Politics & Government
City Council Approves Low-Income Housing Funding
The council will support the CDBG and HOME projects with city and federal funding.
The Encinitas City Council unanimously approved funding for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs during a regular meeting Wednesday night. The programs are part of federal plans that assist low-income residents by providing affordable housing.
More than $400,000 worth of funding was approved by the council for these two projects. In order to afford it, roughly $23,000 of funding was reallocated from unexpected funds from the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The money, however, can be reimbursed to the city from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for project and activity costs.
Eight Encinitas residents spoke in favor of the programs, especially for the Iris Apartments on Vulcan Avenue. The low-income residence complex, developed by Chelsea Investment Corporation, was approved in 2004. It is currently in a planning stage, with initial building plans already accepted.
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A merger of two Encinitas lots for applicant Michael Clark was also unanimously approved. A single family home will be built on two bordering areas that lie on the corner of Chesterfield Drive and Glasgow Avenue. This is a residential zone in Cardiff, and special planning was approved in order to allow the merger. The council formerly rejected this plan because it included a driveway that may have been obstructive. However, with the revisions, the council has moved to allow the two property lots to join.
Finally, the council changed its policy regarding the number of members it requires to put an item on a future agenda. From now on, an item can be placed on the future agenda with the support of two council members. Formerly, this process required three members to be considered.
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Residents may also prompt a council member to add an item during the meeting. In order for it to be placed, a second motion must be made from another council member.
Two Encinitas residents called for transparency in this action and wanted to make sure items did not get ignored. Former Encinitas City Council candidate Tony Kranz asked that the council use its website to maintain a page with future agenda items. “Make sure that the process you use is public with some accountability as well,” he said.
The council unanimously voted to adopt the revised plan, effective immediately.
