter Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM Email Comments: cityplan@santacruzca.gov Phone Number: (831) 420-5110 Upon request, the agenda can be provided in a format to accommodate special needs. Additionally, if you wish to attend this webinar and require assistance such as an interpreter for American Sign Language, Spanish, or other special equipment, please call the Planning Department at 420-5110 at least five days in advance so that we can arrange for such special assistance The Cal-Relay system number: 1-800-735-2922.