Attend the March 7 City Council Meeting for a Discussion on Key Housing Policies
For immediate release: February 24, 2022
Contact: Community Development Department, 650-286-3225, planning@fostercity.org
Community members interested in participating in key housing policy discussions such as the Affordable Housing Overlay Zone (AHOZ), AHOZ sites, Below Market Rate Inclusionary Housing Program and an In-lieu fee program for Below Market Rate housing are invited to attend the City Council meeting on Monday, March 7. During the meeting, City Staff will present their recommendations based on technical analysis, state law requirements and other criteria to facilitate a robust discussion that would enable our policy makers to make an informed decision based on factual analysis, constraints and evidence.
The items listed above are purely policy-level decision items and not to discuss or approve any specific project. The list of seven (7) apartment sites (including Lantern Cove) recommended for inclusion under the AHOZ sites does not mean that the City is approving additional density or units at these sites. Each of these sites have to go through the development review process separately, if and when the property owner(s) decide to redevelop their site. As part of the development review process, impacts from the project will be evaluated and community input will be solicited.
The City has had an inclusionary policy (where it requires projects to provide 20% affordable units at various income levels) and an AHOZ program in its current Housing Element for many years. The AHOZ provides property owners an option to use the City’s standard 20% inclusionary requirement or the 15% inclusionary requirement with deeper affordability levels proposed under the AHOZ program. The AHOZ does not change the density already allowed by the Zoning, General Plan and/or State law nor does it mean an automatic approval of a project.
“We encourage the Foster City community to join us at the City Council meeting on March 7th and be well informed and engage with a clear and accurate understanding of the policies being considered,” said Interim City Manager Kevin Miller. “Instead of relying on unofficial sources where information can be easily misinterpreted, we urge our community to attend the meeting, visit the City website or engage directly with staff to receive unfiltered and correct information on this critical matter.”
For more information regarding the policies being considered, visit https://rb.gy/i8xyuv. For another opportunity to engage on future housing policy discussions in Foster City, community members can also attend the Joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, March 2. Questions or comments can be directed to the Community Development Department at 650-286-3225 or planning@fostercity.org. Community members can attend the City Council meeting on March 7th in-person or remotely. Those attending in-person will be required to wear a mask when indoors, and remote participation or viewing instructions are available at http://www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes.
