Summary: Sunday, January 3, 2016 / 7:30 a.m. Next Thursday, January 7th, the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission will consider a couple of interesting project items on the Commission’s agenda, including a new, affordable housing development at 555 Pacific Avenue. You can get links at kusp.org/landuse. Let me tell you about the other item, though, which is a proposed residential demolition and conversion project at 412 Ocean View Avenue. Ocean View is one of the city’s nicer streets, with big, old houses and a park at the end. 412 is one of those big, old houses, but a house that was converted some time ago to four separate living units. Relatively recently, the house was acquired by some new owners, and they wanted to eliminate the four units, and to convert the home back to one, huge lovely home just for themselves. When they asked the City Planning Department about that, though, the Planning Department told them that this would eliminate affordable housing, and that this would be against City policy. Despite that advice, the owners applied for a building permit to the Building Department, not mentioning that the effect of what they proposed would eliminate the four units. The Building Department didn’t confer with the Planning Department, and issued the permit. So, what happens now? Reading the staff report is a cautionary tale. The end of the story may well be known next Thursday night. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Planning Commission Agenda – January 7, 2016 Meeting Planning Commission Agenda Reports Agenda Report – 412 Ocean View Avenue Item
